Joyeux Noël! Merry Christmas!!

Thailand 2011: the trip that was...

I'm home, well back in Canada anyway...after almost 40 hours in transit, I finally saw a familiar face when my good mate Adam Hicks picked me up at the Ottawa airport on Wednesday afternoon. 

His first question of course was "how was the trip?". "Amazing", I answered. After that, I was almost at a loss of words I thought to myself; unable to define with certainty what I had just experienced. Needless to say I was in shock after 40 hours removed from the pristine beaches of Koh Chang and the everyday routine of having the privilege to ride at one of the world's best cable parks, Thai Wake Park.

Now while I sort through the motions of a reverse culture shock be it resolved that our way of life is no more worse nor superior than that of southeast Asia's, it's just different. But that's not to say we couldn't learn a few things...

The simplicity and pace of life is something we could appreciate here in the hustle and bustle mecca of North America. The genuineness of the people of Thailand is truly amazing; the smiles, cheerfulness, diligence, and selflessness is something that I will miss. Be it of course I will try to carry on this spirit long after I have left Thailand.

But upon further reflection, it's not so much about Thailand anymore as much as it is about the thrill and spills of traveling the world and experiencing another culture first hand. 

For those familiar with Travis Rice's The Art of Flight, in the flim's introduction he talks about how our lives have become digital and that we tend experience things through endless amounts of hallow second hand information. "If we want authenticity, we have to initiate it," he says. That statement basically sums up my whole two weeks in Thailand.

The friendships made, friendships renewed, experiences had, and memories made is what continues to fuel my desire to want to keep travelling the world and seek out authenticity in everything I do. My two weeks in Thailand was not a question of quantity, a measure nor duration of time, no. It was simply something of quality. And to that I say, "hold quality undefined" (Robert M. Pirsig) my friends.

***

All this to say that the next trip can't come soon enough...and thanks for following along!

36 hours of paradise: Koh Chang!

(Lonely Beach @ Koh Chang)

After almost a solid two weeks of riding, my body was in need of a rest. Going to the beach was always a non-negotiable goal from day one of booking this trip. Originally I thought I could visit one of the southern islands (like Koh Phi Phi or Raleigh Beach) but time, nor my budget, would afford such luxury. Instead I decided to take my friend Kanar’s advice and visit the island of Koh Chang which is located about 4 hours south of Bangkok in the Bay of Thailand, near the Cambodian border.

I set out early Sunday morning with my French cousins, Mathieu and Estelle (Unfortunately Tibo and Ben couldn’t join me because they were flying out early Monday morning). We were to take the bus to a town called Trat and then ferry over to the island. We decided to first check for a bus at the airport. However we quickly became aware of the textbook play it safe tourist trap and overpriced travel fares. Fuck that.

So we then boarded the city train and headed straight into Bangkok to the main bus terminal. Bangkok is a ginormous city and can be especially intimidating when you factor in the language barrier. But BKK is after all an internationally modern city with a state of the art sky train system that is very easy to navigate. Sure enough we made within 20 minutes of leaving the airport and were able to hop on a bus to Trat as soon as we got there for only 241 Baht, compared to 400 Baht tourist price they wanted at the airport.

(ferry to Koh Chang)

From there it was easy sailing all the way to Koh Chang. We checked in to a cool little tiki hut for only 380 Baht (12$/night) a night at a backpacker spot called Siam Hut, located on Lonely Beach. After that we rented some motorbikes to explore the island at our own leisure for only 200 Baht (6$/day). That night we attended a beach party with good vibes all around and people from all over the world.

The next morning we woke up at a decent hour considering a late/early morning the night before. We first explored where we were on Lonely Beach, and found a cool cliff jumping spot that overlooked the ocean; it was bliss. From there we just spent the day cruising around the island and stopping at various beaches. We stumbled upon a quaint little reggae bar on the southern tip of the island, had a beer, and just took it all in. The scenery, the music, the beer; it was all just too perfect.

(chillin' @ ZION)

Perhaps the only hiccup of the day came when I crashed my motorbike. Nothing serious luckily, but the scooter was damaged enough that I had to pay 2,000 Baht which was a small price to pay for the perfect day I thought.

To finish it all off, the sun disappeared into the ocean as a giant pink and orange fireball. The picturesque sunset was truly the icing on the cake for an amazing day in Koh Chang, and a fitting end to a great two weeks in Thailand…

the story of Koh Chang, coming soon...

I'm currently in a state of disbelief as I pack my bags to go home. I just came back from a sick 36 hour odyssey to the island of Koh Chang. Guess I'll have plenty of time to write about it while in transit from Bangkok to Ottawa. 

It's been a timeless two weeks here in Thailand. I wouldn't say they went by fast or slow, rather it feels more like a time warp wherein time became somewhat irrelevant in the realm of here and now...

shot!

(photo: Tom "the Swede" Axelsson)

TWP Goodbye Floods PARTY!

On Saturday December 17th, 2011, Thai Wake Park will be hosting a party to celebrate the end of the devastating floods that plagued the region for the last couple months while also raising money to help those affected the disaster. 

TWP was lucky enough to avoid major misfortune when the flood waters came within only two meters of the fresh water lake. The wake park is actually located in one of the hardest hit areas of Bangkok. 

It's amazing to see how much the water has receded in just two weeks, but even crazier to imagine that the situation was still even worse three weeks before our arrival. 

My friends who have been here since November remember having to take a boat in order to reach TWP and were often trapped for days at a time without being able to leave. No wonder I had such a hard time getting a cab from the airport when I touched down and was asking them to go to Lam Luk Ka to which they replied "no, no. water water! very bad".

Thankfully life is slowly returning to normal around here with vendors setting back up shop, and people cleaning their mud filled homes that were nearly four feet under water....Goodbye floods, true say!!

Good morning TWP!

(the morning standard: breakfast, e-mails, riding)

New edit: One week in Thailand!!!

One Week in THAILAND from Johny Bonney on Vimeo.

We've been here for over a week now and we've managed to film some okay stuff. Here's a little sample of what we got in the first couple of days. The video features myself (Johny Bonney) and my french partners in crime, Yan Tibo and Ben Leclair. 

We've had a lot of fun and plenty of laughs so far in just one week. There's a good crew of riders here from Thailand, France, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and even Russia. The riding here is second to none, and with Bangkok so close there's never a dull moment. WE LOVE THAILAND!

Rooftop party photos!

Here are a few photos from that rooftop party we attended last Friday in Bangkok. The city skyline provided the perfect backdrop; us and the whole Thai Wake Park crew were surely the life of the party! Thankfully our friend Kanar was there with his camera so we could piece together a great night that started with Tibo buying that ridiculous hawaiian shirt...

Suits and the 'Ping Pong' show.

(not bad eh for 140$?)

Last night we went to pick up my suit at the tailors and it was the perfect fit so I don't have to go back for third fitting. I still can't believe I only paid 140$ which included a handmade tie, only in Bangkok!

Following that, we decided to go see Bangkok's infamous 'ping pong' show in the Pad Pong district. Let me just say that the idea and anticipation for the show is wayyyyyyyyy better than the reality. I'm not gonna go into extreme detail because for one this blog is not XXX rated, and second I would just rather forget about the whole experience. Let's just say it involved ping pong balls, razors, bells, ribbons, and a marker. If ever one of you wanna hear the story, I'll be glad to tell you about it in person. 

But I can honestly say that Yan 'Porno' Tibo was in his element and could have appreciated the show for what it was.

Yan Tibo at the Ping Pong show from Johny Bonney on Vimeo.

However don't let my experience discourage you from ever checking an authentic Bangkok ping pong show. Just make sure to check your morals and dignity at the door.

Bangkok.

(Bangkok!)

After Friday night's crazy rooftop party (pictures to follow), I took the day off from riding on Saturday and went to visit Bangkok. We spent most of the day just walking around, checking some markets, and sampling some street food. Bangkok is a crazy city! After we finished shopping, we took some tuk-tuks to a bar where our friend Kanar is friends with the owner. 

(the crew)

However we had to stop at a tailoring place on the way because the tuk-tuk driver gets a commission for bringing people to the store. I knew before coming to Thailand that you could get a cheap tailored suit so with that in mind I was stoked to go check this shop out (www.bironibangkok.com). And sure enough I bought a suit for 4,000 Baht (140$) after Kanard bargained a sick deal down from 6,000 Baht. It's 100% silk cashmere custom fit of Gucci or Hugo quality I was told. My second fitting is scheduled for Monday night, I'll make sure to get some pictures. Can't wait, this suit is gonna be pimp!

But perhaps the coolest thing that awaited us on this night was the full moon lunar eclipse! Absolutely epic!!

Anyways here's a few more photos from today's fieldtrip...

The Hangover 3?

Today's activities will include, but are not limited to, "the largest, the tallest, the craziest rooftop in Bangkok"....

"Welcome to the Kingdom of Thailand"

After a 35-hour odyssey that started in Ottawa, Ont., at 4:00 a.m. on Monday morning, I finally arrived at my destination: Thai Wake Park (Bangkok). The long flights are now but a blur, and the sleep on a hard rock mattress was well worth it. My reward? Waking up to a beautiful warm sunny morning! ahhhh....

Surprisingly the trip over here was pretty uneventful to say the least. But I mean let's be honest, flying commercially from North America to Bangkok is pretty tame by today's standards. Perhaps the biggest adventure at this point would have been deciding what movie to watch or whether to eat the airplane food.

It was not until I landed in Bangkok and stepped out of the comfort realm of an international airport did I feel as though my trip had finally started. Needless to say that it took me over two hours to leave the airport after waiting for Yan Tibo and Benjamin Leclair who were flying in from Montreal, Qué. As it turned out they arrived an hour earlier than anticipated and decided to forgo the one hour and a half wait for my ass.

So anyways with the boys MIA at Thailand customs and immigration, I decided to grab a cab to TWP. I thought for sure by having a map the cab driver would know where to go. Hmm yeah, not so simple. 

For those who don't know, Thailand is coming off some of the worst flooding the country has seen in decades so getting around Bangkok is not a given. Luckily for us the floodwaters have receded considerably, but the aftermath is clearly visible and to see it first hand was pretty heavy to say the least.

After much convincing, the cab driver finally agreed to take me. After taking a little detour to avoid a washed out road, my dude pulled up to TWP and I couldn't have been more relieved. I was greeted by a sweet lady "Canada? Yan? ya ya, here here," she said. 

Sure enough I find them in a room no bigger than a janitor's closet, two bunk beds, and my mattress on the floor. Still running on North America time, figured I'd pop a gravol to help the transition. At last I was comfortably asleep before I could even begin decipher exactly where I was in the world and how I ever got here.

The Art of Packing.

Before hitting the road, might be a good idea to make a list so you can travel with the piece of mind knowing you didn’t forget shit. Travelling can be a long arduously fun journey, so it’s important to pack smart and light.

Here are a few items that are must haves for me whenever I’m on the move:

1. Kendama (time management)
2. Macbook (Skype: johny_bonney)
3. Multivitamins (gotta stay nice)
4. foam roller (massage on the go)
5. ibuprofen + T3's (tennis elbow)
6. neck pillow
7. sleep mask (a.k.a. sleep anywhere)
8. stainless water bottle (stay hydrated for FREE!)
9. lock for suitcase (ever watch the movie Broke Down Palace?)
10.  book (beach life)
11. iPod (choose your library wisely)
12. sunscreen
13. tape for hands/blisters (until healthy calluses form)
14. passport (duh)
15. travel insurance (just in case)

next stop: THAILAND.

movember success.

Thank you to everyone who supported theBOOMBOXdream.com and Skoser's Movember campaign which had us selling t-shirts with my moustached face on it. It was somewhat of a risky venture in the beginning, but I'm so stoked to see that we were successful in raising $150 with a total of 19 t-shirts being sold over the course of November!! 

I'd like to thank Paul Mascaro and Skoser Clothing for believing in the campaign from day one, much respect for this cat! SHIRTS FOR A CURE

Make sure to check their winter line at www.skoserclothing.bigcartel.com and support your local artists this Christmas!!

(SKOSER winter 2012)

worth a repost!

I've already posted this video on this site back in May, but considering I will be in Thailand this time next week I couldn't help but watch this video again, and again. As I understand it, Nico is actually at Thai Wake Park right now which is amazing. Having the opportunity to ride with this kid will be a privilege, and possibly quite fun.

Notes from Thailand from Andy Kolb on Vimeo.

straight Coastin'

In less than a week I'll be straight coastin' to Thailand!! Got this song on repeat nahmsayin' b!?

Rumours with Oli Derome.

Rumour has it that Slingshot's poster boy Oli Derome will be in the Phillies while Yan Tibo, Benjamin Leclair, and myself will be in Thailand next week. Will he be joining the  Thai party!? We can only hope so.


In the meantime, check this video of Oli and Mike Ennen doing what they do best: riding, smiling, and straight killing.

Oli and Mike from Aacadia.com on Vimeo.

"Got my ticket sonnnnn"

Looks as though Tibo and I won't be alone on our trip to Thailand next Monday. Benjamin Leclair a.k.a. Ti-Ben has decided as of today that he is coming too. For those who don't know Ben, he is an 18-year old up and comer riding for Slingshot wakeboards out of Valleyfiedl, Qué., who has just made the best decision of his young life! 

I'm also gonna be meeting up with a buddy who's been in Australia for the past year. I first met Ted Beadle a few years back when I was living in Australia. The wakeboarding world can be very small sometimes. 

Bonus is that there's a good group of riders already at Thai Wake Park right now. Tibo and I have a mutual friend from France named Kanard/Frenchie who I first met at the CWC during my second trip there. 

"Attache ta tuque!"

Ben Leclair september sesh 2011 from ben leclair on Vimeo.

FRESH.

I'm not even gonna really say anything about this video, I'll just let my dude Hugo here tell you what's up...

Hugo Charbit Saison 2011 from Hugo Charbit on Vimeo.

I'm a be a "travellin man"

This time in two weeks I'll be somewhere over the Pacific Ocean on a transcontinental flight to Thailand...shits getting real! Thought this Mos Def track would be most appropriate, enjoy!

Thailand just got better!

Next month's trip to Thailand just got better for two reasons:

1. my new Slingshot Shredtown edition setup!!

2. My dude Yan Tibo has finally decided to tag along, this will be fun...

Untitled from still not famous on Vimeo.

Tabarnac!

I've been a huge fan of BROTHERS FACTORY ever since my buddy Craig McCallion introduced me to their 2008 release entitled "What". This group of quebecers help reinforce the idea that Québec continues to produce Canada's top extreme-sport athletes....I  mean these kids must literally eat balls for breakfast. Local riders, local spots, international quality! Look for Tabarnac to drop very soon at www.brothersfactory.com

Holy Kaiser!

Although I can barely pronounce his last name, Kaesen has come out of nowhere in the last year to establish himself as one of the best rail riders out there. Kid's got mad style, check these gems!

Kaesen Suyderhoud @HYDROUS BY: Joey Arcisz from iwake.com on Vimeo.

Kaesen Suyderhoud from WakeWorld on Vimeo.

Buy a shirt, save a nut!

Instead of joining a movember campaign, thought it would be fun if I lent my face and this infamous picture of last year's mo-sterpiece. My friends at Skoser Clothing were nice enough to embrace the project, print the shirts, and are selling them for 20$. All proceeds will be donated to men's prostate cancer initiatives. SHIRTS FOR A CURE!

Hit me up at bonney.jonathan@gmail.com, or info@skoserclothing.com to get yours!

FOX spine and swine FINALS

This is how a contest should look and feel like. Super fun, innovative, and progressive...

MOVEMBER SKATE NIGHT!!

TONIGHT x TOP OF THE WORLD x MOUSTACHES

SKOSER CLOTHING x SHIRTS FOR A CURE x VIDEO PREMIERES x PRIZES x SKATEBOARDING

BABYLON NIGHTCLUB x $3 COVER x DOORS 11 PM x DJ ACRO

SKOSER CLOTHING: "shirts for a cure" from Johny Bonney on Vimeo.

Happy Movember!

Craig Bowl-U in Alterna's 13 O'Clock!

Not sure how this was made available, but hopefully after watching this you'll have the decency, class, and fucking brains to download the full movie from Alterna Films. Craig Beaulieu (Timmins, Ont.) absolutely kills it in his first ever video part as the closer.

SKATE NIGHT MOVEMBER W/ SKOSER CLOTHING

SKOSER CLOTHING: "shirts for a cure" from Johny Bonney on Vimeo.

TOP OF THE WORLD x SKATE NIGHT x MOUSTACHES

SKATE NIGHT, presented by TOP OF THE WORLD, returns for a special MOVEMBER edition on WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2ND 2011 with featured guests KITSCH SKATEBOARDS and SKOSER CLOTHING.

Now it wouldn't be Movember without our friends at SKOSER CLOTHING who will be on hand to help us raise awareness for both men's and women's health. They will be selling limited edition movember gear and an exclusive SKATE NIGHT collaboration with a portion of proceeds going to help fight breast cancer and prostate cancer. SHIRTS FOR A CURE! skoserclothing.bigcartel.com/​

#Capitalize7 love from SBC!

"In the heart of Ottawa, at the Clocktower Brew Pub, a snowboarding event in it's 7th year is taking place. Every year Craig McCallion from Half Cab has pushed the set up to be better and even though Capitalize is the first time they are touching snow every season, the riders have to be on their game. The whole vibe of the competition is different than most; it's invite only and they break up all the competitors into heats and the top two guys and one girl from each one moves on to the finals. It's also judged more on style and consistency, instead of competitors trying the entire night to land the one big trick. Presented by Half Cab Productions, Tommy & Lefebvre, and Rossignol, Capitalize at the Clocktower has been a staple to the Ontario snowboard scene and one of the few that offers up a cash prize for the winners. Look forward to Capitalize 8 next year. I'm sure it will be an even bigger and better set up. Watch the video for all the highlights and to see who takes it. Thanks to Tyler Ashbee and Alex Beebe for the film and edit." - www.snowboardcanada.com

Skateboarders can/do read!

The good kids at Antique Skateboards are set to defy the common misconception that skateboarders can't/don't read. TONIGHT Oz Kafe (359 Elgin St.) will be playing host to a really cool event wherein people will be able to swap their favourite reads while encouraging a healthy exchange of ideas and perspective. Food and drinks will be available, so bring a book (required) to share and come hang!

some surfing knar.

Kelly Slater is a 10x world champion. Shit, I remember when i was living in Surfer's Paradise, Australia, they put up this huge Quiksilver billboard that celebrated his eighth world title. Can he make it 11? I wouldn't doubt it....


Now check out Bruce Irons doing what he does best...using flares!!!

Ready for #Capitalize7?

Capitalize at the Clock Tower 6- Ottawa Rail Jam Oct. 23 2010 from Alex Copp on Vimeo.

TOMORROW NIGHT come check out the 7th annual #Capitalize at the Clocktower snowboard and ski jib contest! I myself will have the pleasure of being your host for the evening on the mic, should be fun. This annual invite-only contest has become a staple in the local Ottawa snow scene, and has come to attract riders from all over the province of Ontario and neighbouring Quebec. You know these kids are gonna bring their A-game with some dollars on the line and a shit ton of prizes to win.

Details:

7:00 - 10:00 p.m. x qualifying heats (jam format)

10:00 p.m. x FINALS x AFTER PARTY @ BABYLON NIGHTCLUB

Tha-Coop's "Tha-Short Movie".

Tha-short Movie from ThaCoop on Vimeo.
Tha-Coop is a local Ottawa crew who ride, shred, film, and blog about everything local. These are some rad dudes, doing some rad things. Check 'em out at www.the-coop.com!

King of Kicker!

Think I'm finally ready to leave the country! It's been a weird year for me after deciding not to travel last spring. It's the first time in four years I didn't make a trip back to the Phillies. Instead I decided to focus on the local scene and spend my time and money criss crossing through Ontario, Québec, and Manitoba. Believe me, no regrets on that tip.

However, the time has come to go exploring again. Back in the spring of 2010, I was on a trip to the CWC with my bro which originally was supposed to involve a visit to Thai Wake Park. Unfortunately due to political and social unrest in Bangkok there came an official travel advisory from the government of Canada, and so we were forced to cancel. 

Luckily Bangkok is back to normal for the most part, and Thai Wake Park is hosting the 7th annual Billabong King of Kicker on December 17th, 2011. What better time to test out my new 2012 Slingshot gear ay!? So that's it I guess; by me writing this and you reading it, there's no backing out. 

Now it's onto flights, accommodations, budget, travel itinerary, and training...shiiiit, I'll keep you posted.

...stay tuned...

Family time.

Top family Skate Day x Legacy

photos x Julian Kalli

15.10.11