Korean Job Discussion Forums

[surfinROK]

Aloha,

I've recently relocated to Haeundae (Busan) from SD, California. Although small, the surfing community in the area is very cool. I'm wondering how many surfers there are residing in various parts of the country and if anybody can offer any knowledge/advice on their local breaks, especially the Pohang area. (Where is "Squids"?)

There is a surf shop along Songjeong-- are there any more around Korea? And how does one go about acquiring a board in this country besides having one shipped over?

www.surfingkorea.com is a good site with info, any others out there? It'd be better to discuss these things in the line-up, but online will work too.

Mahalo. (Komapsumnida.)

[just because]

To be honest, as a former surfer myself, the breaks here are pitiful at best except along the coast at Gangwondo(east coast) where sometimes you might be able to get a good esky lid ride a couple of days a year but not a surfboard ride.

The best you can do is go to the north japanese coast where there are some half-decent breaks at times(especially around Nigatta) but these are very unreliable and infrequent. The had an ASP event there a few years ago and had to call it off due to lack of surf, they waited 5 days.

The best substitiute snowboarding but I'm afraid of the all the bloody Koreans, too amy at those ski resorts not knowing what they are doing.

[turtlepi1]

I have my board here with me in Anyang which is no where near surf...
I hear there is surf in Pohang, and when I was in Busan a couple of months ago there was some surfable stuff.

I don't want to really but I would sell my board for around W600000. (I could even be talked into delivering it.) The GF would be happy because it takes up so much space and I never use it...

It is a pretty good ride but probably a little bigger than you are used to...a great "cheater" board perfect for the waves around here...

If you track down your own board I would be interested in coming over to the other coast sometime and hitting a few with you...

Keep me up to date...

[turtlepi1]

Turns out the Hogwan is closing for an extra little vacation just before New Years. (December 30-January02)

I'm living in Anyang, but like I said I have my surfboard here. We are going to my GF's Korean co-teacher's house for January 1-2 but my GF is working on the 30, 31.

I would like to come over to the East coast a little early and maybe get some surfing in but as of yet I haven't been able to track down the surfing crew posting in Pohang...

Anyone have any leads?

[inexhile]

sorry guys, its a myth. I had access to a board in Pohang and was close to Chilpo and Walpo beaches. I checked often and found a surfable swell once, and a malibu was needed. Also if it's in season the lifeguards won't let you surf as they think the waves are too big (2-3 feet, choppy).
Good hunting and keep me updated if you find a break. I'm in Anyang too, and heard the only waves in a hundred mile radius are at Caribbean Bay.

[turtlepi1]

[Sooke]

I got rid of my surfboard after being here for a year. I left it back home on my first contract, and when i went back after a year, i said goodbye to my beloved board. I figured my board would be happier if he was getting some action back home instead of sitting in korea doing nothing. If you love someone, set them free...

when i realized i would be here longer than a year, i picked up a snowboard. I've gone out a feww times, but it's scary. Think of the opening battle scene from "Saving Private Ryan". Bodies everywhere!!!

[surfinROK]

Still no word from Pohang???

Turtle (North Shore-- "Nobody listens to Turtle...")-- Thanks for the offer on the longer board, but I'm buying a 6'2" (19", 2.25") this week. I've surfed it here in 2-3 waves and it works well. Maybe I'd like to acquire a longer board eventually if my stay ends up being longer.

I've heard the waves get decent here and full on good at times, head high, overhead even. It's all about the typhoons. The few days I've been out it's been small, but fun. If surfing is in your blood and you're not jaded, the waves here work. And inexile-- I've heard the Koreans trip out when you paddle out when there's some size. A chill guy I know from Florida told me he's been out surfing on a head high day and a firetruck and ambulance pulled up to the beach-- they think you're crazy.

I've heard snowboarding is a good substitute, but yeah-- a hazardous endeavor. Still, I've got to stay optimistic about the surfing.

Peace.

[turtlepi1]

No worries....I just got word I might be interested in hanging on to my board for a little bit longer...(long story...still hush hush...)

Thanks for the update...

Good to hear from someone that can have fun on what the ocean provides...

Side note: I was doing a mother's class and I drew Korea and Japan and pointed to the water between the two..I saw my boss and co-teacher cringe...they were bracing for me to call it the Sea of Japan...their faces went blank when I said the "East Sea".

So, enjoy the East Sea...

[just because]

[chiaa]

[turtlepi1]