SUP Surf Art
Dr. Samuel photographer extraordinaire submitted this picture. Not sure how he does it but I love it. Thanks Sam!
California Style
Four young Californians turned up on a long tail at the cape today. Stoked to be getting waves they arrived in and surfed with style. Great to see some old school moves in there.
PKRA SUP
Although SUP was always going to take second stage to the main kiteboarding competition it did make good viewing as a spectator as it was happening right there in front of the audience all the time. Some of the kiteboarders and visitors were already proficient riders. It was great fun and also good to see so many people trying paddleboarding for the first time.
Paddlesurf Hua Hin
Much to everyone's surprise Thursday through Saturday mornings saw clean knee to waist high waves peeling down Hua Hin beach.
Many different Starboard SUP's were available for anyone to try ranging from a full carbon 7'4 POD to mysterious unnamed prototype boards.
Some of the crew in the water were Craig from Amara Watersports, Dr. Sam from Israel, Mark from AirRush, Andrew from Bangkok, Carl from Holland, Gaute and Svein from Starboard...cool catching a few waves with you guys.
Big thanks to Sam and Craig for their dedication to the camera.
Many different Starboard SUP's were available for anyone to try ranging from a full carbon 7'4 POD to mysterious unnamed prototype boards.
Some of the crew in the water were Craig from Amara Watersports, Dr. Sam from Israel, Mark from AirRush, Andrew from Bangkok, Carl from Holland, Gaute and Svein from Starboard...cool catching a few waves with you guys.
Big thanks to Sam and Craig for their dedication to the camera.
Paddleboard Khao Sam Roi Yot
About 50km south of Hua Hin is Khao Sam Roi Yot marine national park which translates as the ‘mountains with three hundred peaks’.
We took a leisurely 10km paddle on the stand up paddleboards along one of the rivers bordered by the limestone walls of Khao Daeng and through a maze of water ways which were clogged in typical Thai fashion with fishing gates and crab traps.
A rock climbers paradise, this area is very beautiful and home to some rare animals including the Dusky Langur which we were lucky enough to spot.
Starboard SUP's used were the 12' New raceboard, 10'3 Gun and a 14' prototype.
First Swell
Arrived Saturday afternoon, knee to waist high waves accompanied by a moderate northerly wind and a slight chop which made paddling the SUP difficult. Pics taken Monday evening.
Surfing West Java
After a four year hiatus from surfing in Indonesia, we made a trip to Java, a first for myself, and although we travelled during February which is considered the least consistent month for swell in this area, we still scored quality head high waves everyday with a few bigger days thrown in.
The motley bunch of reprobates that made up our surf crew chowing down at Sawarna Point on some spicy concoction supplied and delivered by the local villagers, from left to right, Loopy Luey, Dave, Sirus and Phuket Paul.
Due to limited time we only surfed the known breaks however the Java coastline is flogged by heavy surf year round, we did do a little sniffing around and without doubt there are countless other waves to be found. All in all it was one of the better surf trips we've had in terms of wave quality, consistency and fun, and we hope to return to West Java in the not too distant future.
Cimaja Point
The wave itself is a classic right hand point break with an easy defined take off area quickly forming into a fast barrelling wall which spins down the reef for about 100m. A user friendly spot with easy entry and exit from the water and a good spectator view of the wave from the pebble stone beach.
Because of its close proximity to Jakarta it can get quite busy with local and foreign surfers. The local rippers have this place wired and with the addition of the Jakartan weekend crew it can quickly reach saturation point. Despite this the atmosphere in the water remains relaxed and friendly. The wave starts to close out once it gets to about double overhead. Dawn patrol before the sleepy locals and hung-over travellers get up is the go.
Sawarna Point
An awesome long left hand point break which can handle big waves, picks up slightly more swell than Cimaja but not as tailored and more exposed to the wind.
There is a small channel to paddle in and out through the sharp reef but when it starts getting well overhead the long paddle from the beach may be a safer option.
We scored Sawarna several times with no one out and good set waves coming through.
Home stay accommodation can found in the little fishing village for Bt 350 per person per night including three excellent buffet style all-you-can-eat meals. Sawarna is a surfers paradise and was our favourite spot out of all the places we visited. We met Mercedes and Sergio here, two travelling Spanish surfers from Tarifa.
Mama Widi and her son who wanted the SUP for fishing, notice the old Indo paddle across the doorway.
Baya, a small town 20 minutes west of Sawarna has good beach break waves when the swell is small but was a daunting paddle out with huge thumping surf when we checked it.
Paul considering rock and river run-off at an empty Baya left.
Turtles
Situated close to the fishing village of Ujung Genteng, Turtles is a short intense left hander breaking over a shallow urchin covered reef ledge.
Steep heaving take-offs and close encounters with the reef are common here. Glassy early morning sessions before the wind gets on it are best.
There is a long black sand beach the other side of the harbour reachable from the main road by turning off where a large gray missile is mounted and taking a small dirt path over the dunes and onto the beach. The rainy season winds blows offshore all day here and there are fun shifty A-frame peaks breaking along its length. Although the waves can still be quite sizeable, after constantly surfing over shallow reefs it was cool to kick back and relax at a mellower break.
Paul surfing at Ujung Genteng beach.
