The 3rd China Powerboat League (CPL) kicked off from April 28 to 30 in Liuzhou, Guangxi. Unlike previous events, many ordinary spectators had the chance to try driving the boats themselves. This move aims to bridge the gap between this “niche sport” and mass fitness, encouraging more people to get involved. How far is powerboating from becoming a part of everyday life? Our reporter interviewed Wan Hongjun, Secretary-General of the China Powerboat Sports Association, about this.
Currently, participants in powerboating in China mainly fall into two categories: one consists of those who have continued or transitioned from the country’s former professional sports system—around five or six provinces and cities have specialized organizations and personnel engaged in powerboating, focusing mainly on improving competitive skills while also conducting some public outreach activities. The second category is a large number of amateur enthusiasts who learned about powerboating through the media and then purchased their own equipment to participate.
“In a water-scarce city like Beijing, based on my understanding and feedback from various clubs, their membership alone has reached one to two thousand people. In southern cities, a single city might have groups of three to four thousand people. These groups are growing and expanding very rapidly,” Wan Hongjun told us. He added that among the participants in this powerboat league, there are also more than ten who originally came from the car enthusiast community and switched to powerboating.
However, in the minds of many ordinary people, powerboating is seen as a symbol of fashion and high-end sports, far removed from the needs of mass fitness. First, participants need a certain economic foundation—the purchase and upgrading of powerboat equipment, as well as the significant fuel consumption during driving, require a financial investment. Second, issues such as skill training and personal safety are also factors participants must consider.
Wan Hongjun believes that powerboating events cannot be carried out just anywhere, unlike track and field or basketball, which can be played in any open space. It requires a suitable body of water, docking facilities, and clubs to organize the activity. “Therefore, the current development of mass-participation powerboating is still in a relatively loose state. In terms of organizational structure and the level of popularization across different regions, it remains a niche sport.”
Despite this, the Powerboat Sports Association is committed to promoting and popularizing the sport. “The group of people participating in powerboating makes up only a small proportion of the overall national fitness community, but their needs are something we need to meet. National fitness is not about getting everyone in the country to run or play basketball. Providing a diverse range of personalized sports services is also the responsibility of professionals in the sports industry,” said Wan Hongjun.
“Any sport must have a participating group to become a social sport. Only by involving those who are interested or capable can the charm of sports be fully realized.” Guided by this philosophy, the China Powerboat League was established, creating a platform for powerboating enthusiasts to connect. At the same time, through the operation of the league, it helps more ordinary people learn about and participate in powerboating.
The China Powerboat League has entered its third year, with an increasing number of cities—including Liuzhou, Danjiangkou, Pengshui, and Bengbu—hosting leg events. The influence of the competition continues to grow. Regarding the development of China’s powerboating projects, Wan Hongjun said, “A project must reach a professional level to be considered highly developed.”
Drawing on the successful operation of professional sports like the NBA and American football in the United States, for a sport to go professional, it needs both widespread corporate involvement and a solid mass participation base. Currently, cities like Qingdao and Liuzhou have already established professional powerboat clubs. China’s powerboating sport is gradually shifting toward a club-based operational model, with expanding social and economic benefits.
Wan Hongjun believes that in European and American countries, the number of people participating in water sports such as powerboating, yachting, and sailing is not small. These activities not only drive the development of related industries such as machinery manufacturing and tourism, but also promote the growth of the sports themselves and the expanding fitness community. In China, powerboating has the potential to be an excellent emerging industry. With the rise in national sports consumption, powerboating will gradually become a part of everyday life for more people.