AS I stand here with my toes buried in the soft sand, listening to the sounds of the waves lapping gently against the shore, memories of my late uncle who truly loved the ocean comes flooding back. I remember how he’d always take me to the beach whenever the school holidays rolled around. We’d build sand castles for hours until I was satisfied with the creation.
The breeze blowing gently around me, I stand transfixed, staring towards the blue horizon from the coastline of Desaru, Johor.
“I don’t think we can try any kitesurfing today because the wind direction just isn’t right,” says someone from behind, startling me out of my reverie. Turning around, I spot the broad-shouldered and tanned champion kitesurfer, Daniel Leow, standing just a few metres away, a small polyester bag no larger than a badminton racquet clasped in his hand.
“The winds are blowing from inland and if we’re not careful, we might just be swept away out to sea. I don’t think I want to take that chance. So sorry…” he explains regretfully. Putting on a nonchalant smile, I wave his apologies away even though I’m a little crestfallen at the turn of events. Not wanting to give up just yet, we settle ourselves down under a shady tree, both silently — and fervently — praying that the wind would change soon.
“You know, to be a really good kitesurfer, you have to become a great weatherman too. You need to be able to predict the weather conditions before drawing your kite. Unfortunately, it’s not looking good today,” says Leow, sounding disappointed.
NEW LEASE OF LIFE
This relatively long public coastline on the eastern side of Johor has changed a lot over the years. I remember the stories my uncle told me about the rudimentary shacks and fishing boats in the area. Although the beach has been spruced up considerably, one thing remains the same — the high waves that are a magnet for lovers of water sports.
Further down the coast is the southern state’s latest tourist attraction, Desaru Coast Resort, which looks set to transform Johor’s coastline into a luxury and adventure hub. In an ode to the sand and sea, the resort will be gearing up for the first ever Asian hydrofoil surfing tour competition in the country this month with the Kiteboard Tour Asia (KTA) Asia-Pacific Hydrofoil Series.
Leow, the champion of round one, which was held in Koh Samui, Thailand, last year, is ready to continue showing his prowess on the waves between Dec 14 and Dec 16. “Actually, my last race was at the World Championship in Denmark last August,” he shares, adding: “The competition was really tough there but fun. I got to meet so many elite racers. I even learnt a couple of tricks and picked up lots of tips from them. I’m hoping to apply it all in my race here.”
SURROUNDED BY WATER
Being the son of a windsurfing legend, Leow shared that he has pretty much grown up surrounded by water all his life. “I started doing water sports at a very young age. In diapers even!” he confides, chuckling. His dad would regularly put him on a wind surfboard and push him out to sea with it. He remembers the numerous times he followed his dad around the country as well as nearby countries for competitions, including international games such as the SEA Games and pre-Olympic competitions.
“I just love being near water, hence my decision to finally make the move to Kuantan from the city,” reveals Leow, adding: “I’ve always found the city to be rather suffocating. I feel kinda trapped when I’m there.”
The water enthusiast started off with windsurfing when he was about 15. “I was following in my father’s footsteps. At the time, kitesurfing wasn’t very popular yet,” recalls the 40-year-old before continuing: “I did that for about 10 to 11 years, of which the last three to four years of that period, I windsurfed competitively. What fascinated me most about the sport? The sense of freedom that it gave me. Through this sport I also got to travel to some of the most beautiful beaches.”
With a smile, he recalls fond memories of driving in his trusty old Proton Saga headed to wherever the races were held or just wherever the wind and sea called his name. “I always have my equipment ready in my car. I’m always well-prepared for any eventuality or opportunity to ride the waves,” says Leow.
It was only in mid-2000s that he switched from windsurfing to kite surfing, a period when the sport was slowly beginning to pick up. “I saw one of my dad’s friends trying it out and I got excited. It looked really dangerous back then because the equipment weren’t great. It was still a relatively new sport then,” he enthuses, adding: “But that didn’t stop me from wanting to try. It just looked really fun!”
Being a true adrenaline junkie, Leow is constantly on the lookout for new inventions or innovations to the water sports world. So, when hydrofoil was introduced with kiting, he jumped at the chance to try it out.
“When I first got onto my first hydrofoil, the immense adrenaline rush hit me like a wave of nostalgia, bringing me back to the very first time I started windsurfing and kitesurfing. To be able to learn new things is what spurred me on to pursue hydrofoiling competitively,” he shares.
But Leow is swift to add that hydrofoiling is the toughest sport among all the water sports that he has ever tried. “It’s three-dimensional. It requires extra motor skills to control both the board and the kite. It’s a bit like riding a unicycle on water actually,” reveals Leow, eyes twinkling. “You just need to find your balance and work together with the kite and the wind.”
UNDERSTANDING THE OCEAN
Our conversation unexpectedly stops as Leow stares intently at the smoke coming from a small fire a little distance away. What’s happening, I couldn’t help asking. Acknowledging my confusion, he explains: “Oh! There are several hacks to see where the wind is blowing. See the smoke there? If it blows towards the sea means the wind is coming from inland. If it blows in any other direction, then we’re good to go.”
Unfortunately for me, the smoke continues to blow towards the sea.
As we continue with our conversation, I couldn’t help but ask him whether his mother ever approved of his daredevil ways. “She’s forever worried of me being out at sea all the time,” admits Leow, with a laugh. “But I’ll always find ways to calm her, such as reinforcing the idea that the sport is actually safe. And I also make it a point to go back to places I’m familiar with in order to lessen any impending accidents. If you already know the lay of the ocean, it takes away some of the dangers.”
For places that he’s unfamiliar with, Leow will do a quick recce first. He will observe for rocky banks or rocky ocean dividers as well as fishing nets. “It doesn’t take long. Just ask the locals and they’ll tell you everything you need to know,” he advises. However, he also recommends having contingency plans laid out in case of emergencies. “Should I swim back? Should I call for help? Are there any fishing boats nearby that can rescue me? Those are just some of the things that I take note of before going out in the big blue.”
Having said that, he concedes that there is a problem that he struggles with. With a hearty chuckle, he shares: “I have a lot of fish problems! I always find fishes getting stuck to my board or hitting it without warning. I’m sure none of them are injured. A concussion perhaps, but none killed!”
He recounts the one time that he hit a fish so hard that it sent him flying off his board and into the ocean. “You know, when you’re going that fast on a hydrofoil, hitting the ocean then is like hitting the floor,” he shares, brows furrowing at the memory.
As we both laugh at the memory, I feel a sudden tap on my shoulder. It’s a member of the resort staff reminding me of my imminent departure back to KL. “We’ve called a driver to send you to the airport and he will be here in a couple of minutes,” the lady informs me.
As I prepare to gather my things, Leow tells me: “There’s nothing easy about learning how to kitesurf, and it’s impossible not to fall while learning it. My most trusted philosophy about kitesurfing is to always remember: If you don’t fall, you don’t learn. This is a sport where your mistakes will teach you. So, let go of all your fears and have fun!”
His expression earnest, he concludes: “Most importantly, be adventurous, be daring. Find your passion for the sport and be committed to it. It will take time but you’ll eventually get there and it will all be worth it. That’s what I learnt from my dad, who amazingly, is still competitively kitesurfing at 63!”
KITEBOARD TOUR ASIA — ASIAN HYDROFOIL SERIES 2018
Where: Desaru Beach, Johor
When: Dec 14-16, 2018
Website: desarucoast.com or kiteboardtour.asia