Playdate: Alan Wong, Restaurateur and Snowboarder
“Are you right-footed or left-footed?” asked Alan Wong, the restaurateur behind Hatsune, Kagen and Karaiya Spice House. We were standing in line at the equipment rental booth of Nanshan Nike Park.
“What?”
“Turn around,” he commanded. I obediently obliged, only to find myself shoved without warning from behind. I instinctively landed on my left foot.
“You’re a lefty.”
I giggled, nervously. Alan has been snowboarding for over 20 years, used to compete professionally, and currently serves as a judge at the annual Nanshan Open. Meanwhile, I’d never snowboarded in my life – so you can imagine my angst at having to hit the slopes by his side.
When we finally stepped outside, the air was quiet and still, except for the sounds of skidding snow and bodies whooshing by.
“Ready?” Alan grinned at me. His enthusiasm was palpable – contagious, even. He glided sinuously in front of me, instructing me to keep my legs bent and my back straight.
On the ride over, he’d been somewhat evasive about what keeps him hooked on snowboarding. “Growing up, it was just kind of cool, you know?” he’d shrugged. But he was quick to deny that doing jumps and running restaurants require any of the same skills.
“Maybe perseverance,” he later acknowledged, reflectively. Both just happened to be occupations he enjoyed, and had needed to hone and perfect. The same goes for race car driving and motor biking – other pastimes that satiate his thirst for thrill.
So far Alan’s nonchalant yet steadfast attitude has served him well in life. He first moved to Beijing in 2000, opened Hatsune (his very first restaurant) in 2001, and now runs seven restaurants in China and counting.
None of his success has diminished his love for snowboarding, however – one of his favorite hobbies since his teen years. “There’s that one moment when you feel like you’re flying,” he raved, a faraway look in his eyes. Inspiring words, particularly when I found I could neither turn nor brake without falling on my butt.
At long last, we migrated to the high peaks where Alan could do his thing. I watched him teeter in anticipation at the very top, before skimming down with grace and precision. As he approached the jump, time seemed to stop – his body, suspended in mid-air, twirled like mad before landing in a perfect finish.
He breezed up on his board, sending flakes of ice flying all around us. A Chinese instructor standing nearby stared at Alan, mouth agape.
Alan simply lifted his goggles and smiled. “Ready for round two?”
Entrance and equipment rental start from RMB 120 per hour. Visit www.nanshanski.com for more information.
Photo: methodcn.com
