05/09/2019
Sam Djodan durfte sich vor wenigen Wochen in Kroatien bei Surfski Croatia auf die Weltmeisterschaft vorberiten. Hier sein Erfahrungsbericht zu seiner Zeit in P**a.
I knew it in an instant. First the sound, and then the sight - I almost couldn’t believe my eyes.
I’ve spent my life around the ocean. Growing up in Newcastle, just north of Sydney on Australia’s east coast, it’s always been my playground. Surfing, swimming and paddling. It’s become a pretty proven daily schedule for me. And the wilder the conditions, the more I love it. From the howling, daily north-east winds in summer, to the monstrous southerly weather systems in winter - there’s always something happening in our part of the world.
So you can imagine my surprise when I first spotted the water in P**a, a historic seaside city in the north of Croatia. White waves as far as the eye could see. Serious downwind conditions! Naively, conditions that I didn’t expect to find on the Adriatic Sea.
“It’s about 30 knots at the moment, gusting 35” casually remarked Paolo, the ever-enthusiastic man behind Stellar Kayak’s new paddling paradise.
“Not as strong as we can get along this stretch, but it still should be fun.”
That was an understatement.
As soon as we hit the water, I knew this would be special. There’s countless courses along this idyllic coastline to meet any conditions. Today, we chose a 10km stretch, with this charging wind behind us at the perfect angle. Training for the ICF World Titles, I said I’d punch into it for a few kilometres to add some extra distance, but that didn’t last long. Too excited, I swung the boat around and started flying with the waves.
I’ve been lucky enough to paddle all over the world, but P**a is right up there with the best of them. The runs were fast. I was sitting at an average speed of around 18km/h without doing too much. When I was dropping down a wave, that speed surged well above 20km/h. You couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.
In what felt like a matter of minutes, it was all over. For now. After a few cheers and laughs, It didn’t take long for round two to be called. Boats straight back on the waiting car. A quick trip back to the start. And just as much fun.
This is the idea behind Paolo and Stellar’s new venture. Perfect paddling, in a picturesque destination, made easy. My time in P**a is certainly a testament to that.
With a race on the horizon, and four months on the road behind me, I chose to mix up my training with a combination of sessions in the surf, and some in the flat waters of the protected harbours. Luckily for me, that’s where the accommodation is set - overlooking the tree-lined, calm cove of Banjole Bay. A true postcard setting. And if I wasn’t on the water, I was relaxing in the hot tub. (Or should I say “recovering”? It is serious business, after all.) I was visiting solo, but it’s the perfect set-up for couples and families alike.
Between paddling on the water and holidaying on the beaches that surround around it, I almost didn’t find time to actually explore P**a itself. But I’m glad I did. The largest city in Istria, and with a rich history that dates back 3,000 years, it’s a bustling centre. A big city with a small-town feel.
A stone’s throw from Italy, a wealth of Roman architecture lines the cobbled-roads. The obvious showpiece, the remarkably well-preserved colosseum. My mates didn’t believe me when I said I was in Croatia - they were convinced it was Rome. But unlike that famous city, P**a’s colosseum, known as the Arena, is a vibrant venue that hosts a variety of concerts and events year-round. And there’s probably a few less tourists, too, so you can really take in its impressive condition.
The Italian influence doesn’t end there. I’m sure there’s plenty of paddlers happy to hear that the food is nothing short of amazing. Croatian cuisine with an undeniable Italian twist. The region of Istria was actually part of Italy until 1947, and that connection hasn’t been lost. And when you add in the city’s Austro-Hungarian history as well, you realise the the melting pot of cultures that it is.
Stellar Kayak’s Croatian Surfski Centre will soon be in full-flight, and whether you want a downwind getaway, or just enjoy mixing a casual paddle or two into your seaside getaway, then P**a is definitely one to consider. For any questions or inquiries, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Paolo, who may just be one of the world’s most hospitable and accommodating blokes. I absolutely loved my time there, and already, I cannot wait to go back.
Sam Djodan is an Australian surfski paddler who has been part of the Stellar team since 2014.
