May 11

Great to see so many families coming to Amara's at Blue Lagoon, and Parents also bringing their youngsters to develop basic understanding of wind and wave. We had our first good storm of the season, and the more experienced water-people were out there showing off and enjoying the stronger than usual forces at play. In between the storms, there are plenty of light wind days for learning to Windsurf or for first Paddle-board SUP lessons in Thailand. We are having a great deal of success passing on our "water-people" skills as our teaching methods continue to evolve. Evening Wind from Side Shore seams to be the pattern for May. We hosted Thailand's biggest ever SUP race as part of the Starboard and Severne's International Dealer conference also - read more to see the video from the race.

Save Face with our Cavemen Shader Water Hat

Windsurfing Photo of the Month - thanks JR in Prujup Kirikan

Is it the Starboard Kode, the Severne Blade, Redline Boom and Mast,?

Nope its our Caveman Surf Hat, the cooling to JR's brian helps him to achieve big air, with-out distracting thoughts about his delicate complexion.

sup racing- could it be this big in Thailand?

SUP PHOTO of the Month - from Race in New Zealand organized by Jeremy Stephenson and his team

Could Thailand ever have an SUP scene like this?

We think so, however, in Asia there is a different relationship with the "great outdoors" than in Sun loving California, Australia or New Zealand. So we will need some real trend setters to get this started.

Amara Watersports will start Battle of the Paddle style SUP/Running relay races at Blue Lagoon on Saturday Sunsets to share the fun, excitement and fitness that these events offer. This video was filmed this month on the beach in front of "The View Restaurant" at our club. - Thank you to Starboard SUP for providing the Boards! and to Ladies SUP Champion

These SUP fun-races will begin as soon as we have enough boards, to "test the water", please contact us if you would like to take part?

I was test riding (playing) with a Starboard adventure board prototype today (8th May) in stormy wind chop - I had an absolute ball catching those low quality waves on that river cruiser board - it was surprisingly responsive and lively for a wide stable "kayak-sylte" SUP. The high-light is when my 5 year old daughter told me she saw me catch a "very big" wave. (must have been damn near knee hight - no kidding). Have to get fit for the Andaman sessions this year - Fun SUP races will certainly help.

these photos from the NP/JP photo shoot at Jaws

What has riding Jaws have to do with most of us in Thailand? Well nothing really, however, it does appeal to my sense of respect for the "spirit of the Water-Person". A percentage of every dollar you spend on Gear pays for these photo-shoots from the major brands - you may as well enjoy them. They do make me feel like shredding the shore-break in the next storm season, better stay/get fit...We will be doing importing a limited number of these beautifully crafted Neilpryde Sails, please contact us if you would like one.

Carve in Stock? You Bet - check here

From Dubai - "My Serenity is getting LOTS of use. Since getting back on the water I have had her out over 30 times in the last three months and that is while working a full schedule and having almost a month away from sailing while in Canada. It's a great board." - JW in Dubai

From Chonburi Thailand - Referring to new Starboard Drive SUP - "We love it! It is the perfect choice for us all, If this keeps up I might be down for another one. Has so much fun, forget to catch my international flight!"

Not too long ago, Boujmaa had a serious crash while trying the triple forward loop, a move that’s been talked about a lot. This attempt had a vicious landing that knocked him out and “landed” him right in the hospital for two nights of surveillance. However, things could have been a lot worst if several people weren’t there immediately to help him out and get him to safety. This is why I don't do Triple forward loops ;)

Environment

Balanced, Dynamic High Yield - Low Maintenance Organic Food Production is the backbone of the health and wealth of future communities. Once all people in an environment have access to cheap healthy food and water supply, then more people will have surplus energy for family time and activities like water-sports.

There will also be hope that the world of our grand-children may actually be more stable and friendly to live in for all people than our present one is.

Community Gardening is something I am really curious about. Thai people have an amazing affinity with nature, but more and more are living in smaller living spaces without access to farms or gardens, while being bombarded with media messages of waste and glamour.

I hope to understand if there is a need/desire for shared community gardens and what the fit is with the local culture. Aquaculture in Tropical Environments is THE MOST productive food system ever devised on Planet Earth.

One dream would be for a Community owned, Organic waste water treatment system, using reed beds, Muscles Beds and Sand filters to Create Fresh water which feeds into a system of trellised canals. These Canals would subdivide small gardens that could be allocated to families for their own food development. The whole system could be accessed, Harvested and toured on Stand Up Paddle boards and Kayaks. Solving Pattaya's pollution problems, and eliminating the need for anyone to be hungry. The output would be clean organic Food, Fresh water and community integration with Nature. Great for older Thai's who have so much knowledge of herbs, medicines and beneficial plant combinations to have a re-newed potential of contribution also. Each of the plots of land could be sponsored by a local company. The output would be nutrient rich organicly balanced water that would actually increase fish populations and coral life - which wont hurt our tourism either. Imagine, putting Pattaya on the map for a whole new reason...

We will get at least one garden bed set up at the club where we can start experimenting.

Super High Quality Soil in small raised beds - heavily mulched with drip irrigation.

I would like to out-perform Hydroponics and all forms of Non Organic Production, by encouraging Effective Fungi and Bacteria in the Soil and enhancing natural predation of pests. Just a few hours a week that we can share with all our guests from around the world.

Amara Water-sports is here to help bring people back to nature through teaching fun and safe water-sports. If any-one is doing charity work with Orphans or Less Wealthy communities we can provide free equipment use. Hope-fully one day we can provide more than just a good time... Hope-fully the same can be said for Pattaya also...

James Pilbram and Starboard Shaper Brian Szymanski

James Pilbram - EcoWarrior was invited to speak to us about saving our water-ways and oceans. Starboard invited the "Eco Warrior" to talk in front of their world-wide dealer network in Thailand this month. James has saved 17 surf breaks from becoming destroyed by pollution and development, he is an activist who also travels the world bringing attention to areas where people make their lively-hoods from the ocean and waterways. It was a great honor to meet and speak with him, he is about as down to earth,(and ocean) as you can get. This photo shows James standing with Starboard Racing SUP shaper, Brian Szymanski, next to my truck full of leaves, ready to go to our compost pile. I add a couple of truck loads a week usually, picking the plastic and non organic matter out is not so nice, but one day it will be good life providing soil again.

This link shows an awareness program for Plastic in the Mekong River - would anyone be interested in an SUP clean up session in the Blue Lagoon Klong?

Starboard Windsurfing, Starboard SUP and Severne Sails held their annual global distributor meetings at THE VIEW restaurant next door to Amara Watersports on the weekend - All the cardboard and bubble-wrap left over from unwrapping new boards was picked up for recycling.

Investing

USD falling like a stone, Euro Debt concerns likely to raise their head again soon, emerging markets growth is retarded by Inflation - good time to stay in cash and wait for a cheap entry into the building blocks - Iron Ore, Copper, Energy Food production. Personally I recommend windsurfing and SUP equipment :)

May 11

Wind Twittie

Wind Water Earth Blog