I have been surfing for a while.  I am so addicted to it that I thought of staying in La Union for one whole month just to surf and surf and surf

Anyway, despite the fact that I have had many surf trips, I don’t consider myself a true surfer yet.  I know how to ride the waves, but if you leave me alone in the ocean, I wouldn’t know how to paddle and ride a wave on my own.

I am dedicated to surfing and I really wanted to hone the skill.

Surfers always say “surfing is 90% paddling”

I tried to make my arms strong enough… I used to do laps on our pool before, everyday!  I jogged 3-5 kilometers a day just to increase my endurance.  I stopped though because I haven’t been surfing lately.

Despite the fact that I am building stronger muscles, without much practice out in the ocean, I won’t learn how to surf on my own.

I was so excited when Club Manila East had us for a day, toured us around the place and have us experience surfing in a different way.

Club Manila East has 2 huge wave pools that create artificial waves.  By artificial I mean it’s machine generated.  There are many water activities that you can do at Club Manila East.  It’s a water theme park.  You can go kayaking, pool basketball, slide, cliff dive, surf on baby waves, surf on giant waves and many more.  But to me, surfing is the highlight of the place!

The wave pool is scheduled.  It usually opens at 2pm.

Surfing in the wave pool is much different from the sea.

Advantages of artificial wave pool

1. Continuous waves.  Every 4 seconds, there’s a wave upcoming.  You don’t have to wait for waves to surf, you just go and paddle!
2. Safer than the ocean.  No sharks, controlled water, no current, no jelly fish, no reefs.
3. Good for beginners.  Anyone can surf here pretty much.  Even if you don’t know how to do it.  You’re 4 years old or you’re a fit 60 year old you can.  Waves are gentle, there are coaches around guiding you, it’s safe.
4. Good for practice.  like me… I can practice my paddling
5. For Club Manila East specifically, one great advantage is that if you’re itching to surf and you live in the city, you wouldn’t have to travel far away to surf.  It takes only roughly about an hour from the city proper to go here!

Disadvantages of artificial wave pool

Nothing much really except that the experience of surfing in the ocean is a much more thrilling adventure.

Riding the waves on my own

I told you that I don’t know how to catch a wave by myself and that I need to hone my paddling skills right.  Well this place was really perfect!!!  With the waves being continuous, I never stopped practicing my paddling.  I told Coach Ejay about my goal of learning how to paddle on my own.  He usually pushes people surfing to have a smother ride.  But instead of having him assist me on surfing physically, I asked him to coach me into getting to ride a wave of my own without “tulak.”

Cameras Used:

Nikon D40 with 70-300mm G Nikkor lens

Panasonic Lumix LZ10

Trying to paddle on my own

go go go!

Ta-da!!! I FINALLY DID IT!!!

chillin’  The waves ususally have a 10 minute break.

This is our cool Coach Ejay from Philippine Surfing Academy.

Since Vince and I already know how to surf, we brought along Keving and Cherylyn

In a few minutes they already know how to surf!

Kevin

Vince surfs in San Diego.  He tried the wave pool as well.

Surf mates with coaches.

There are many other things you can do in Club Manila East!

First, you can jump 15 feet off a man-made cliff to a 14 ft deep pool

If that’s too boring for you, you can do the Eagle Swan Dive as popularized by Marc Nelson

If you want to just chill on top of the water, you may kayak with your friends

Cool shower facility showering with buko lol

To protect me from the sun on a normal day, I use Vaseline Healthy White lotion.

But, if you’re doing hardcore water sports, you need a sun block

I use Vaseline sun block.  I use this ever since promo girls applied this to me like a year ago in Boracay.

love the scent, less sticky and you could definitely see that it’s waterproof and it’s working.

See the water isn’t being absorbed by the skin.  The sun block stays on the skin for long even if I go surfing like crazy.

if you’re more acrobatic you can be creative with your jumps

Giant Slide? Anyone?

My Panasonic Lumix LZ10 took great shots *tears*

I must say the Panasonic Lumix TZ5 series does better shots.. but I bought the Panasonic Lumix LZ10 for just 5k php… not bad!

If you hate the sun so much and you don’t want to get dark, they have a shaded area

They also have an artificial river.  You can sit on a big buoy and let yourself be dragged by the current.

Ready to jump with me?

Marble skies… I love photography

Excited to go on your very own City Surf Trip?

Here’s more info on Club Manila East

Club Manila East water park

Km. 24 Manila East Road Taytay, Rizal 1920

Phone: 284-4740 to 41 / 284-4754 or 58 / 284-4768 to 69 / 660-2801 to 02

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