sponsoring folder (ENG)
FIRST SOLO EXPEDITION SUP
ON MEKONG RIVER/2012
www.supmekong1000.wordpress.com
In September 2012 Patrick GASIGLIA ( member of the STARBOARD DREAM TEAM) plans to do the first solo expedition of the Mekong river on a paddle surf/SUP, the planned distance will be more than 1000 Km. The start location will be the city of CHIANG KHAN (west of Vientiane/Nongkhai) finishing in the city of KHONG CHIAM (east of Ubon Rachathani).The journey will be conducted on the part of the Mekong which is borderline between Thailand and Laos. Technical and logistical support will be from a support team using a 4X4. The SUP board that will be used for this adventure will be a STARBOARD prototype specially designed for this.
ITINERARY, a little bit more than 1000 Km ……
The RIDER : Patrick GASIGLIA
50 years old
Windsurf and catamaran sailing instructor since 25 years
PADI diving instructor since 20 years
Many participations and succes in off road moto and 4X4 races
Already many challenges in watersports
Some challenges :
1996 Final french championship jet-ski Mandelieu ( 3sd place )
1999 World record Cannes/Calvi/Cannes with jet-ski without assistance.
2006 Raid in total autonomy with Hobie-cat 21 Mediterrannean sea.
2007 Become member of WATH ( windsurfing assosciation of Thailand )
2008 Join the STARBOARD DREAM TEAM ( N° 1 World windsurf and SUP )
2008 KWAI River expedition/Thailande with SUP.
2010 RACHAPHRAPAT Lake expedition/Thailande with SUP.
SEPTEMBER 2012 MEKONG RIVER Expedition 1000 Km with SUP…………………
The 4X4 support Team: Christophe & Magali LEBORGNE
33 years each
Used to 4×4 driving, travelling and camping
Good knowledge of THAILAND and LAOS
Good notions of thai (speaking and reading)
English (speaking and writing)
Survey on Mekong river / June 2011
Christophe / 17 years at St Nazaire shipyard
Magali / 10 years paramedic at St Nazaire hospital
Professional, competent and very motivated
Technical, logistical and advertising support by TOYOTA hilux 4X4.
The board used for this expedition will be specially shaped by STARBOARD. The special features are :
– Front handle
– Nose insert leash
– Multiple tie-down positions hooks
– Optional side fins
– Double leash insert on the tail
– Double short back fins special river
– Special paddle with fast removable handle to transform it in a 2 bladed paddle
– Others modifications will be done during the raid…
Prototype of the board being shaped in STARBOARD factory.
The expedition will take place in September 2012, for a duration of 3/4 weeks. The month of September has been choosen because the rate of flow of Mekong river is nearly as its maximum, its level can be in some places 8 meters higher than in dry season, and most of the obstacles will be immerged.
Departure from Phuket is scheduled on 1st September 2012 to join the city of CHIANG KHAN , 2000 Km north. This is where the 1st solo Mekong expedition starts.
As soon as Patrick starts paddling, The 4X4 support team with Christophe & Magali will start following the river by road. Even without access to the river they will try to stay as close as possible. Communications will be by mobile phone and/or by VHF radio (waterproof). Every evening a camp will be set up to provide human and technical assistance, food, rest, but also to get the images taken during the day and upload the internet blog… In case meeting is impossible, the rider has a minimum camping equipment, or can sleep in locals home on the Mekong edge (Patrick speaks fluent Thai, 20 years practice).
Stops on Mekong islands are impossible, all the islands belong to LAOS.The expedition is done on THAILAND side only with Thai visas, more than 1000 Km along the Mekong river is scheduled.
For the 4X4 team, a total of more than 7000 Km is planned and many big cities will be crossed: PHUKET, SURATTHANI, HUA-HIN, BANGKOK, KHORAT, KHON KAEN, LOEI, UDON THANI, NONG KHAI, NAKHON PHANOM, MUKDAHAN, UBON RATCHATHANI, SURIN …
Medias groups such newspapers, magazines, TV and websites, are already interested to relay the adventure (you can read articles on the blog). 3 cameras (2 waterproof) and 2 waterproof video cameras are part of the expedition to bring back plenty of images, we also planto make a movie of the event.
During all these stops on the edge of the Mekong river, a demo board will be available for free trials by locals and tourists. Flyers or samples of the sponsors can also be distributed. When stops or crossing big cities, advertising events can be planned.
Advertising spaces are in 4 differents categories:
– rider + clothes
– The 2 pilots of the 4X4 support vehicule + clothes + sides, bonnet, tail gate, pick up bed cover and awning of the car.
– The SUP board + paddle
– The official website of the event in english and in french : www.supmekong1000.wordpress.com
Once the expedition on the Mekong river is completed, all the gear, board, car, camp, equipment will be exposed to public during a few days at:
– AMARA WATERSPORTS in JOMTIEN/PATTAYA/CHONBURI leader in windsurf and SUP in THAILAND.
– Complex JUNGCEYLON in PATONG/PHUKET biggest commercial center in PHUKET on the most famous beach of the island.
Some numbers :
– 1 rider + 1 paddle + 1 SUP board.
– 2 pilots + 1 Toyota 4X4 + 1 spare SUP board + 3 spare paddles + 1 demo board + 500 Kg equipment.
– 3 cameras + 2 waterproof video cameras.
– already 4OOO Km et 2 weeks spent in expedition survey in sept 2011.
– 7000 Km et 4 more weeks for the expedition in sept 2012.
A total budget of 11 000 €uros (approx 450 000 Thai Bahts).
This amount given by the different sponsors can be sponsorship material or cash. Whichever way you decide to sponsor us to be part of the adventure, you can assured that all our team will be proud to wear your colors (logo, brand) and will do their best to promote your company.
To participate to our adventure and any enquiries should be made to Patrick at:
e-mail: Bambou53@hotmail.com
tel : +66 (0) 87 8888 244
Other details on the blog :
www.supmekong1000.wordpress.com
Thanks in advance
Patrick GASIGLIA
APPENDIX
-Details and specifications of the board
-References
-Equipment
-forecast
-Flow of the Mekong river
THE SUP BOARD specifications
SUP :beginners, heavy paddlers, family board, river/ocean/lake trip
Epeditions, kayak style use …
*NOSE HANDLE
-easier to grab and pull
-can tight or anchor the board facing the river current
-can tow the board
-can lock the board
*NOSE INSERT
-better to use a front leash on rivers
-can help for better tie down options to secure bags
*MULTIPLE TIE DOWN POSITION HOOKS
-to install an elastic net to secure bags, camping gear …
-board should come with net installed on it
-marketing photos of the board with net installed
-same system can be installed also on the back of the board
*OPTIONAL SIDE FINS
-can help in turbulent whitewaters
-board can be used for beginner
-increase upwind
*KNEE DOWN STRAP BELT
-to secure the rider when kneeling position (whitewaters)
*DOUBLE LEASH INSERT ON THE TAIL
-can put a rope to make a handle
-can put elastic to install a water bottle
-even even leash + handle + bottle at the same time
THRUSTER
-center fin 230
-side fins M 4,5
-only side fins for river
*SPECIAL PADDLE
-fast removable handle to transform it in a 2 bladed paddle
-rider can sit to rest and still paddle
-in case of whitewaters rider can sit and have effective paddling
*SPECIAL RIVER FIN
-to slide on obstacles (rocks, ropes, tree-trunks)
-retractable fin should be a must
REFERENCES:
Apart from being a really nice guy, Patrick of Bambou Adventure Team is one of those True Water-Men who never gets out of shape, no matter what happens. I was Windsurfing on Stand Up Paddle Boards with him in less than ideal conditions when a huge swell broke on his head, unable to turn his board in time and ride away from the foaming white lip, he simply unhooked and wore the monster on his head. I could just see the top panel of his sail, then, It snatched his board and rig away and left him about 600M out to sea. After a few failed towing experiments in the impact zone, Patrick told me he would be ok to swim back and I should go ahead and rescue his gear from the heavy shore break. Well that wave, broke his mast clean in two and tore the sail, but Patrick walked out of the shore break smiling, not even out of breath, shook my hand and said he was happy to make the memory with me. Not every day we see Mast high waves in Thailand…and Patrick is an expert at board and equipement repairs so it was not a big deal. On that day we were testing equipment in pretty extreme conditions. Patrick a Windsurfing and Sailing instructor has been living in Phuket for 20 years and knows where to go to get the best wind and waves at any time of year.
Patrick joined our Stand Up Paddle River Adventure Tour on the River Kwai. He said it was so special, « everyone should try and do something like this at least one time in their life « . In the bottom photo he is exploring water ways in Phuket, searching for exciting new locations for Stand Up Paddle Adventure Tours.
I had the pleasure of surfing SUP’s with him at Phuket’s best Stand Up Paddle Board Surf Spot also. What a great day that was, surfing perfect waves with very cool people on SUP’s is as good as it gets.
Craig Thompson
Hello Patrick,
Super concept,clean professional setup and huge unique adventure ahead of you…
This is right up your path,you are made for this kind of trip.
All of the power to you and your support team.
Friendship & respect
MARCO REINARDT
SUP MEKONG 1000 