Surfing in Japan

"Hey BD its gotta be just 6 degrees out there, its freezing!" said my travelling buddy and Australasia Regional Coordinator, Richard Agius. He was right, the air temp was way down, the waves were small and inconsistent and yet we saw waves of surfers heading for the beach.

After chasing up an extra set of gloves and hood, I felt like the 'Michelin Man', all rubbered up from head to toe. Just walking to the beach along the pine lined walkway with the windchill cutting through us was enough. Thankfully the water was actually a relief and we enjoyed being the novelty foreigners out in the water. Ever polite, every Japanese surfer said hello and made room for us.

There are some 1.5 million surfers in Japan and nearly all belong to a 'surfshop club' in typical collective loyalty. We visited the Surftech showroom that is owned by Christians and employs Christians and is also the CS Japan office and base. Amazing to see the interaction of this true surf mission business.

Japanese are the great lovers of all things gadget with whatever they are into, and I thought I had seen everything (from surfboard wax up stands to wetsuit softening agents) until I purchased my own sachet of "Super Magical Powder" that you add to water, pour into your wetsuit and hey magic, you stay warm? Only in Japan!