With she who must be obeyed working all the time, we decided to sell her windsurfing board (which means we only have four left to play with), and with some of the proceeds we ordered a SUP.
It arrived today and was unpacked with the usual excitement at the club. Checked that the board has no scratches, even though it will have plenty after half an hour of use, and most importantly, ensured that there is a good supply of stickers in the bag.
Have to take a photo before I wreck it and get Craig to pose against it because he has much bigger muscles than me. Up close it is much bigger than I remember (I recall someone saying that to me once, but that is another story). It’s more like a small ferry than a surfing board. I wonder how I will manoeuvre it from my condo basement to the beach, and if I will have the strength to carry it back after several near-drowning incidents.
There is also a paddle, and a strap to join your ankle to the board, so if you fall off you will not lose the board but you will lose the ligaments in your ankle. I also buy a life jacket; she who must be obeyed is not prepared to let me out on the water without one.
Included with the stickers is a small sheet entitled “Responsibility, Safety, Etiquette and Respect.” Having described some common sense behaviours out on the water, it closes with: “Let’s all do our part and spread the give respect and gain respect mantra every time we hit the water. Let others try your board and treat people like you would like to be treated yourself.”
Well yes, but if a drunken Russian tourist, of which there are many on the beach, suggests that he try my board, he will be treated to the ever popular ‘sod off you bastard’ mantra; albeit delivered in a respectful manner.
Comments 🔗
2008-09-04| todd saysnice board :)
i’d like to get into kite surfing, but i’m a bit far into karting and lacking time to do anything else at the moment :(
looks like fun though
2008-09-04| Spike saysJust been out for an hour, now I can hardly move. I confirm it is good exercise. Fun too.
2008-09-05| todd saysyeah more than anything i’d like to do it for #1 the exercise, #2 the fun…
really lacking exercise sports here… back in Aus I’d play indoor and outdoor soccer, touch football, tennis, indoor and outdoor rock climbing, and go swimming every week… plus gym almost every lunchtime.
here i’ve done nothing for going on 2 years, i’m going on 110kg and really wanting some outdoors entertainment that’s also good for cardio etc.
really want to find a gym near me and find some sports, i guess half the issue is that it’s so damn hot out during the day so nighttime sports would be great…
2008-09-05| Craig saysHi Guys,
Sup is the way to go. Kites are messy and can be really dangerous. The guys who look good have usually been doing watersports such as windsurfing for many years before they can use a kite safely and do anything more interesting than dragging along, kicking up a big spray.
Windsurfing, in Thailand is good but better suited to light and medium build people. It rarely looks as spectacular as kiting does because it does not involve dangling from a rope. What it does provide is an incredible feeling of speed and freedom as you can go for miles out to sea or up and down the coast. Kites are usually stuck in a pack within a couple of hundred meters of the beach incase the wind changes. Some of the really talanted kiters have windsurf gear for when the wind picks up.
SUP is dead simple. The worse the weather gets the better it is. So short of a fierce electrical storm, you can always get your session in.
I often go around 5.30pm after work when it is cool. I paddled down to my favorite Piza Bar “Drifters Cafe” last night. Met some freinds and ended up paddling home near midnight with my beer googles on. Responsible behaviour -hmmm probably not but I was close to shore with a veteran watersports instructor a few meters away, we were racing and I was loosing!!
Normally I paddle for about an hour, it gets better and better. Fun comes from leaning, useing and sharing skills. The more skills and the more varried the better. (I might even buy a kite one day ha ha)
When there is a small wave breaking I can loose hours, surfing on the Stand Up Paddle Board. We have a few brand new models here at Blue Lagoon near Ambassador Hotel if anyone would like to have a go. I reckon most people can get to small wave surfing level in 2 - 4 hours of practice. I taught a lady recently who learnt in wavey conditions and was already pretty good after 40 minutes.
Also when the wind does come up, you can put a cheap sail on the SUP and blast or wave sail, personally my favourite of all sports.
We are at: or call me on: 08521 36731
Also visit www.isup.asia if you would like to know more about Stand Up Paddle Boarding
It’s like taking a walk in the Ocean..
2008-09-05| Spike saysUnlike kite boarding, which is like taking a wank in the ocean. Allegedly.
2008-09-05| Jellybaba saysIs that why there are so many jellyfish in Hau Hin?
Yhurk!
2008-09-05| todd saysyeah SUP looks kinda boring from my perspective, i’m a seasoned snowboarder and i really dislike surfing, SUP looks like slow surfing and kiteboarding looks more like snowboarding while dealing with a kite and wind at the same time…
I’ve seen kiteboarding videos where they setup rails and ramps like snowboarding, doubt i’d see that around here but it’s more what i’d be interested in i think…
Yeah, kiteboarding looks like there’s a fairly steep learning curve from beginner to intermediate - the point where your not falling down every 5 mins, so I think i’ll have to stick to karting for the time being :)
2008-09-06| Craig saysCompared to Karting and Snowboarding, SUP on flat water will not be “exciting” unless you are racing or playing water hokey or something.
Snowboarding you need good snow, or maybe artificial snow is ok for a half pipe? Wind sports need wind.
I guess I am lucky, because I can get into simple things like SUP or longboard when it is not super windy.
I’m not so hooked on adrenaline activities as I used to be.I love heading out to see in a big storm on small wave windurfing gear, but the days imbetween the really good wind go quickly, so long as I can get out to sea on my own or in a small group from time to time.
Compared to staring at spreadsheets, or problem solving in a foreign langauge or lifting things in the gym that do not need to be picked up, peaceful time gliding over the water is pretty damn good. But if that is not your speed I can respect that.
2008-09-06| Billy the Brush saysmmmm … you paint an enticing picture Craig … and I know all about the relative attractions of spreadsheets :-(
Only problem is that lovely sounding gliding thing is probably only acheived by the less attractive sounding paddling thing; is it possible to hire a small local person to do that bit?
2008-09-06| Spike saysOf course! She who must be obeyed was paddling me around the bay last night. Although with two people on the board, we fell off a lot.
2008-09-08| Craig saysG’day Billy, Well there is a certain amount of exercize involved, but as Spike will soon find out. Once you have the basic ability to paddle efficiently it is pretty effortless to get around at a fast walking speed. That is when the more vigorous will want to start doing short sprints or long distance higher speed journeys or just fooling around paddling in surf stance, (like standing on a skateboard except positioned on the back 1/3 of the board).
My missus and I are driving to Phuket this week in search of some waves, can’t wait to see if I have learnt anything by “gliding” around in Pattaya…
Anyway, drop in when we get back and i will offer you a free lesson, (takes about 5 minutes to explain)
Craig B)
2008-09-08| Spike saysG’day Billy Please don’t “drop in.” I need at least a week’s notice to buy a bigger fridge and then stock it with whatever you are currently drinking (used to be “anything”, but maybe you have become more selective in your later years).