Thought this was funny and also sorta lame! A few emails with a surf camp I'll keep nameless for now.

ORIGINAL EMAIL:

> I'm interested in coming for a surf trip.
> I can't find out how to get there! I might be stupid but can't find it on the website.
Also do you know what max board length can be taken?
>
> Thanks
> Brendan

THEIR REPLY:

XXXX Brendan,

If coming from Australia you would go via Nadi. The flights with Air Pacific, and arrives
& departs Kiritimati once/week every Wednesday.

Yes, they can take all surfboards of any length (except SUP's hopefully!!).
Please let us know what other info you need.

Cheers for now
xxxxxxxx

MY REPLY:-

Thanks for the reply XXXXX,

Funny you should say that, what if the SUP is only a custom 8'5"?
I was thinking of bringing an 8'5" SUP and a 6'4" shorty. I wouldn't get hassled out of the water would I??

I know a lot of crew don't like SUP including half my mates but I'm pretty stoked on it at the moment.

I will look at flight details and prices.

Cheers
Brendan

THEIR REPLY:

XXXXX Brendan,

Believe it or not, that was the first time I made a 'SUP' remark, & as fate would have
it, you're a SUP rider! My flatmate & I had a good laugh about it - 'Murpheys Law'!!

Sorry, but we won't be booking SUP riders as they are just too dangerous. Most surfers
in NZ want them banned from the surf, as they have been involved in some pretty bad
accidents. I've heard that some places have already banned them. And as the medical
facilities are very limited, with only one flight per week to a proper hospital, we think it's
the best policy for safety of our other guests.

But the good news is that we have no crowds, so you'll still score heaps of waves on
your short board!

Cheers for now,
XXXXXX


I feel like just replying now and saying, "Thats OK, I'll find somewhere else to stay on
the island. My 8 SUP friends are really keen so I'm sure we'll find somewhere" and then leave it at that.

Funny how he says cannot book SUp because they are too dangerous (I assume to other surfers) and then says there are no crowds.

Your on a 8'6 SUP I guarantee they have accepted longboards longer than that.

Bnaccas said...

I feel like just replying now and saying, "Thats OK, I'll find somewhere else to stay on
the island. My 8 SUP friends are really keen so I'm sure we'll find somewhere" and then leave it at that.

Go on please,please let them know about your 8 mates

So Brendan what I don't get is that they are worried about SUP riders who are ALL clearly incompetent kooks and a danger to anyone in the surf, yet they will accept that same dangerous kook as long as they are riding a mal or short board. I would reply, telling him that you are highly skilled on a SUP but you've been known to put people in the hospital on your short board - is the invitation still open?

pmorgan1974 said...

Name and Shame, so others don't waste there time booking into where ever this is. I wonder if they would turn away occy, parko, Tom C, Jerry Lopez and the list goes on. If they wanted to stay there and bring a SUP.
I would be interested to see that response.

Or Laird and his crew... I doubt it..

Belly

Well you sure would not want to get injured unless its a weds What a hoax . So you cop a board in the head on a strong off shore day on tues morning but they wont fly you out until Weds wtf Get your emerg plan sorted big time !

I'm happy to name and shame but at this stage I'm looking at alternative accom in the
town and the possibility of hiring a boat. It looks like accom will be fine and you can hire
a boat for $80 AUS. It looks like it could be a really cheap surf trip.

Airfare about - $1300
7 night accom and all meals - $550
7 day Boat hire $80/day split between say 4 people - $140

And then we can go crowd the 24 surf breaks that are usually uncrowded.

If I wasnt doing 2 other trips in the next 12 months I would be onto that!!

Jez imagine packing for that - kite gear, snorkel gear, surfboards, sups + 1x boardies and 1x teeshirt

I have to say what a BullSh1t comment about most NZ surfers wanting SUP banned because of bad accidents. This person is talking sh1t. I do not know of a single bad injury in NZ due to SUP. A guy got killed on a Wellington surf break and it had nothing to do with any stand-up boards. What is the difference on how you get onto a wave, standing or prone paddling? Surely the only important consideration is how long a board the airline can handle out to Kiribati. This guy needs a tune up!

That's awesome! I'm going to send them an email of support .

Just Wrong said...

cRAZY Canuk said...

Jez imagine packing for that - kite gear, snorkel gear, surfboards, sups + 1x boardies and 1x teeshirt

If you were Doggie and Legion, you would be only taking boardies, t shirt and matching pink SUPS ......

Sweet - my fluro purple board will fit right in

Legion said...

That's awesome! I'm going to send them an email of support .

I recon we go, sound wickid

Devils advocate here: If I shelled out all of that money for a surf trip I would have higher aspirations for waves than that which I choose to ride on SUP. If it is an island of mush burgers than maybe a different location would suit better.

For that matter, I would also prefer to not ride shallow reef waves with tight take off zones with someone on a SUP either. That P-pass thing is in my mind where someone with the surpreme talents of Dave K even looked to be struggling.

For that matter a surf camp that chooses not to accommodate SUP riders is fine with me. Every business chooses its clientelle in the end.

I'm not saying certain people should not go anywhere or that it's Ok to discriminate but if I had the choice, reef breaks with SUP riders VS not I'd be heading away from them everytime.

Fire retardent suit on....... NOW!

Both from Kiribati.....Looks alright, looks like a good set up for kiting too. have a look on Google earth.