Travel Guide -Thailand.com

Thailand’s short surfing history

Thailand is not known to have waves and only just in the last few years has the craze hit with an amazing punch. Although Thailand is not known for world class waves, still it can be fun and on a good day it may resemble your favorite home beach break in the season of summer. Surfers have been coming here for over 25 years now. They are obviously keeping the secret between them and the surfing world. Many come back and stay longer each time. Eventually some had decided to settle here and make it their home. As more people came here on holiday seeking what Thailand had to offer - stumbling down the beach full of Thai food looking for a massage - they saw what they thought couldn’t be true waves breaking on a sandy beach. People talked, and the word spread quickly.

With resources such as the internet and advertising a new phenomena had begun. Surf shops started springing up, clubs were formed, surf contest held every year, and of course surf schools and surfboards for hire.

The Local Surfers

Thais definitely have the surfing spirit behind them. Most of the Thai surfers learned the art by borrowing surfboards and purchasing second hand boards from traveling foreigners. If they were lucky enough one would be left behind or given as a gift of friendship. As time progressed some even tried the hand at building their own, unfortunately the materials were hard to come by and the learning hard and tedious.

These days surf shops and factories in Thailand have surfboards and genuine brands from all over the world, and at competitive prices too.

Competition can be very fierce in the crowded waters at the popular beaches such as Kata beach, but most Thais are quite friendly in the water and love to have a chat.
Being polite and courteous will get you a long way.

The Foreign Surfers

People from all over the world congregate here in the surf season to enjoy the ocean in many forms, diving, snorkeling, sailing, kite boarding, swimming and of course surfing. With the warm water and soft rolling waves fun can be had from the beginner to the advanced surfer. People love to surf and usually once they try the hook is in. After the first real wave, just have to have one more. It’s not just the waves; it’s the people, the fantastic food, the awesome beaches. The list goes on and on. The foreign surfers that migrate here every year come from all over the world such as Switzerland, Germany, France, England, Australia, etc. Countries that don’t even have surf, have surfers these days. Guess where they learnt, Thailand.