My Blog

I am finally spending time at home, thanks to the flu bug. It has been a while, my home in

Hong Kong

is just 4 walls around me. And thus, I don’t spend much here. I am a people person and thus solitude means little . But for the sake of not spreading the flu bug to anyone else and also to get myself back in Shape for Thursday’s dive trip. I need to do what I must do.

Funny.. at home, away from work, I still have my Rates, Lotus notes, Bloomy up. Well, I get to watch more tele and be with myself so as to speak.

Watched the season finale of the OC. 3 seasons of Marisa, Anna, Summer, Seth and Ryan. It is like 17 again, half my age of course. I remember back in school where

Beverly Hills

90210 is such a hip cool show.

I am not one who chase soaps as another friend of mine has so accuse me of. But The OC does have it moments. Heartwarming moments..  Reel life, real life… I will never know which one mimics the other. But it is true that our lives’ is one drama after another and we live an imperfect life. Thus we want our celluloid world to be perfect. Nonetheless, it is definitely less dramatic than the celluloid world.

Sometimes, a dramatic moment can be as short as 5 seconds of sudden impact. I had one Saturday night. Set me thinking again. Oh well..  the memories lingers no matter what. There is a reason why memories matter. Because we are human and if void of emotions, we are nothing. Some people let their emotions get the better of them, while others suppress it with logic and rationale. I am not the latter.

The reality is that we are never in knowledge of how to act and what to do with emotional situations.. We just have to move forward and forward until another event puts another kink in our journey of life.  I guess.

Dreams motivate and push us to achieve the unachievable. It is dreams that give us hope that we can live a life we so aspire. And thus when a dream becomes a potentially reality….  The dilemma to chase and risk losing everything heightens.  And we would not have lived if we don’t grab it when it is right in front of us.

Wakenutts was form on a basis of passion. Passion for the adrenalin rush, passion for putting oneself on the pedestal of personal greatness.  In the last two years. Wakenutts has indeed grown and matured. From a riding perspectives, May’s 八仙 party marked a milestone for wakenutts and what we stand for..  Having 8 nutts and 1 lady nutt land inverts and spin within a period of two weeks is a major achievement in itself. We are not pros and so when we achieve something beyond a norm, we should celebrate and celebrate in the style. From the culture’s perspective, the organization of Wakefest 1, the Website, and Wakenutts video are the byproducts of believing that wakeboarding culture is here and here to stay.

I dream a culture, a wake culture in Hong Kong. Wakenutts culture.

I envision a community made up of people from all works of life coming together on the basis of wakeboarding and challenging life, Carpe Diem, seizing the day.

I hope every wakenutt can satisfy his/her quest for LIFE through the wakenutt spirit.

I challenge every wakenutt to find their style, their form.

I encourage every senior wakenutt to support and guide every junior nutt to his/her goals.

We are nascent. We have a long road ahead. And even when our time is passed.. Wakenutts will still pushes on.  There will be more projects.. more drinking… and ultimately.. more tricks to land.

We need every wakenutt to drive towards their goals and while at it, bring wakenutts to the next generation of riders.. that way, we can truly tell ourselves that We are the Best!! We will still make it better.

4 hours on a flight is a long time. It is long enuff to think about things, about my life, experience, life before, life ahead, my dreams and aspirations. The last 4 days, I had been a mad man on the loose. It capped off with a 15 hours sleeps as I slumbered in exhaustion on Monday. I was a man on a mission. I did not know what my mission were but I needed to live my life like it were the last day on earth. I was searching for an answer. I was looking for a path in my life.

I spent a lot of time on Wakeboarding, Golfing, and Clubbing. I had quality time with friends and family. I even went for a run on a route which I have been running since I was 15yrs old. I have changed, the route didn’t. I was searching for something to give my life a reason to push forward. I have had a rough year in terms of career, relationships, and personal confusion. I seek for answers but I had no solutions. I didn’t understand a lot of my experiences. I realized now that I don’t need to understand them anymore. My brother defined me as someone who has ran into a wall and I am slowly picking myself up. I do not disagree with him. I ran into a wall.

It is not easy to admit that my life ran astray. Think many people do that but few would admit. Well, I am 33 going 34. In reality, I do have about 15yrs before my body force me admit that I am done with my carpe diem attitude. Given the amount of radiation we are exposed to, hell, I dun even know if I have 15 yrs. What I do with the remaining time is important to me. I am a mathematician as my degree has described me. I don’t believe in fate .I believe that everything is a chance and everything is randomly selected. Our path in life is not pre-destined. We can easily be a super star one day and a fuck up the next. So, it is up to the individual to make the best use of his or her life. I wished I were a lucky ass where everything good falls before me. Well, too bad. Suck it up and move on.

I woke up from my 15hours sleep refreshed. For once, I didn’t think about the one person who has made my life a personal roller coaster in the last 8mths. I woke up refreshed and ready to challenge the world. I had breakfast with a close friend, someone who has been dear to me for a long time. Well, I keep all my friends very close; Bohe, Chris, Serena, Marc, Paul, 10, Ai Lay and Johnny (Moo, you weren’t around but I remembered your words and advice)….  You have made my weekend something really cool. You all reminded me what’s important. Sometimes what we fight for in life is only worthy if we can share it with our love ones, close ones.

A birdie is no big deal, if I couldn’t share with my close pals. Hell, I got my brother excited enough. I was out with my buddy and saw him happy in the arms of someone he cannot love but what the hell… at that moment, he was dancing the night away with her. He wore a smile on his face which I have never seen before. Well, I have never seen him grooving to house music too. My nephew secretly conspired with me to splashed water on his daddy’s face by the poolside. The friendship with a 3 years old is as pure as it can get, I am his Uncle John. Golfing with Bohe is always a fun day. He slaughtered me on the fairway with his kick ass swing but he still gave me 0,2,2. Only close friends gets 0,2,2. Well, I still lost but I took it all back on the mahjoy and poker table. He was withering in exhaustion and  was leaning on brotherhood juice to stay awake just to keep me company. Chris came and became his tag team partner in the HANG OUT WITH JP WEEKEND.

Marc, you don’t get drunk anymore after all that Hangzhou training, good seeing my buddy steaming ahead in life. Ai Lay, I met you because of a pair of Oakleys, 5 yrs and many pairs of Oakley’s later. I still enjoyed your company even though, we don’t hang out as much as I would have preferred. . Serena… you and I trade more complains than aunt aggie columns. Thanks for listening.

Thanks Friends. This is why life is still beautiful. 

I took my very first ever golf swing with 7 iron at a driving range many years ago. Under the watch eye of my brother/coach, I chopped the iron right onto the ground, sending the ball 10m to the right. Then, I didn’t think this game would give me that much enjoyment and frustration as it had yesterday.

Yesterday morning, May 1st….. I haven’t had a magnificent outing. However, Hole 14 changed my day. Jimmy and Clarence had both teed off. The wing was coming in strong from the left and both their shots veered righted. I took a slight lean to the left and gave it a full swing… No additional force, just a nice full swing. The contact was clean and my posture was firm. I sent the ball into a high arc.  At that moment Jimmy realized that the ball was going to land on the green and got really excited. The ball landed 6 ft away from the cup and didn’t roll away. It just landed right there. At that moment, I still couldn’t comprehend how big the deal was. Then I realized, this is gonna be my first ever birdie! If I do not screw up my 6ft putt!  The putt is no longer just a putt. Both the guys gave me as much time as I needed. After reading the line, I place my position a slight lean to the right and gave it a soft stroke. The ball rolled slowly as if it were teasing me on, keeping me in suspense. One feet after another, it covered the ground. Then the moment, I hear the cluck sound from the bottom of the cup and yes I have made my first ever birdie. May 1st, hole 14, masters course at Laguna Country Club in

Singapore

. I have written myself a personal history. It was sweet. It was worth the wait and hours at the range. How badly I played leading up to the 14th no longer didn’t matter……. I have recorded my first ever Birdie.

SUMMER IS HERE!!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT!

The HEAT is Abundant! The Water’s Crisp!

Boy running in their boardSHORTS.. Gals in their Gorgeous Bikinis!!!

The Beer is flowing.. The MARE engine is ROARING

TIME TO PUT ON those Binding…. Time to bunny hop…

Time to grab that handle close.. time to give your edging the additional Dose….

Time to fly…. NO! it is time to fooking Fly!!

Two wakes, indies, Melan 180s,

Backroll, Scarecrow, and FrontRoll!!!

MoBY DICK, TOOTSIE Roll and Crow MOBe!!!!!

They are all there… waiting for you to try!!!

SO Summer is here!!!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT

CARPE DIEM!!!!!!!!!

Wakenutts!!! Ure DA BEST!!!!

writer’s block.

i wanna write something today.. but i dunno what I wanna write about. My mind is blank..

I was at the airport, just got into Hong Kong, a little tired from being cramped up for 4 hours.. As I walked into immigration to have my passport stamp.. a gal caught my attention. She is pretty, big round eyes and long straight hair and her Sleeveless top was a dead giveaway that she is more Singaporean than Hong Kong-er.  She was on her own, but I noticed she was glancing toward another counter where a slight well build good looking guy was also having his passport stamp.. Judging by the way their eyes were “talking” to each other. It looked like they were on a trip together but they choose to queue at separate booths.  She completed her immigration process first and waited for him.. As he approached towards her, she let out a big smile and their shared a very affectionate kiss… Ah, another happy couple finishing their weekend holiday off with a warm kiss… Me on the other hand, walked alone towards to belt to pick up my check in suitcase. It took forever and after 20min, my oversized golf bag finally showed up and I just lugged it along, forgetting the trolley… Then, right in front there she is, the pretty gal, but she is walking through the custom check all by herself. The guy whom she just embraced was nowhere to be seen.  I can’t help but wonder. Was their trip a secret rendezvous? Are they leading their lives dangerously, a deep affair that can only be transacted in private.

I just can’t help but wonder how much of this goes on everyday in our lives.

A few months ago, think Sept last yr, 7.30am, I boarded onto a minibus to begin my weekly pilgrimage to china for a full day of wakeboarding. I was still in a dreamy state as I had just spent a wonderful evening and night with a special someone whom I was deeply in love with.  There was a young lady sitting behind me. She was on a phone conversation with someone whom I concluded would be her boyfriend and from their sweet and soft manner she talked, I can only guess that they too had just spent a wonderful evening and she was on her way home, at 7.30 in the morning. Actually, I didn’t have to guess; she did described how much a nice time she just had with him. On a minibus, you can hear everyone’s conversation. Then another call came into her line and everything’s changed.. her tone was harsher and she sounded impatient. Judging by the conversation, the incoming call was her “boyfriend” who just demanded where she “disappeared” too the whole night. Her reply was she just completed a whole nights of Mahjong and am tired and don’t appreciate she being summon by him in that manner.  That day, I thanked God that I had a wonderful relationship and I prayed that such deceitful relationships would never happen to me.

Lock, hold, Pop, Hold , Roll, hold, Spot and Land.

Lock and hold the approach. On the pop, hold a nano second before engaging the roll, hold the body muscle on the roll and upon complete rotation, spot and land.

Today was another attempt to work on the scarecrow.  the pop was pretty decent.. I have been consistently getting it big, however the roll leaves very much to be desire. It was either I roll too soon or too late or slow.. the end result, my nutts too it hard.

Riding is

Singapore

is fun, warm waters, nice sun, flat waters and most of all big wakes.. Terry’s X-star rocks.  Wakes can’t get bigger than that. With all the ballast topped up… the ride up the wake is a massive discipline. I had a hard time as I tend to pop too early..  however, the moment I hit the crest of the wake.. I will know because the height you get is amazing.

I rode 70ft today. it gave me more time to hold my grabs and also the longer the higher. it was kinda nice.

I was out with Kay Tuck today. He had just returned from a long break and so was a little apprehensive. I took some pictures of him. Through the Lens, I could see how happy he was to be back on the water. He is riding the Ricky Gonzales, 132. The board is sharp.. An absolute beauty.  Gator board stock has indeed been on the rise. Although there is no break through designs.. their graphics are so sweet. 

I got another outing tomorrow.. I hope the weather hold up.. Rain has so cut shorten two of my golf games, one wakboard session. It is not even the raining season. I dunno what’s up…

If people wonder why wakenutss who leaves for China to wakeboard would keep going to China week in week out, barely the grit of a horrendous road trip.. This weekend would be have been a great answer to that mystery. And no it has nothing to do with Chinese “massage” services.

There were just 4 of us..  Mikey, VL, myself and new gal, Mandy.  4 to a reservoir, all to ourselves. The mere thought of that got me excited enuff to forget about the stressful week that I have had.   I met VL at 7.30am at Wan chai to begin the trip, going thru the checkpoints, hooked up with Mikey and  Mandy, hopping into another car.. We didn’t get to 厚街 till 10.10.  However, the moment we open the door, we knew something gonna suck.. A strong gust of wind greeted me and out on the water, we saw white caps and massive ripples… F*CK!

I didn’t think I could get onto the water that day although we would not just hopped back into the car and head back to Shenzhen. Thus, we ended up just messing around with our boards. I took out my two boards, (my darlings, #1 and #5. haha)..  and Sharon’s from the board room to give it a good wash( one should never complain about giving their girlfriends a shower).. Michael has done a good job giving us a big boardroom to keep our stuff. However, the place is extremely dusty. Sharon’s board been dormant for the entire winter and judging by the layer of dust over the surface, a geologist can actually tell when the last time the board, The CWB SOL, had seen any water time. VL happily converted his PS3 into the a TOFU delivery board ( he pasted stickers from the tofu delivery car made famous by 周杰伦in the Movie initial-D).  We also spent some time figuring out how to best build a slider that would not scare the jibbers out of the riders. Something progressive. My last trip to Niseko had given me the ideas that we should always start low and start wide…. Get the body to adapt to muscles needed for sliding on hard surface. Mikey finalized the blue print is out and handed to Michael. Now we are ready for the next step…  buying materials.

About noon-time. The wind started to calm down and we happily geared for what would be a really good day!!! Courtesy of Dino, we now have a waterproof video camera and what happen next would ultimately became another milestone in our wakenutts history.  We had a inflatable buoy tied behind the lower hook of the natique and let out about 60ft line to the back. I was the first to get on with the Video Camera. For the first time in Wakenutts history, we have video footage of riders from the surface of the water 15feet away from the rider.  It was amazing esp. when we pull inverts, our head can be as close as 10 ft from the camera.  Apart from take video, it seemed that having a buoy out could be an effective technique to teach new riders. Being close to the new rider, you can correct the riders posture right on the spot.

Since there were only so few of us.. we  put the rest of the time to good use…  VL spent the day focussin on riding goofy.. On his first set, he was crashing off two wakes but by end of day.. he had all his grabs and 180 locked in… On his goofy.. Would be cool to see him one day ride mirror image style on regular and goofy. I worked on my toeside Frontroll.. My indecision of wanting to go frontroll nor scarecrow is really hurting me.. Because of my indecision, I am not focused on sticking the landing. I have managed to come around on Friday’s trampoline lesson but still under-rotated on water.  VL kept reminding to ride strong all the way. I have a tendency to ride strong but loosen up once in midair.  For all tricks, we always ride strong, pop strong, rotate strong and land strong. Something I have to overcome. Anyway all in a days work. I ended the day with a bruise ass having crash so much on it.

We had dinner in Shenzhen, Mandy’s treat since she stuck her surface 180’s. It is her second time wakeboarding.. Pretty good for a newbie..  And we ended the night in HK for Matthew’s Bday party… A good day indeed.

Wednesday, I got up at 6.14am..  It is a Hong Kong Public holiday and I woke up earlier than my normal work mornings. I looked out of my window, Sunny- great.  I forgot about why or what hadcaused my insomniac state, spruced up the PC and burned a real cool CD. Today is riding day and I wanna ride to the cool tunes of BlackEyePeas and Gorillaz.. Ha…

Matthew, Mikey, Hydie, Scarecrow and I will be heading to Wakeaholic at Tung Chung.. It is sort of like a homecoming. For Tung Chung was where Matthew, Hydie and I met the first time, and thus it, for me in a way, was the beginning of what would eventually be the formation of Wakenutts.   It was Leo’s encouragement and his camera that got me hooked on Wakeboarding Photography. Back in summer of 03, he handed me his NIKON 35mm SLR and asked me to shoot some pictures at the MTV wakeboarding party, since then I had not looked back..  We had a lot of history.. Good or bad.. it was history worth looking back.

Sometime, last yr, Leo bought a X-2.. Gotto say, Mastercraft makes good wakeboard boat.. Wake was big and consistent. There is lots of time to prepare for the ascension. No surprise nor sudden tug of the line etc…  Fully loaded, it is just pure riding joy.. Riding in Tung Chung too, gets me really pump up.. Very few places in HK can offer such flat conditions. Pretty soon, the Cable car system to The big Buddha will be available and there will be more reason to excited about.. Can’t wait to hop into one of the carts and shoot riders from above the horizon.

Wednesday ride allowed me to test an hypothesis too.. For a long while, I could not understand why CWB stretched the length of the molded in fins for the 06 absolute model. The 05 model was simply just dynamic in every area.. Length, weight, rockers, fins.. The pops are consistently.. it rides neither too fast nor too slow..  In my world, it was the perfect board.  Now I know. The extended fins in the 06 model gives extra traction to aid the rider when he rides in seawater… Boards ride higher in sea water due to density.. and thus with lengthened molded fins, it rides just like the 05 model in fresh water.. I am not sure if that was what they had in mind.. but when Mikey and I rode the 06 for the first time on Sea-water,  we both agreed that the traction problems we had with it when riding at 厚街 were gone. With the increased grip, my landings were smooth and it gave me enuff room to compensate around on impact to ride off unscathed.

Wednesday was also another big day because I was using my Canon EOS 30D,  with EF 70-200mm F2.8 L  IS USM lens for the first on wakeboarding.. The picture quality was simple breathtaking.  I was so engrossed in shooting that I forgot how damn$%@#@  heavy the entire set up were. The camera made me the cameramen that I aspire. It was like a dream come true.  For the first time after a long while, I finally shot Hydie wakeboarding. Somehow over the last few yrs.. I have always missed the opportunity to shoot her.. She has of course taken plenty footage of me on video. I am glad I finally caught her in stills.. She is a good rider if her bad knee didn’t screw up her confidence and fear of being aggressive, she should be the first gal pulling all sorts of grabs and inverts by now.

Scarecrow, we have a scarecrow on board ( Connie’s nickname). On water, we were going scarecrow crazy.. Matt started it..  coming in hard, pop and spin around, crashed…. I have been thinking of it for awhile.. Esp. since I totally still massively sucked at the Tanturm.. Figure a change may help and so I scare-crowed too.. Given that I was naturally weak on toeside because of my hunching posture, I was very surprised that my edging coming in was more progressives than when I just try to cross two wakes.. Hydie commented that she knew my pop was gonna be big when I made the approach.. Somehow, I had the feeling that I know this trick. I couldn’t explain it..   After a few toe 180’s, I came in for the spin.. I thought of nothing.. Hit the wake and tossed my hip up towards the left and kept my head tugged.. Naturally, I felt myself being spin around by the line.. But next time, I knew, I hit the water hard on the flats..  Despite Leo’s advise, I was not able to see the water on landing.. somehow, I didn’t have the final bit of room to roll back upright. I tried a few times without successful… In the end , I got so tired I was totally missing the pop…  The scarecrow attempts got me really excited, I felt I was stucked..  stucked in the grabs and one invert zone… It gave me a new zeal to land the sucker. I am gonna take a break from the tantrum and focus beating Matthew to land the scarecrow before he does!!!!  He he he……