Lords of the TWP

Something new in TWP!!
They made a new concrete pathway and skateboarders found it immediately. So now here is also so called mini skate-park.
When concrete was enough dry, local 'young lions' started to skate there immediately. They are just shredding by wakeboards, chilling and skateboarding all day long. (What a lifestyle!!)))
These young guys bring to my mind Lords of the Dogtown movie and Stacy Peralta, Tony Alva and Jay Adams... Watch the movie if you haven't seen it. It's some part of history of boarding.

Merry Christmas!!

We didn't get white Christmas in Thailand... but something like a Christmas maybe... for sure not traditional Finnish Xmas.

Santa had double shift...

Late in the evening cable park could bring to your mind the winter, frozen lakes or ice-skating area...

Even at Christmas some people are working and some are resting...

At Christmas day I got some nice shots of me... (Thanks Anya)

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYBODY!!

My video clip "Thaifun"

I made the edit and small video clip of my riding in Thai Wake Park during October and beginning of November 2013.
It was full 12 days riding without days off! TWP wasn't so crowded and I'm really happy that I got a chance to land a couple of new tricks into video. There are "Switch toe side front side 720" and "Moby Dick".
Moby Dick is my first inverted handle pass trick, this 720 I had done earlier, but never got it into video))!!

Follow the link to Vimeo and check it out:

https://vimeo.com/79092109

Temple and Gods of Thailand

I just returned from Bangkok, I was riding every day, but thanks to some Finnish friends, who were visiting in TWP, I went also to check some culture as well... at least once.))
I know, I'm boring guy, I could just spend all the time in the wake park... well mostly I've seen everything around already.

Main thing! About 10-15 meters high Buddha!

Quite near of TWP is temple, what is quite interesting to check out. It's also so near that you can go by moped during lunch break. You need for this visit about 1 hour.))

If I understood everything right there were Hindu and Buddhist Gods and game-characters in perfect harmony with each other.

Angry Birds front of Hindu temple! I was just thinking where is slingshot...

There is small kiosk in the area, where you can buy some offerings to the Gods. Front of the Gods were many drinks etc... I almost bought and sacrificed energy drinks for them!

I think it was possible to buy a God with you if necessary!

My Finnish friends Santtu and Kristiina front of the main Buddha...

Riding, barbecue, friends, memories etc... from Thai Wake Park

I'm already back in cold Russia, but mind still in Thailand.))
I met so lot of new and old friends. Only waiting when I will get back. SOON I hope!

Me and gap with indy grab

My days in Thailand could be boring for some "normal" people, but some people understand that make it simple and make what do you like.
Here are some photos from those "boring days", when just riding, hanging around near of the park and having some barbecue dinners in luxury villa of one Finnish Vice President, riding and again repeating these all.

Mika Tuupola preparing meat @ luxury villa.

Again as always girls were beautiful, now @ terrace of luxury villa

Food was amazing good with nuance of Russian, Finn, and Thai kitchen and habits!

This Finnish/Thai happy and hospitable family served us unbelievable great dinner and evening. They are new wakeboarders, say hello from me, if you see them in TWP.

I can't remember was this same evening, but after all TWP was in flames. Don't worry for TWP, it was only because all riders were so fire during the riding day... or farmers just were doing something for their fields.

I saw some riders really in fire! Here are a few pictures.

Lior Sofer and CrowMob with grab.

Korean rider Ji Hoon and CrowMob 5 with grab!

Tom Axelsson showing nice press and lean.

Anna Moskal and nice boardslide 270 out!

Alex Savoie and nice press and lean too!!

Yan Tibo and ... no words "SICK"))

There were many others also in fire... me as well and I wanted to ride more that shoot photos!

Interview of San Im

Do you know San Im?

Have you seen how he rides? You can easily meet him in Thai Wake Park.

San Im in Philippines IWWF Worlds

First I want to make clear to everybody; San is first name and Im is surname.

So many people are mixing these.))

Originally San is from South Korea.

I have met San in Thai Wake Park many times, but also in IWWF Worlds in Philippines.

San is 15 years old, but riding like men and acting everywhere like real adult gentleman. It’s great to meet this kind young man, who has child-cared so well. Parents have done good work and should be proud.

I got small interview from San, when we met last time in TWP January 2013. Here it is:

Where and when did you start to ride by wakeboard?

I started 5 years ago in South Korea riding by boat. Now the last 2½ years in cable mostly in TWP.

What do your parents are thinking about your wakeboarding?

They support and are happy when I can do what I like.

San thinking nose press on the starting dock...

You are still studying?

Yes 2^nd year in high school in Bangkok.

What would be your favorite job?

Prowakeboarder

Who was your idol in wakeboarding in the beginning?

Lior Sofer

...then making the nose press!!

San has lived in South Korea and Thailand, would you like to travel more for wakeboarding and especially to where?

Sure I would like to travel and especially to Australia. Favorite place for riding is Republic in Philippines.

Have you ever ridden in cold water with wet-suit?

Yes in South Korea, it was February a few years ago and by boat.

With whom you like to ride the most?

 Aaron Gunn from Australia

What is your favorite trick?

S-Mob 5 with nose-grab

S-Mob 5  in IWWF Worlds

What is your opinion, which are your hardest tricks at the moment, what you have landed?

From kicker: TS FR 1260

Air-trick: Inside (switch) railey back side 315

Sliders: Transfers 450 degrees

What kinds of tricks you are working with at the moment?

Different Mob 7’s and I want to develop on sliders.

Do you have some tricks what you were working, training and repeating long and many times before success?

Yes just railey was for me difficult and long process. At the moment it is Moby Dick 5.))

(Can you believe that to make railey was difficult and long process to San?? So everybody who are still working with railey, don't give up it will work someday and lot of other tricks too)

When you are training new trick and you have some bad crashes, do you try immediately again?

If it’s bad crash I leave it for a moment and try it only later.

Do you have any other methods, how do you train new tricks etc…?

I’m training sometimes in trampoline and swimming. (San Im has not trainer.)

Do you like contest and what is your opinion about Olympic Games?

I like to compete and Olympic Games are good thing; the future of wakeboarding. I want it to Olympics.

Why did you decided to participate open men (pro) category in IWWF Worlds in Philippines? By the way San Im was 3^rd!!

I’m not thinking winning in contests, I just want to ride with the bests and learn from them.

What direction cable wakeboarding is going, what is your opinion with flat, kickers and obstacles?

There will stay air-tricks, kickers and sliders in good combination.

What about boars etc… what kind of developing you think there will be?

Nowadays there are flex boards and hard boards; I believe those will go more together.

I mean flex boards will be harder and stiffer.

Also about fins if you have good canals on the base you don’t need them, but if base of the board is totally flat you probably need them.

What about fashion in wakeboarding do you see some trends or what will be with shorts, vests etc…?

Everything must be just something what supports your riding. There are different kinds of bodies etc… and everybody needs different kinds of vests, helmets and shorts. You should decide yourself what supports your riding and feels good.

Sponsors of San Im are still open and we wanted to skip that question!

There are maybe many girls who would like to know, what kind of girls you like?

So do you like Asian or European girls?

I think maybe European….))

Is it necessary that your future girlfriend should wakeboard also?

I think she should, because I’m training a lot and I wouldn't have time to be with her, if she wouldn't wakeboard.

Thank you San for interview!

Did you see that sponsor question is still open; I believe in future there will be big fight, which team and brands will get him?

Interesting to follow up what will happen, but for sure San will be one of the big names in cable-wakeboarding.

Days off in Thai Wake Park

Between Christmas and New Year I shot some photos...


San Im and Mud-kids

Girls and Mud-kids

TWP-Mud is healthy for hair and skin!

Of course some riding photos too...
Yan Tibo with friends from Canada are filming in TWP, I got some shots.

One shot also of Daniel Grant... He is amazing! Limited edition Liquid Force Peak 140 (white)

 

One 24 hours in Bangkok

I just came back to visit shortly in Finland/Russia, but last weekend in Bangkok was so great!
Here are some photos and small clip; how one 24 hours went.

Dinner in sea food restaurant...

...including Teacher's etc... There is possible to bring your own bottle to the restaurant and waitresses immediately started to bring classes, ice and pour drinks. Nice!

Late evening arrival back to TWP and sleep.

Cable opens 9am. In weekends from 9-10 am is peaceful and no queue in TWP.
In background you can see some new buildings; there will be the bar, offices and one town house.



Then riding whole day...

...until the evening when darkness comes very fast.

I tried that day 'S-bend to blind' 4 times and landed it clean also 4 times. Earlier I made it only in system 2.0.
Well I wanted to get it to video. Darkness comes so fast that you can't change ISO value or Aperture fast enough to get good photos or video. This next video clip is my S-Bend to blind; I still wanted to make it once for this clip. Unfortunately quality is already bad because of lack of light.
Anyway can see, it's done!)))

Again beautiful evening in TWP!

After riding we went to recovery Thai-massage in Kawae Spa Pantesan. Here with Ilkka Nissilä, who is my friend from Tampere, studying now in Singapore and was by chance in TWP. World is small!