Eight year old becomes youngest person to ‘windsurf’ across Gulf of Thailand

[webfact]

Well, kite-surfing actually.

 

An 8 year old boy has become the youngest person ever to kite-dsurf across the Gulf of Thailand. Thanawat “Shane” Promwaen set the record after windsurfing across 107 kilometres to mark his 9th birthday, which was yesterday, February 11.

 

Pattaya Mail reports that two previous attempts were prevented by unfavourable winds, but it was third time lucky for Shane as he left from Surfspot in Hua Hin, ending his endeavour at Pattaya Kitesurfing Clubloongchat on Jomtien Beach.

Earlier he was going to do the trip from Jomtien to Hua Hin instead.

 

Boats with first aid practitioners and other safety features accompanied Shane on his journey, but thankfully, he made the crossing in 4 hours, 10 minutes without incident. His record-breaking time even surpassed that previously set by a jet skier.

 

By Peter Roche

PHOTO: www.shanethewingfoiler.com

 

Full story: PhuketGO 2024-02-12

 

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[JeffersLos]

Well done that boy.

 

While other 9 year old kids are stuck in front of their screen, he's out setting pointless records no one cares about. 

[retarius]

Amazing feat.....truly.

[quake]

Well done, young man.

 

 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

An 8 year old boy has become the youngest person ever to kite-dsurf across the Gulf of Thailand. Thanawat “Shane” Promwaen set the record after windsurfing across 107 kilometres to mark his 9th birthday, which was yesterday, February 11.

Good work young fella.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, JeffersLos said:

Well done that boy.

 

While other 9 year old kids are stuck in front of their screen, he's out setting pointless records no one cares about. 

Says you .... sad.

[n8sail]

3 hours ago, JeffersLos said:

Well done that boy.

 

While other 9 year old kids are stuck in front of their screen, he's out setting pointless records no one cares about. 

Just because you don't care about wind sports doesn't mean there aren't millions of people around the planet that are obsessed with them, and DO care about these things.

King Bhumibol sailed across the Gulf in an OK class dinghy.  It took him 17 hours.  I've done it in 8.5 hours in my little 25 foot keelboat.   So Shane has upped the ante.

Proud of Shane, it's been great watching him learn and grow, and all of us in the kiting/winging community here in Thailand offer congratulations and continued support as he achieves his dreams.

[KannikaP]

Was he Eight when he started, as the headline says, and 9 when he arrived? 55

What is Kite-dsurfing?

[BritScot]

Well done young man. However, I still think it is utter stupidity and very reckless of his parents to have encouraged him/allowed him to undertake such a challenge at such a young age.  It is very popular sport/hobby even here in Scotland. The beach in our village there are often half a dozen people kite surfing and it's very pleasant to watch. 

[steven100]

Well done young man ....     his parents will no doubt be very proud of him ...

proper parents ....  very rare species in Thailand.

[Mywayboy]

4 hours ago, JeffersLos said:

Well done that boy.

 

While other 9 year old kids are stuck in front of their screen, he's out setting pointless records no one cares about. 

Point is 9 year old boy has achieved this & you haven't 555.

Well done young man. 

[steven100]

38 minutes ago, BritScot said:

Well done young man. However, I still think it is utter stupidity and very reckless of his parents to have encouraged him/allowed him to undertake such a challenge at such a young age.  It is very popular sport/hobby even here in Scotland. The beach in our village there are often half a dozen people kite surfing and it's very pleasant to watch. 

nonsense ....  if he's keen to be adventurous then let him go for it,   just ensure all the right safety measures are in place. 

how would a 9yr old feel if he wasn't allowed to achieve anything special. 

[steven100]

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

Was he Eight when he started, as the headline says, and 9 when he arrived? 55

What is Kite-dsurfing?

most 8yr olds are getting their motorbike's ready complete with machetes ready for tonight's drag racing and gang fight around 3.00am ... 

[This Guy]

Well done to the young fella and also his parents for encouraging him.
To the naysayers here, I simply ask, what is your biggest achievement besides a world record bar fine / bar tab?
 

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, BritScot said:

I still think it is utter stupidity and very reckless of his parents to have encouraged him/allowed him to undertake such a challenge at such a young age. 

Why...what danger was he "stupidly" and "recklessly" exposed to as a very experienced kite surfer?

[Mike Lister]

1 minute ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Why...what danger was he "stupidly" and "recklessly" exposed to as a very experienced kite surfer?

How can an 8 year old be very experienced at anything!

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, Mike Lister said:

3 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Why...what danger was he "stupidly" and "recklessly" exposed to as a very experienced kite surfer?

How can an 8 year old be very experienced at anything!

By kite/windsurfing since he was three years old, as the OP clearly stated!

[BritScot]

On 2/12/2024 at 10:51 AM, Liverpool Lou said:

Why...what danger was he "stupidly" and "recklessly" exposed to as a very experienced kite surfer?

Really, you have to ask? Try doing that in the uk with your child and you would rightly have your child taken from you. 

[still kicking]

2 hours ago, BritScot said:

Really, you have to ask? Try doing that in the uk with your child and you would rightly have your child taken from you. 

This is not the fn UK 

[BritScot]

17 hours ago, still kicking said:

This is not the fn UK 

Ah another keyboard hard man. Rule of thumb: "Don't leave comments that you wouldn't say to someone's face". The fact that in a first world country it would not be allowed shows how this was wrong on so many levels and you can't see it! 

[jacko45k]

On 2/18/2024 at 8:13 PM, BritScot said:

Really, you have to ask? Try doing that in the uk with your child and you would rightly have your child taken from you. 

I thought he was accompanied by a flotilla so in reality quite safe......

One has to give a young adventurer some slack on the reins at some point.

'Don't play around with that piano young Mozart' might have deterred a great composer!

[BritScot]

43 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

I thought he was accompanied by a flotilla so in reality quite safe......

One has to give a young adventurer some slack on the reins at some point.

'Don't play around with that piano young Mozart' might have deterred a great composer!

Not at 8 years old. I could have put my daughter on  horse at a very young age but I waited till she was 10.  My daughter is a good rider, jumps 5" with ease but I wouldn't put her in the grand national or a steeple chase. 8 years old is far to young regardless of how many are around them. It was an endurance and an 8 year olds body should not be subjected to those rigours.  God I was an adult and the army left me a disabled cripple from rigours abuse.

[jacko45k]

24 minutes ago, BritScot said:

Not at 8 years old. I could have put my daughter on  horse at a very young age but I waited till she was 10.  My daughter is a good rider, jumps 5" with ease but I wouldn't put her in the grand national or a steeple chase. 8 years old is far to young regardless of how many are around them. It was an endurance and an 8 year olds body should not be subjected to those rigours.  God I was an adult and the army left me a disabled cripple from rigours abuse.

Oh well, sometimes hard to keep a young spirit down, and possibly not the best thing. I bet Ranulph Fiennes was a tough kid to control.