HAPPY BIRTHDAY POPS!!

This is my Dad.
It was his Birthday yesterday so I figured it was a good time to share with everyone that my parents have been the biggest positive influence throughout my life. They have always told me that I could be or do anything . . . I looked up to them so much that I believed it (lucky).
My Dad makes friends anywhere he goes. People just seem to want to be on his team (I think it's because it's obvious that he loves life so much). I like to think that I take after him.
He loves football (Soccer) like I love skateboarding so Dad, I want you to know we play football every Tuesday and Thursday morning!





Happy Birthday Dad! I love you.

SKATE JAM in CHACHOENGSAO!!

Because we skate morning until night all week long, on the weekends we like to relax and have a little R&R. On the other hand . . . WE COULD SKATE MORE!
A new indoor park opened in Bangkok and Es had friends from all over going to the Chachoengsao Skate Jam on Sunday (which happens once a month . . . so cool!). We decided to forego resting and shred it up . . . Here are some of the pictures from the weekend (click to enlarge).




This is the housing on the river bank, Thailand rustic . . . grittily romantic.




This is a typical modern-day Tuk Tuk pilot.




Exotic VIP cat.




Attempting to escape the heat for a minute.




Hey!, eels are on sale this week . . . only 20 Baht!(not you Eelss)

Here are some highlights from the JAM . . .




Pek wins the high ollie!




Es kickflips over the box . . .




and Eit with a torqued melon!




Eit again . . . backside tailslip!




Bom (the MC pictured) will be a movie director someday . . . for now he just rips and edits films and throws awesome skate jams!

With all of the excitement, I decided it was time to get something done too . . . so I launched myself over this dirt gap a dozen times . . .








sweat and blood and fun




"V" shaped gutter on the sides of the street = ouch!




Victory!!




Hope everyone out there is living it up . . . this is it people!!
If you need any suggestions . . . just ask!
Don't be an eel monkey with a bullem head!

Some random eye candy . . .

Here are some different things that i have taken photos of in the last few weeks. This is just a little taste of the flavor of suburban Thailand (as with most of my entries, clicking on a small picture will enlarge) enjoy! . . .




My skaters joke that dogs are "VIP" in Thailand . . . which means that they get to be anywhere . . . and are EVERYWHERE! They hang out on every sidewalk, on the islands between intersections and in front of every shop. At night they can be found getting there "mack on" to ensure future generations of VIP dogs.






These are typical outdoor market shops which exists on a few streets in each town. The ability to buy a glass of fresh juice for 5 Baht (15 cents) still excites me to no end!






A typical street . . . and a cute baby a had to shoot.




This is just the condensation on my cupholder on the bus . . . I just liked it. Next entry . . . learn the delights of the Mangkoot!!

Dying for a minute . . . but I am back!

Hey my friends!
So, I think the change of . . . well, EVERYTHING took it's toll and I ended up getting a fairly severe case of Bronchitis (ouch). Bed ridden for a few days and now felling much better after about half way through antibiotics . . . so there that is.
Back to the program!

Happy Birthday Andrea!!

I know it's late . . . but I am claiming the half world rule (as long as it's the same week!)
(CLICK PIC to view)




. . .  I Can't wait to see you for Christmas when our family gets the best gift ever!
 

Pattaya Adventure . . .

It was Mother's Day weekend in Thailand (Happy Mother's Day Mom, I Love You!), so we decided to take a trip to the infamous Pattaya. The best description I can think of to describe this city is Cabo on Steroids. There is SO much going on and so much potential for mayhem it almost defies belief . . . of course we stayed out of most of it ;)
Here are some of the strange and wonderful goings on in Pattaya for the crew which consisted of;
Myself, Mike Opalek (inline coach), Martti (flatland coach), Note (inline skater), Nui (one of my skateboarders), Noi (our medical technician) and Pup (Noi's friend from Bangkok) . . .
(OH, CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE!!)










This was our day at the beach. Fun in the sun, relaxing with Coconut juice and a huge seafood spread throughout the afternoon . . . Top picture (left to right)- Mike, Noi, Pup, Note and Nui.








As Usual, there is fun and games along the way . . . this one was "the bush jump", which I decided to dive right into. Around this time of night, Note transforms into a Warlock and starts trying to cast spells and stuff . . . pretty cool.




Mike and I met up at the International Meeting Street . . . where the world comes to um, meet I guess. On this street at night, the girls will be boys (proceed with caution . . . Martti!)




Riding around in an open air taxi - me Martti and Note




The fish eyeball challenge. After, we claimed the Grouper carcass for the good 'ol US of A . . . and replaced the eye with a cherry!




Night Life is abundant in Pattaya no matter what team you're on!

More Pattaya to come after I transfer my photos . . . this batch courtesy of Mike.
Cheers From Paradise!

Shrewgy brings the "yoon"

This is a recent correspondence with my buddy Shrewgy. In case it's even possible that anyone doesn't know him, he's a skater who's been in the game forever. He is the person who got me into judging which is definately part of how this coaching job came to pass . . . Thanks Shrewg!(this is the only picture of you I have in Thailand) -





Ughhh, that is pretty sick. Do you know that Nutt and Ji are my friends? I love them dudes. I know Tong too, he always judges the Thai Asian X Qualifiers. He used to work for Quiksilver Thailand too. I was never able to get his e-mail to work though. Damn, homey do it up man! I hope you can get those guys into contest form. I am sure you have noticed now that they definitely have the skills!

Keep posting in the blog and I'll keep checking up on it. Oh yeah how are the "yoon" (mosquitoes) in Suphanburi treating you, they were kinda savage when I went there (no repellant).

Shrewg

What's up Shrewgy!!
Thanks for hittin' me up!
Yes! I do know that Nutt and Ji know you . . . they asked me about where you were and I told them about you going on that Emerica bike tour . . . they both went "ooooooooohhhhhhhhh!". It was pretty awesome!
The mosquitos are not even existent yet . . . now that you planted the seed, I am sure that will change (HAHA).
You wouldn't believe the gruelling days I put these guys through . . . So far they have ALL learned backside and frontside 50/50 nollie out, shov-it out and backside and frontside 180 out . . . into transition over the box! I won't even start with what they've learned on transition in one week . . . basically they rule!
They're freaking warriors man! Even when they're scared or tired or hurt, they still want to try!
I am already a proud coach . . .
Anyways, rock on and i'll hit ya back again soon!
EK

Our 300 attempt . . . AHOO!

I have finalized our weekly training schedule, so just in case anyone wants to know how I am spending my days out in good ‘ol Suphan Buri, Thailand . . . here is the break down;

Monday/Wednesday/Friday-

6:30 – 6:45 AM: stretching
6:45 – 7:15 AM: Jogging (approximately 3 miles on the track)
7:15 – 7:30 AM: stretching
7:30 – 8:15 AM: weight training (in the campus health club)
8:15 – 8:30 AM: stretching (you can’t get enough stretching!)
8:30 – 9:00 AM: Breakfast . . . kai dow is egg, cow is rice . . . ka-pow-moo-kai-dow is spicy pork with rice and egg on top (not too shabby for 67 cents!)
9:00 AM – 12:30 PM: free time
12:30 – 1:00 PM: Lunch
1:00 – 5:00 PM technical training (hour after hour of perfecting to specific detail, all kinds of skateboarding trickery on flat ground and transition.
5:00 PM on: free time (from what I here, they eat and sleep . . . I consider it a success when I wear out the guys!)

Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday-

6:30 – 6:45 AM: stretching
6:45 – 7:30 AM: swimming (treading water until exhaustion, rest, swim under water as far as possible contests, swim laps, etc.)
7:30 – 7:45 AM: stretching
7:45 – 8:45 AM: technical training
8:45 – 9:15 AM: Breakfast
9:15 AM – 12:30 PM: free time
12:30 – 1:00PM Lunch
*afternoon is the same as Mon/Wed/Fri
So that is what my life consists of six days a week, but make no mistake . . . the fun is in the details!
Here is what I look like in my Thai National training gear @6:00AM for a morning workout!!
(note the obvious morning hair and face!)

One for my love!

This one goes out to my very favorite Team-mate! The one who always has my back and always makes me feel like someone more than I am on my own . . .





Rock On Babe!!

The Adventure has begun . . .

My first week of coaching is going wonderfully!
Below is a picture of myself and my assistant coach Ton . . .







The Thailand National Skateboard Team is(from left to right): Nut, Ed, Stan, Nui and Ji (pronounced JEE).
I was a little nervous about how we would get along for about three and a half minutes.
As it seems anywhere I've traveled so far, when it comes to skateboarders we're all just relatives who haven't yet met. The guys are warriors! They are great students, great skaters pupils and new family.
It is truly a gift I am relishing!
I met them on Saturday for our first training session - we ran three miles in the morning, skated in the afternoon (i mostly watched and took notes and gave some small instruction) and went out and partied Saturday night (at this crazy club with a live stage show for about three hours with Thai men and women covering Avril Lavigne songs and other Thai and International pop hits). At my riders request, we trained Sunday (our day off) for about three hours . . . JUST FOR FUN!! Way cool!
Thailand is rich with culture, the people are open and warm hearted and food is about 80 cents a meal.
If you are the on the Thai National Team (or their coach), people see your emblems (we were outfitted with training gear, "Thailand" across the shoulders and National and Olympic symbols on front), then you get a little extra excitement in your "Sa-Wat-Dee" (hello) whenever meeting someone. It is an honor to be here and I can't wait to see how it all unfolds!

My first blog . . . Charmed, I'm sure.

Dare to dream
After leaving SFO some ten plus hours ago, I am sitting in Tokyo International Airport awaiting the second leg of my flight to my latest adventure . . . Thailand National Skateboarding Coach!
I made a new friend, Shunsuke, on the plane. “Shun” was flying home to Japan to visit his family and "expecting" sister for summer break from school in Concord. We talked and shared photos and stories most of the flight.
Shun’s sister (who happens to be his families dog as well) got pregnant on his birthday recently . . . I’m not certain how he knew it was the same day, but congratulations to his “little sister” none-the-less! Here is a picture of us on the plane before I offered the lady next to me my extra sugar packet as a joke (my bad attempt at overcoming our language barrier).