For Macao firefighter, flames give way to snow

Wong Kin-wai, a firefighter from Macao and a snowboarding enthusiast, discovered an indoor venue in neighboring Guangzhou, Guangdong province, to pursue his winter passion all year.

He has been practicing in Guangzhou about once a month since the facility opened in the Huadu district in 2019.

Wong, 35, took up the sport in 2017 and has traveled to Jilin province, the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and some foreign resorts to get his kicks.

He competed in a snowboarding competition in Guangzhou recently.

"I like the sport. It helps me relax and improve my physical condition. Sometimes I work for a whole day and we rescue people. Physical strength is important. Snowboarding also helps sharpen my concentration," he said.

Wong and some friends run the Macao Snowboard Association, which promotes the sport. Members sometimes practice in Guangzhou.