Happy Birthday Big Wave Dave
Little bro's 31 today, hats off to the man who's energy and enthusiasm hooked me on surfing for life.
Surf In Thailand
From the lips of the experts...
"The Phuket area will actually be your best bet for the most consistent surf in Thailand, although the quality isn't going to be great. The surf in the Phuket region will generally be the result of the SW monsoonal winds blowing strong for a couple days in a row and then laying down. So you'd likely have a short window of fun size, clean windswell once the wind stops. The SW monsoon will start around April but is strongest from June through August/September, so that is when you'll find the most consistent surf.
A much less consistent source of surf would be from cyclones moving into the Bay of Bengal, mainly from April through around October. The size of the surf will depend greatly on the track and position of the cyclone; the swell will also have to filter through the Andaman Islands, which will likely take a big chunk of energy out of the W swells.
You might also score a rare swell on the east coast when typhoons from the western Pacific move into the South China Sea, which will typically be from July through August."
Kevin Wallis - Surfline Forecaster
"The Phuket area will actually be your best bet for the most consistent surf in Thailand, although the quality isn't going to be great. The surf in the Phuket region will generally be the result of the SW monsoonal winds blowing strong for a couple days in a row and then laying down. So you'd likely have a short window of fun size, clean windswell once the wind stops. The SW monsoon will start around April but is strongest from June through August/September, so that is when you'll find the most consistent surf.
A much less consistent source of surf would be from cyclones moving into the Bay of Bengal, mainly from April through around October. The size of the surf will depend greatly on the track and position of the cyclone; the swell will also have to filter through the Andaman Islands, which will likely take a big chunk of energy out of the W swells.
You might also score a rare swell on the east coast when typhoons from the western Pacific move into the South China Sea, which will typically be from July through August."
Kevin Wallis - Surfline Forecaster
Hazy Daze
A small long period swell has been running for the last three days accompanied by cool northerly winds, been spending a few hours everyday paddle surfing on the cape as the tide pushes in during the midday heat, hence the trendy melon protector.
Khao Na Yak
Early morning paddle out to the Giants Face Mountain, bordered by a long southwesterly facing coral reef it's the closest dive site to Khao Lak. Despite being close to Taplamu rivermouth the waters around the reef are crystal clear and plenty of corals and shoals of fish are visible. The 7km round trip took about 90 minutes on an 8'5 Pocket Rocket SUP.
SUP Virgins
Two of our local female divers take to the water on a SUP for the first time. Both were paddling into and riding waves within 20 minutes, with only minimal instruction on a Starboard 8'5 Pocket Rocket SUP, by no means a beginners board, no excuses then lads.
GoPro HD Surf Hero
Dear Santa...please rush this piece of cool electronic gadgetry to my doorstep. The new HD version of GoPro's wearable digital sports camera, in the shops now, check it out. The surf version comes with an adhesive mounting disc and a FCS plug mount, though the helmet, wrist and bar mount seem more practical.
Monkey Island SUP
Located inside the Sattahip naval base, Ko Ped aka Monkey Island is a scrubby rock about a kilometre offshore, home to a large population of scruffy looking crab-eating macaques. These monkeys were introduced to the island to be a tourist attraction for local boat and yacht charters. Usually a troop of hungry monkeys are there waiting whenever any craft approaches, but strangely today even though two of our SUP’s resembled giant bananas, there wasn’t a single cheeky chimp to be seen.
Calm morning conditions made for a fun leisurely cruise and the 5km paddle was completed comfortably in about 90 minutes. Starboard SUP models used were the 12’ Big Easy, the 10' Whopper, the 9'8 Element and the 11'2 Blend. Thank you to Amara Watersports and Drifters Beach Café for use of their SUP’s.
Calm morning conditions made for a fun leisurely cruise and the 5km paddle was completed comfortably in about 90 minutes. Starboard SUP models used were the 12’ Big Easy, the 10' Whopper, the 9'8 Element and the 11'2 Blend. Thank you to Amara Watersports and Drifters Beach Café for use of their SUP’s.
Paddling Around Samaesan
Chong Samae San is an insignificant rather smelly little fishing village located on the very tip of Sattahip, approximately 30km south of Pattaya. Racks of drying fish that line the streets around the harbour lend a unique aroma to the village atmosphere. Samaesan isn’t the easiest place to find as it’s close to the naval base and the areas surrounding are mostly restricted access. Just off the harbour is uninhabited Raet Island and a much larger island of the same name as the village which once housed the fishing community that now lives on the mainland.
The waters surrounding these islands are much clearer than the murky waters around Pattaya town and fish, corals, and the bottom features can be seen quite clearly. The fact that these islands are relatively close to the mainland makes them ideal for exploring with an SUP.
For the 5km jaunt we used a Starboard Point 14’8 SUP and an interestingly shaped Jim Drake 12’8 prototype windsurfing board. The Point is a perfectly stable flat water cruising machine that glides effortlessly and you feel that it would be easy to paddle a distance on this beauty. The Jim Drake prototype, though two foot shorter seems even quicker, however its slimmer streamlined contours and barreled bottom make it a challenge to balance whilst paddling.
Thank you to Amara Watersports for supplying the paddle boards.
The waters surrounding these islands are much clearer than the murky waters around Pattaya town and fish, corals, and the bottom features can be seen quite clearly. The fact that these islands are relatively close to the mainland makes them ideal for exploring with an SUP.
For the 5km jaunt we used a Starboard Point 14’8 SUP and an interestingly shaped Jim Drake 12’8 prototype windsurfing board. The Point is a perfectly stable flat water cruising machine that glides effortlessly and you feel that it would be easy to paddle a distance on this beauty. The Jim Drake prototype, though two foot shorter seems even quicker, however its slimmer streamlined contours and barreled bottom make it a challenge to balance whilst paddling.
Thank you to Amara Watersports for supplying the paddle boards.
Above The Cape
Surfers have been riding waves on the cape for over 20 years, mostly Phuket locals and travelling surfers exploring the potential of the Andaman coastline. During the past monsoon seasons we surfed seven different waves on the cape, there are other waves which light up on their day, and indeed on a clean swell there can be waves peaking all around the reef however these seven main breaks are the most consistent and easily identified. Note we have not included any names for these waves so as to avoid confusion as many past and present surfers have their own pet names for these breaks, as do we.
1.Inside Right 2.Outside Right 3.Outside Left 4.Inside Left 5.Bay Left 6.Bay Right 7.Left Point
1.Inside Right 2.Outside Right 3.Outside Left 4.Inside Left 5.Bay Left 6.Bay Right 7.Left Point
Under The Cape
Without disturbance from wind and waves, the sediment and sand settle offering decent visibility right off the beach for snorkeling. Riding an SUP around the cape on such days can also be an interesting experience, looking down through the clear waters gives a glimpse of the shape of the reef and a unique view of exactly what you’re surfing over.
The cape itself is made up of a mixture of sand, coral rubble and rock which also shelter small mud flats on the northern side. The coral reef surrounding the cape is grey, dead and broken, and huge displaced rock boulders litter the outside as the reef drops away. There’s not much in the way of sea life to be seen, some fish, a few jellyfish and the odd crustacean, a shadow of it’s former self. It must have teemed with life at some point and was undoubtedly wrecked beyond repair by the 2004 tsunami. The constant pressure of local villagers stringing fishing nets indiscriminately and picking the exposed reef clean of all life every low tide can’t be helping matters.
Even so, the cape is still a beautiful spot and the view in the mornings with the sunrise pouring over the mountains is well worth getting out of bed for.
The cape itself is made up of a mixture of sand, coral rubble and rock which also shelter small mud flats on the northern side. The coral reef surrounding the cape is grey, dead and broken, and huge displaced rock boulders litter the outside as the reef drops away. There’s not much in the way of sea life to be seen, some fish, a few jellyfish and the odd crustacean, a shadow of it’s former self. It must have teemed with life at some point and was undoubtedly wrecked beyond repair by the 2004 tsunami. The constant pressure of local villagers stringing fishing nets indiscriminately and picking the exposed reef clean of all life every low tide can’t be helping matters.
Even so, the cape is still a beautiful spot and the view in the mornings with the sunrise pouring over the mountains is well worth getting out of bed for.
Starboard SUP 2010 Product Guide
Starboard are the market leaders in Stand-Up-Paddleboards and have the most extensive range of equipment and board options. Check out their new product catalogue for 2010 here. There are some sexy exciting new editions to the surfing range including the SevenEleven 7'11 and the POD 7'4 (Performance Over-Drive).
Stormrider Guide Phuket
Thailand is now included in the world edition of the Stormrider Guide published by the UK company Low Pressure. If you're interested to read what they have to say you can view it here.
Review: Starboard Drive SUP 10’5
Being a traditional surfer for over 16 years and having already dabbled with windsurfing and kiteboarding in the past, I’d found that I enjoyed the speed and movement of other water/wave riding craft but disliked all the technical equipment involved, sails, lines, rigs, harnesses, levers and such forth, as opposed to the purity of a surfer who just grabs his board and paddles out.
So when Amara Watersports invited me to try SUP for the first time I have to admit to being slightly skeptical. After my first go however, all doubts went out the window and I found myself immediately justifying buying one. A couple of weeks later I became the proud owner of a bright yellow Starboard Drive 10’5 in Classic AST construction, the big banana.
First impressions were that the board was solidly made and the Startouch wax-less finish offered good grip. The Drive 10’5 was chosen as I wanted a single board I could use for flat water paddling as well as surfing. Without doubt the Drive is a great all-rounder, not only a stable platform allowing any first timer to get to their feet within minutes, it also performs well in the surf.
Cruising across the lagoon or out to sea on a calm day the Drive at 153 liters has sufficient length and volume to carry momentum between paddle strokes and its 30’ width offers plenty of stability even in choppy conditions.
On this note, taking the SUP out for a paddle is fast becoming a daily ritual, the benefits of which I can feel and see. A couple of fairly recent motorbike accidents left me with a shattered left clavicle and a rib cage resembling a box of broken biscuits, making paddling a surfboard in the prone position particularly painful. The SUP has been my one and only savior during this period and an awesome rehabilitation tool.
In surf the Drive paddles into waves easily and early allowing the rider time to position themselves to turn onto the face. Once moving along the face of the wave, the board continually gathers speed, and by riding high on the wave can make sections that a traditional surfboard would find more difficult. In small waves the board turns a bit sluggishly (to be expected of a board over teen feet in length), however in bigger waves the board feels more alive, becomes more responsive and can be surfed much like a longboard.
One thing to note is this board is much heavier and more cumbersome than a traditional surfboard and when managing the board, leash and paddle in white water and shore break one must take more care regarding safety.
The only little complaint I have so far is the two outside fins seem to be made of a soft plastic and the lack of resistance makes it difficult to gauge how tight the FCS screws need to go. I have already threaded through both fins with the screws and will replace them with a glassed type fin.
To be honest I’m still playing around with the Drive and SUP in general, and have yet to realize its full potential. The Drive will remain as my flat water and surfing board however for a different wave riding option I would now like to add a shorter, thinner and lighter model to my quiver, purely for the improved surfing performance it allows.
See isup.asia to find out the latest developments in this fast growing sport.
So when Amara Watersports invited me to try SUP for the first time I have to admit to being slightly skeptical. After my first go however, all doubts went out the window and I found myself immediately justifying buying one. A couple of weeks later I became the proud owner of a bright yellow Starboard Drive 10’5 in Classic AST construction, the big banana.
First impressions were that the board was solidly made and the Startouch wax-less finish offered good grip. The Drive 10’5 was chosen as I wanted a single board I could use for flat water paddling as well as surfing. Without doubt the Drive is a great all-rounder, not only a stable platform allowing any first timer to get to their feet within minutes, it also performs well in the surf.
Cruising across the lagoon or out to sea on a calm day the Drive at 153 liters has sufficient length and volume to carry momentum between paddle strokes and its 30’ width offers plenty of stability even in choppy conditions.
On this note, taking the SUP out for a paddle is fast becoming a daily ritual, the benefits of which I can feel and see. A couple of fairly recent motorbike accidents left me with a shattered left clavicle and a rib cage resembling a box of broken biscuits, making paddling a surfboard in the prone position particularly painful. The SUP has been my one and only savior during this period and an awesome rehabilitation tool.
In surf the Drive paddles into waves easily and early allowing the rider time to position themselves to turn onto the face. Once moving along the face of the wave, the board continually gathers speed, and by riding high on the wave can make sections that a traditional surfboard would find more difficult. In small waves the board turns a bit sluggishly (to be expected of a board over teen feet in length), however in bigger waves the board feels more alive, becomes more responsive and can be surfed much like a longboard.
One thing to note is this board is much heavier and more cumbersome than a traditional surfboard and when managing the board, leash and paddle in white water and shore break one must take more care regarding safety.
The only little complaint I have so far is the two outside fins seem to be made of a soft plastic and the lack of resistance makes it difficult to gauge how tight the FCS screws need to go. I have already threaded through both fins with the screws and will replace them with a glassed type fin.
To be honest I’m still playing around with the Drive and SUP in general, and have yet to realize its full potential. The Drive will remain as my flat water and surfing board however for a different wave riding option I would now like to add a shorter, thinner and lighter model to my quiver, purely for the improved surfing performance it allows.
See isup.asia to find out the latest developments in this fast growing sport.
