For their eco-ride series “The Green Wave”, Carine and Manu and their two daughters went on a trip to document an inspiring new initiative: in the Chocó region of the Pacific coast of Colombia, surfing has become a form of therapy as a means to heal young kids’ traumas from often violent pasts. They discovered a project that goes right to the heart of the community. .
You can’t walk far with Nick Reeves on the sandy streets of Termales without him calling out to one of the kids or them coming up to him. Despite loud Reggaeton blasting from the stereo, you can hear the conversation:
“Hi Camilo, how are you? You got back from school ok? How did the river crossing go with this high tide?” “Hernan, tell your brother we are expecting him tomorrow at 3pm for the surf lesson” “ Hey Nick, can you lend me a board for tomorrow’s class? Last week I only rode one wave”. He ends the conversation with a dab, immediately reciprocated by his young friend. Nick is originally from South Africa. A high school principal in Medellin, as soon as he has time off, he heads to the Pacific Coast to act as a counselor for the Buen Punto Foundation. Its mission is to offer life opportunities to young Columbian kids through sport. Right away he clarifies: “Forget everything you have read or heard about this city or even this country in general. You be your own judge. But isn’t that why you are here in the first place?”
Few countries in the world evoke violence and drugs the way Colombia does. I’m reminded once more as we land in the middle of the jungle on the tiny runway of Nuquí, capital of Chocó. “Do you think I can ask Uncle Pablo for some vitamins for when I’ve surfed too much?” exclaims my 12 year old daughter Lou, in a big burst of laughter.
“What a start!” I tell myself… Even though we try to communicate with our daughters like adults regarding the situations of the countries we visit, I’m speechless.
Pablo Escobar’s popularity (although dead in 1993), as the bloodiest drug dealers in history, is not limited to his hometown of Medellin’s dicey neighborhoods, but extends all the way to Maui’s middle schools!
Esta historia es de la edición ISSUE 22 - WINTER 2018 de SUP International.
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Esta historia es de la edición ISSUE 22 - WINTER 2018 de SUP International.
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Turning Points
With spring in the air and the start of a new decade, thoughts naturally turn to what we can do differently in the name of betterment. Finn Mullen reflects on some changes to consider when looking to improve your SUP surfing.
THE CLOSE OUT- TREV'S GREAT BIRTHDAY ADVENTURE
I have had my fair share of great birthdays, usually coinciding with a national holiday in a country that I’m visiting. But this one was a bit different.
Paddle Science #18 - The Body Fortress. Boosting Immunity
At this time of year, the rate of infection for colds and flu normally tends to slow down as we enter warmer, springtime months. However, if you’ve been anywhere at all in the world recently, then there’s one word you can’t escape at the moment: Coronavirus. Infection rates, mortality rates and prognostic data are changing daily at the moment. As a new virus none of us have previously been exposed to it, meaning that currently, we have no immunity to it. It’s only through being infected by a virus that our bodies are able to make the right antibodies to not only enable us to recover but to also help protect us from any recurrent and future infection from it. If you’re keen to stay well and keep getting out on your SUP board this spring, then focussing on boosting your immune system is a positive step to take.
Ceylon Stories
Like a teardrop on the tip of the Indian sub-continent, Sri Lanka is a little tropical El Dorado of beautiful landscapes, rich cultural heritage and people with incomparable kindness. Thanks to its favorable exposure to the swells of the Indian Ocean, the has a large number of good waves along its incredible southwest coast where French pro Alexis Deniel and his partner Melanie had an unforgettable experience this winter. Discover their colorful journey through this dream destination sharing its jewels after decades of civil war and the tragedy of the 2004 tsunami.
Polar Bear
In 2019, the Polar Bear showed the world his teeth. After a fourth place in the toughest SUP race in the world, the Red Bull Heavy Water, the now 19-year old Christian Anderson became World Champion in November in the Technical Race at the ISA World Championships in El Salvador. He also won the U-18 title on the Euro Tour with an 11th place overall. What’s behind the young Dane's rise to power?
SHADENFREUDE
TEST REPORTS
Desire Lines
We were on the outskirts of Helsinki, scouting a new destination for our sup camps. Just 45 minutes’ drive from the city, the untouched nature of the Nuuksio National Park stretched out before us. Mirror-smooth lakes, wild herbs and an impressive fauna waiting to be explored over on board or on foot via the many desire lines made by the land mammals.
Magical. Mystical. Epic.
Alexandra is a club ambassador and SUP racer for Bray Lake; relatively new to the SUP scene she completed her first race season in 2019. She participated in her first international event, the Gla Gla, 2020, and placed 1st Brit, 8th lady and 81st overall, out of a mass start of 637 paddlers. Here she shares the highlights of her first Gla Gla experience.
Green Medicine
As a keen outdoorsman and busy GP, Paul Sampson has come pretty close to attaining the mercurial work-balance. When not busy with his patients, he can be found hiking, climbing, paddle boarding, wild swimming… anything that gets him outside soaking up the great outdoors and reconnecting with nature in the beautiful South of Cornwall.
Depth Charge
Many of us have are staying away from the beach for a while, some are confined to our homes, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still train for the surf. If you try the following for just one week you’ll see results, never mind three months…
