Blue Orange Green Pink Lilac

Reflections of searching for surf in Russia / In search of Russian Waves

October 1913

photo source: Surfline.com / Chris Burkard

Surf journalist and writer Michael Kew, Who visited Vladivostok last month together with the Surf Photographer Chris Burkard and Pro-Surfers Mike Losness , Josh Mulcoy, Warren Smith, Cj Kanuha and Sam Hammer and Experienced a lot of things in My Hometown (except of Surf itself as Mike was in charge of the other things;), has written a story about their surf trip in Vladivostok. For original English version Please Check Surfline here . Here comes my translation. But you'd better read the original text!

At Surfline part of the article published 1yu surf journalist and writer Michael Kew of their journey to Vladivostok in search of surf. In the surf trip participants (and otozhgli!) Surf photographer Chris Burkard (Chris Burkard) and pro-surfer Mike Lozness (Mike Losness ), Josh Mulcoy (Josh Mulcoy), Warren Smith (Warren Smith), CJ Kanuha ( Cj Kanuha) and Sam Hammer (Sam Hammer). Well, I translated the article and added their comments party events. Although you know what, if read in English, better see the article in the original , my translation has turned out some too, my.

On the banks of vodka
In the search for Russian Waves
Text: Michael Kew
Photo: Chris Burkard and Michael Kew

"No!" - Tamozhnitsa plump with curly hair, wrinkled her nose and looked gloomily from behind the glass booth passport and visa control airport Vladivostok, lifting open passport photographer Chris Burkard at eye level. "Bad" - she hissed into his address, pointing a long red fingernail at the date of entry of his Russian visa, costing $ 236. Looks like the comrades in the United States sealed a date, when should arrive Burkard, so that formally enter the Russian Federation, he was supposed to only 2 days.

Shamora Beach. Photo by Chris Burkard http://burkardphoto.com/

Russian voice: Our guards have proved very principled. And vigilance, what can I say - a mistake in the visa did not notice any Russian Consulate, nor the firm, who formalized the visa nor the airline nor the passport control in the United States, nor myself, Chris, but from the watchful Russian Service she hid. 3:00 negotiations with them at the airport gave 0. Actually, not quite 0. And as much as 5 pages of the protocol on the "citizen's arrest of Chris Burkard, by negligence of its American trying to cross the Russian border without a valid visa. By the way girls, a protocol, marital status Chris indicated as "unmarried". Probably - like them! And Chris - married. Dear our Russian women, who statistics ... But to hell with the statistics. Many of the guards, we felt sorry that it happened and even asked not to take guests through the famous city dump at Gornostai. We call it simply "hell", because it burns day and night, and even in the rain. And of course there lived mutants. In general, this article is about how well relax and surf in Vladivostok.

(Text and many miraculous photos, etc.)

The idea is that Chris should have been sent to Seoul first return flight, departing after 45 minutes. But after a fruitless two-hour talks with the guards at the airport someone with authority said: "It's time to go" - and as many as 3 armed guards escorted the photographer on the street. Rainy skies hung darkening twilight, exaggerated silhouettes of industrial chimneys, clubs brown haze and ridges of ancient mountains of the Primorsky Krai. The air gave a cool and humid, with the south-east was a powerful storm with strong winds, creator of the wave.

Russian voice: "Yes, because the wind created waves with us Valera wanted a ride to the guests along the coast and immediately see what the waves, then ... we went just across the very same dump! And what to do, this is where the coastal highway and passes. Unfortunately, the terrible Landfill mutants somewhere hiding from the rain, so we did not see.

ZIS BIG problem w odds (well, you got) "- pronounced the highest guard, vtolknuv American in a small room for detainees close to the airport (we call it simply 'tank' - the Russian voice notes), which was a converted hotel room. Musty, too. And the door handle inside was not even. But on the other hand much as five locks and skeletal key - were. Key orders boorish eyed, still being very bald, a policeman with a youthful acne on his face. Toilet in the "cell" proceeded, the moisture collected on the cement floor. On the cracked window - lattice. And no, you know, room service. Bed linen all in spots and with a suspicious odor. The guard shut the door and left.

Russian voice: Prikol - a night in these apartments we still had to pay 900 rubles.:)

After 8 hours, somewhere in the morning, there was a knock. A security guard opened the door and pantomime portrayed eating: "Food?" "Yes," - said Burkard, one of his friends taught him a few Russian words before his visit to Russia.

Russian voice: My friend, obviously, was the original sense of humor, taught Chris to say "I Nada enema" in the sense of "show me where the toilet" ... Chris, I think so and have not told you what it means "enema", just did not know at the time of such words in English, and then somehow it was not until enemas. But I looked in the dictionary. That word - «enema».

The next few hours an American photographer held in telephone conversations, trying to resolve situation with the U.S. Consulate, Korean Airlines, and his faithful wife, who was unable to nothing to help him in California. However, Chris finally baited. As stated in the original of the text - quite revolting halophyte with meat and cucumbers.
And the rain kept coming.
After lunch the next day, Chris released and sent back to Seoul, where he spent the night in the sauna at the international airport, returned to Vladivostok through the day and missed most of the waves for our two-week trip through a small mistake in the visa.
Better late than never? "No!

Russian voice: Yes, Russia likes to feel the strength. And most of all for some reason - most of his sweetheart. A Russian and she does not the first century is experiencing. Chris, after all these inconveniences, Russia still smiled. But this - in the next section.

Gallery by Chris Burkard, Michael Kew, source: http://surfline.com

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10 comments

Dima October 14, 2009
and translation and photo and art is great! In general, it is not too much to cover surfing in the eastern part Rosii! Considering that there, although there are resources, but still not as specialized ... (And Bali, and so is nice, but it is not Russia )
Wei Nihao October 15, 2009
I liked it!
Then I suggest - "A co-laundering is not given, would not have to fly anywhere?"
Dara October 15, 2009
Thank you
The question is encrypted in the phrase of my commentary: "Our guards have proved very principled" ...
Wei Nihao October 15, 2009
I understand the visa would not be ... But what gorgeous photos!
CT October 15, 2009
great trip, photos of five points
cool was a trip
Dara October 15, 2009
Oh, glad that you looked)
Dara October 15, 2009
Yes, Dim, if you suddenly moved to Vladivostok, the eastern Russian surfing would be cool lit:)
Dima October 16, 2009
hm "moved" ... This problematino and then there is the overall picture - when, how often and what waves and waves of desirable photo!
Dima October 16, 2009
By the way, screw Quote Comments Plugin For Wordpress
Dara October 17, 2009
general pattern is common, we have prepared this trip - even the statistics of typhoons over the past 5 years have risen. Look at wannasurf Russian section - there is just upgrade was bound to happen:)