China's Surf Shop 中国的冲浪店

Matt and I are embarking on a three month Stand Up Paddleboard Project. For three months, we will take three distance paddles a week (starting with at least a 45 minute paddle, and progressing over the course of time).

We are researching the often-heard statement that SUP is an incredible core workout. We will record data about our bodies to see what physcial impact paddleboarding will have. I hope to put on a bit of muscle mass. Coming out of training for, and competing in, an Ironman 70.3 earlier this year, I am trim, but should put on some muscle.

We will start today, on the 22nd of Monday, and paddle on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

I will peridoically update this page to post our progress.

Small longboard waves were coming through in the afternoon righ in the middle of Dadonghai. Pretty crummy when compared to the last few days, but every day that you can surf is a really good day!

Still out of commission until next Monday, but the hand is definitely getting better. The pinched nerve had been serious enough where I wasn't able to shift gears on my bike, but it has enough strength now to do so. It's not 100% yet and probably won't be by next Monday, but I'm eager to get back with the training.

With the good surf we've had in Dadonghai over the last four days, we've definitely gotten good exercise, although not nearly the workout that a five mile paddle is. I have definitely put on a couple of pounds over the last few weeks. Some muscle, some fat. I think that unless I am in the midst of intense triathlon training, I tend to keep a few extra pounds of fat on my belly. I think that is how my body feels healthiest. While the SUP workouts have been intense, I'm also meeting a ton more food. I feel more hungry than I did when I was doing the triathlon training. I have rediscovered spring rolls. Just 4 CNY for a pack of ten. Deep fried crispy goodness.

Dahai is out shooting a program with CCTV5 about surfing. It will be some good promotion. I can't overstate how lucky we have been with media coverage. It just falls into our lap really. I haven't done a press release for over half a year, but the phone calls keep coming. We got a call today from someone from the government tourism department, wanting to get some of our pictures for a promotional book they are compiling.

Well unfortunately I am going to have to take a bit of a break from the paddling. I have messed something up in my body so that I have a lot of numbness in my pinkie and ring finger on my right hand. They are really numb, and can't apply much pressure when gripping something. I had a similar problem a few years ago when I couldn't tap my right foot. It turned out to be a pinched nerve, which I'm sure this is as well. So I'm on a lot of vitamin B 12. Last Thursday, April 9th, was my last five mile paddle. I'm going to take the rest of this week off and start up again on the 19th.

I took a paddle at 11 this morning by myself, out to the flotillas, about 2 k from the middle of DDH. There are about five or six of them, about five meters by ten. Living quarters for the community of fishermen there. The have fish farming contraptions as well. I’ve got to bring the camera out there next time, to see if I can hang out with them for a while and take some photos.

I can really feel the result of the paddling in my entire upper body. I felt a similar feeling during my heavy training for the triathlon, when I was really pushing my training. Like going through puberty again, feeling your body really changing as a result of all the exercise. It gives you a bit of a swagger to know you are doing well by yourself. It can kind of turn you into a prick too. You don’t want to be confident to the point of arrogance. But the simple fact is that by performing these feats of strength and endurance, one is doing something that not everyone is capable of, physically, and even more so, mentally. To be able to continually dedicate oneself to reaching a goal takes a lot of determination. Not everybody has that.

I spent my 20s in an orgy of booze and orgies (minus the orgies). It feels good to climb out of that rut a bit and take health a bit more seriously. Although, I feel like a bit of a con with the exercise, as the reasons I do it are the same reasons why people drink. Because it feels really good. Running itself is a boring and tedious act. Distance paddling as well. But once those endorphins kick in, then it all becomes worth it. I just like feeling good. You get the same confidence after exercise that you do from booze. People that don’t exercise, or at the very least don’t drink a bit, don’t know what they are missing.

I went out with Matt on Monday, but came back after about halfway out to Buoy 11. I had already had a paddle earlier in the day to the Mandarin Oriental, and the headwind was pretty damn strong.

I can feel my chest and arm muscles recovering, which I believe means the muscles are growing a bit. Matt and I are the perfect two to do this project, because we are a bit sporty, and also incredibly vain. But when you go shirtless three quarters of the year, it provides a bit of impetus to stay in shape.

I am going to miss Friday's paddle by going up to Haikou on Thursday night and staying until Saturday, when I'll go for a bike ride with a few of my old friends, and then head down to the Bo'ao Bed and Breakfast. I like to go there every three months or so to decompress for a bit. It's always super quiet, and Elizabeth, the proprietor, is so motherly and sweet. And she's a fantastic cook.

Back to paddling - I haven't seen any sea creatures outside of the occasional jelly fish. But maybe it's better that way. I don't know if I'd really want to see anything else except for maybe a dolphin.

Here is a picture of my vain self.

I'm waiting for Matt to show up to the shop so we can head out this afternoon. Last week was pretty good. We have found a buoy (Buoy 11, or 蓝11, to be precise) that is about 2.5 miles away. So we do a 5 miles round trip paddle that takes us about two hours.

A few days of really fun surf coming through here in Dadonghai. Yesterday was the peak of the swell. It got up to nearly head-high, and was lining up really well in the far east corner of the bay. Lots of lefts and rights coming through. The better waves were lining up to allow for three or for turns. Dadonghai really doesn't get much better than that. A few pics are up on the homepage. We also got some decent video for the next newsletter.

Today is back down to just about belly high. After this dies by tomorrow, we then have tiny east swell for the next week. Nothing great. But our summer season is off to a good start.

Hello dear readers. Sorry for the lack of updates recently. Today was awesome at Houhai, says Dahai. About as good as it gets there, with a light offshore wind, and up to shoulder-high on the sets, lining up really well.

We've got a south bump coming in the next few days. Surf in Dadonghai! Can't beat it. Even if it's garbage!

Small waves continue on east coast. By Tuesday, it should be a little bit bigger (still longboard wave though). But the good news is that by Thursday, we should get a strong enough NE swell to get the point breaks going. We are happily surprised to see another NEer coming through, as it is pretty late in the season. Below forecast is for Thursday March 25th.

In other news, I am starting my three month Stand Up Paddleboard project. I am going to take a distance paddle (at least 45 minutes, progressing into longer and longer) three times a week for three months, to really see if SUP enthusiasts are correct in saying that it is the best workout. Matt and myself recorded our weight and other body measurements, as we will compare them at the end of the three months. Perfect weather for it these days, coming into spring. It will be gorgeous for a month before it gets oppressively hot and humid.