Click the link to read a surf story: http://www.christiansurfers.net/thehole.htm

Good Luck with your plans Al.  It sounds great!

Your decision to start surfing is good.  It will probably add years and much enjoyment to your life.  Welcome to the forum.

Exposure=Crowds=Thieves=Drugs=Hostile Locals=Ruined Paradise

I caught Hepatitus A while surfing at a polluted rivermouth in Mexico.  I was sick for a couple of weeks in a foriegn country.  It was horrible.  I guess this could happen at some locations in the Philippines also.  The sanitary conditions are similair.  Be careful!

They will probably post thier trips and discoveries on the internet for all to see ... it was bound to happen.  Mahirap talaga!!!

A big expensive boat.  All that expensive gear. Operations costs. Maintenance costs. Not to mention down days.  Typhoons!  Maybe they can operate 250 days/year.  At $80/day (U.S?)and only 6-10 passengers it is hard to see how they expect to recoup there investment and make a profit.  Maybe they will go out of business.

I just finished Gracia Burnham's book "In The Presence of My Enemies".  Those Abu Sayyaf guys were really brutal.

King of Sports and Putang,

I admit that my reation to exposure and new surf businesses in the Philippines may be an over-reaction.  I can remember surfing in La Union in the 80's and it was rare to even see another surfer.  It was great.  It is alot different now but it is still fun most of the time.  Am I being selfish in my desire to keep the waves crowd free?  Yeah, I guess I am.  With more and more people and surfers in the world I guess the spots getting crowded is only natural.  There are still places to go to get away from the crowds.  Not that it matters much anyway, but I reverse my original opinion and if you think you can make a go of this charter then go for it.  I only ask that you consider the consequences of your actions as you obviously have.  I think we should all try to get along.  Please don't try to chase me out of the water if I happen to be surfing at the same place as your charter.

I never could understand that Aussie Rules football.  The NFL is better.  Joke lang!

I finally used the chat room last night for a little while.  It worked well and was fun.

Broulee...Ah...it seems that you already talked about religion and politics in this thread.  You broke your own rule!

Surfing is a great workout especially when the waves are consistent, but how do you stay in shape on the off days and during long flat spells? I have been using this workout with pretty good results http://totalworkout.homestead.com/WorkoutRoutines.html  I do this M-W-F.  I am currently doing the intermediate workout but will probably move up to the advanced soon.  I like the routine because it uses lots of repititions with relitively light wieghts.  For surfing you don't really need alot of bulk(or muscle mass).  This routine is designed to build strenghth and endurance without really bulking out. On tuesday, thursday and saturday I have been doing TAE BO.  I stretch out really good before each workout.  Sunday I usually don't workout so I can go to church.  Streching out is really important because you need to stay flexible to surf well.  If I have a heavy surf session I count that as my workout and just pick up the other workout routines when the waves die.  Anyway that's what I have been doing to stay in shape.  How about you?

I slipped a disc in my back many years ago.  It was the result of working out without being warmed up.  Also my form was not good.  Good form is critical.  It is better to use less weight with good form than more weight with bad form.  You'll get better results too.  Al, it took along time for my back to heal but eventually it did.  I advice taking it slow because if you reinjure your back it will just get worse.  Eventually it will get better and then you can start surfing and hitting your workout again.  Go slow.

$3.00 for a bar of wax!  Seems expensive.  A enterprising person could probably make a wax here in PI, ship it to Australia and retail it for cheaper than that...just an idea that needs more research.  Locally made wax certainly could under cut the prices here in the Philippines though.  I think you should give it a try.