Libong
Not quite working right on this small swell but the north end rock outcrop has a little river mouth which seems to create a bank.
Kon-Tiki
The facinating story of Norwegian explorer, Thor Heyerdahl and his team in their 1947 expedition across the Pacific Ocean from Peru, South America to the Polynesian islands to prove it possible - by using only materials and technologies available to people during that particular time period - that people from South America could have settled Polynesia in pre-Columbian times, thus also bringing traditional fishing methods known to include wave riding (surfing) skills using the Caballito de Totora with them.
Surf Betty's
From a male perspective, there's nothing like watching a bunch of chicks charging heavy waves and ripping it up to deflate your ego and shame you into improving your surfing skills.
Surfing In Burma (Myanmar)
If you've tried searching you'll quickly discover that there's very little information available on surfing in Burma. What is known, is that Burma receives good swell and is notoriously difficult logistically due to travel restrictions imposed on foreigners, making it one of the last unexplored frontiers of surfing. The only real info I could find was a Surfer Journal's article "On the Edge of Burma" published in 2001 documenting surfers Randy Rarick and Tor Johnson's search for waves in northern Burma. Considering recent developments and if you're interested in this fascinating country, it's well worth a read.
Yoga For Surfers
Probably the best thing any surfer can do to immediately improve their surfing ability is to increase flexibility and range of movement. Not only does it help surfers contort their body into the different surfing positions but it also helps prevent injury. Consequently yoga is a compulsory part of the training regime for most surfing teams and professional surfers. This vid seems like a good routine and Ester is kind on the eyes.
South Pier
Undoubtedly the best beach break in Phang Nga, on a clean swell with an offshore breeze to open up the wave Natai can serve up some sweet little barrels.
Tropical Cyclone
Early November saw some of best waves we've had all season, created by a tropical cyclonic weather system in the Bay of Bengal. Photo: Kalim local.
Old Pier
Too blown out to surf but the old boardwalk holds sand and often has good peaks either side in clean conditions. There's a few patches of rocks to watch out for on the south side.
Storm Waves
Abysmal weather, strong winds and squally conditions over the last week, this is what the monsoon was supposed to be like, better late than never.
Los Straitjackets
A Mo recommendation, an American instrumental four piece in suits and wrestling masks that play kick-ass surf music, difficult to go wrong with that combination, check them out.
No Fried Eyes
Further to the Blueye surf goggles post, James put us onto these surfing sunglasses from Kurtis USA. Flexible, lightweight, anti-fog coating, polarised, 100% UV protection with head strap, fail-safe leash system, and they float. At $200 a pop they're not cheap but they certainly look well designed.
Kurtis even has a DIY video on how to adapt an old pair of normal sunglasses into something that can be used in the surf.
Battle Of The Paddle
Big thank you to Andrew Miller from the Starboard development team for submitting these photos taken at the Battle of the Paddle SUP event in California.
Starboard team rider Connor Baxster with the legend himself Jerry Lopez.
What Monsoon?
The general consensus is this year’s SW monsoon was particularly limp-wristed. It threatened to get going on a few occasions, and then pussied out. We were held in a miserable state of ‘onshore limbo’ for almost three months, where the wind never really blew hard or long enough to produce decent sized waves, yet was always around to mess up whatever swell there was.
Some breaks that were working last season have made hardly a whimper over the past few months, whereas other breaks that didn’t really work previously have sometimes been the only place with a wave? Why, send your answers on a postcard?
Oh well, on the up side, a lot of good times were had. We travelled to some cool places, we surfed some new breaks, plenty of friends visited and we met a few new characters. The cherry on the cake was the best swell runs were accompanied with light winds, fine weather and good company…so who’s complaining.
Island Thanks
Huge thank you to Craig from Amara Watersports and Dr. Sam for all their hard work and preparation, for their constant encouragement and tireless dedication, and for being so much fun to surf with. Learned a lot from both of them during this trip, cheers guys! Thanks to Starboard SUP for producing the awesome board designs we got to try out, and thanks also to Nok and her mother from Ao Yai Bungalows for looking after us.
Island GoPro
Must admit, not having a huge amount of success with the GoPro so far. It's prone to fogging up quickly, water dropplets stick to the lens housing and the head mount makes the waves look smaller. Further experimentation with placement and angles much needed.
Island Vista
A tropical island, quiet beaches, warm water, empty waves, what more could one reasonably ask for.
Island Surf
We were lucky to score consistent clean waist to head high waves for the duration of our stay.
Island Life
A few grainy stills taken from video footage of a recent island surf trip...more to follow.
Beware of this man and his 'bear hand'.
Sam with Starboard's 9'0 Hero SUP in AST camo foam deck.
Beware of this man and his 'bear hand'.
Island essentials, board, beer and bike, in that order.
Craig with Starboard's cool new 7'4 Rush compact wave SUP in AST construction.
Sam with Starboard's 9'0 Hero SUP in AST camo foam deck.
The stars of the show, Starboard's SevenEleven, Hero and Rush stand up paddlesurfing boards.
Kae's Cover Up
Kae only started surfing five months ago and surfs alone usually. He seemed pleased to have someone else in the water to share waves with.
