Stand Up Paddle World Radio — DJ from Singapore

Hosted by Darrell Kirk

Darrell: Hey everyone, welcome to Stand Up Paddle World Radio. I’m your host, Darrell Kirk, and I am super stoked to have DJ on the show today — a great new friend of our Stand Up Paddle community.

We met him down in the Gorge near Hood River last weekend, and wow, he showed up and absolutely killed it. He then came up to join our Seattle Ohana for our Monday night races, and we had an incredible time getting to know him.

DJ is from Singapore and has quite the athletic background. He dabbled in sailing and eventually found his way into paddling. He finished fourth at the J24 Worlds in 2016, picked up whitewater kayaking while studying at the University of Tasmania, and competed in whitewater kayak slalom and boater cross. He’ll have to tell us what boater cross actually is, because I’m not entirely sure myself!

Initially, DJ thought stand-up paddling was a ridiculous sport — in his view, paddling was meant to be done sitting down. I’m looking forward to hearing about his journey and how that perspective changed. He got into competitive SUP around the end of 2018, usually finishing at the back of the pack at first, but through sheer dedication and hard work, he has become a genuinely competitive racer. This guy has a great story, and I can’t wait to dig into it. DJ, how are you doing, man?

DJ: Hi, Darrell. Thank you so much for having me on the show. I’m doing great, thank you.

Darrell: Wonderful. Let’s start at the beginning. You ended up at Hood River, which is like God’s country for us paddlers. I always say that when stand-up paddleboarders pass away, heaven looks exactly like the Columbia River Gorge. How did you first hear about it? I know you have a whole story about how downwind paddling changed your life and your game, but let’s start with how you discovered this place.

DJ: As a stand-up paddler, I’m always searching YouTube for ways to improve my paddling. Whenever I searched for downwind paddling, the Columbia River Gorge kept coming up. At first, I couldn’t wrap my head around it — we’re paddling upstream but downwind, on a freshwater river. I just couldn’t make sense of it until last year, when some of my Singaporean friends made the trip and came back raving about it. After hearing them talk about it, I thought, “Oh my goodness, I have to go.” And that’s how I ended up here.

Darrell: That’s wonderful! You mentioned you have around 30 or 40 paddlers in your club back in Singapore?

DJ: Yes. The club I belong to — the Singapore Paddle Club — is primarily an outrigger canoe club. When my friends came last year, they were paddling outriggers and surfskis. There are only a few of us at Singapore Paddle Club who do SUP.

Darrell: I think of Singapore as a newer adopter of SUP, but I imagine you have a long history of outrigger paddling there. Is that right?

DJ: Singapore Paddle Club was actually the first club to bring outrigger boats to Singapore, and this year the club is celebrating its 20th anniversary. But in my research, I discovered that outrigger canoes were actually the vessels that carried people southward into Southeast Asia and sparked the great migration. So in a sense, outrigger canoes have been part of the region’s history for a very long time — we just didn’t fully realize it.

Darrell: That’s fascinating. Congratulations to your club on 20 years. What’s the club called again?

DJ: The Singapore Paddle Club.

Darrell: Great — we’ll make sure to include a link so listeners can find out more.

Darrell: Now I want to hear about your journey into SUP. But first, tell us a little about growing up in Singapore. A lot of our listeners are American or Canadian, so give us a picture of what that was like.

DJ: Sure! So first — about 90%, maybe more, of Singaporeans live in apartments. Growing up, I had no backyard. Mowing a lawn is something completely foreign to me. School also starts very early in Singapore — 7 a.m. — mostly because the weather gets so hot later in the day. When I was in school, many schools ran a double session because there weren’t enough buildings to go around. So if you were in the morning session, you’d be in school from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., and then you had to vacate so the afternoon session students could come in from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Secondary school was fairly ordinary for me. I didn’t fail any exams, I played sports — nothing exceptional. But one significant moment was when my dad took me to the beach for kayaking when I was about 10 years old. That was my first encounter with water sports, and I loved it immediately. After that, I kept asking my dad to take me back.

When I was 12, I had the opportunity to join the Sea Scouts, and through that I got involved in even more water activities — paddling, sailing, swimming. A lot of time on the water.

Darrell: You were really on the water a lot through the Sea Scouts. That sounds amazing.

DJ: It really is how my relationship with the ocean grew. Then when I moved on to tertiary education, I kept exploring new water sports — water polo, triathlon, competitive swimming, and even the lifesaving club. I was surprised to find that even lifesaving has competitions! So I did a few of those as well. I can honestly say I love the water, and I love competing — even though I still get very nervous before every race.

Darrell: You never fully lose that feeling, do you? Even when I was timing the race on Monday — just standing on shore — my stomach was still in knots. But it really is an addictive feeling.

DJ: Exactly, and I think that’s one of the main reasons I keep coming back and wanting to compete.

Darrell: Tell me a bit more about your family life growing up. What did your parents do? What were your family traditions like?

DJ: My dad worked in a plastics coloring factory, and my mom worked in a bank until my school results started slipping. When she saw my grades, she decided to stop working and stay home to coach me. I truly believe that’s the main reason I never failed any of my exams — because of my mother.

I also have a younger brother. On weekends, like most Singaporean families, we’d go to the mall or visit relatives. But we also went to the beach quite often — probably because I kept asking to go. Whether it was swimming or just cycling along the beach, I always wanted to be near the water.

Darrell: What’s Singapore itself like? I know there’s a large Chinese population and that many people there speak Mandarin. Give our listeners a picture of what the place is like.

DJ: For visitors, the first thing I’d say is that public transport is excellent — there’s really no need to rent a car. The food is also fantastic, because Singapore was a meeting point for people from many different cultures during its founding years, so you end up with an incredibly diverse food scene. And contrary to what some reports suggest, the cost of living isn’t actually that high — it just depends on where you choose to eat and what you want to do. Eating out in Singapore is definitely cheaper than eating out in the US.

My suggestion to any visitor: use the MRT — that’s our subway system. Near almost every MRT station, you’ll find a hawker food center. Just be adventurous — hop off at any stop and explore. You won’t be disappointed.

Darrell: What’s the paddling scene like there? Are there SUP races? What does life on the water look like for someone who wants to visit?

DJ: Let me start with downwinding, because the short answer is: there is no downwinding in Singapore, and that’s exactly why I had to come to the Columbia River! Singapore is simply too small for wind swells to build up. And even if they did, the boat traffic would wash them out — Singapore is one of the world’s busiest harbours, with vessels moving constantly in every direction.

That said, we do have islands, and the currents around them can be incredibly strong. Sometimes the current is so powerful that navigating around the islands becomes a kind of puzzle — you have to pick the right line to move as fast as possible.

Our biggest race is the Singapore Ocean Cup, which is happening soon, on the 14th and 15th of September. It’s a multi-discipline event featuring outriggers, surfskis, and stand-up paddleboards, with both a short course that stays near the coast and a long course that goes around the islands. We’ve had some notable pros come out to compete — Tupu from New Zealand, Daniel Hasulyo, and teams from Hawaii have all participated in past editions.

Darrell: Oh, great — that’s excellent exposure for the event.

DJ: Yes! And there was a paddle-gear maker based in Hawaii — I’m blanking on his name at the moment — who came with his family. They had never paddled in Singapore before, but they are such experienced water people that they looked at the islands, immediately read the currents, and led the race from start to finish. It was incredible to watch.

Darrell: What was a pivotal moment in your SUP career? And what tips do you have for people who want to become faster racers?

DJ: The first thing to understand is that improvement is a very long process. When I trained week after week, month after month, I didn’t see measurable differences in my performance on a monthly basis. Quarter to quarter, maybe I noticed something. But year over year is when I saw truly significant changes.

I should also mention that I’m a PE teacher by training, and in recent years I’ve been experimenting with something called non-linear pedagogy, or a constraint-led approach. When I first started paddling, I used to give myself very specific instructions: bend this much, reach this far, rotate this way. There was a long checklist of things I was trying to control consciously.

But as I learned more about the constraint-led approach, I shifted focus. Instead of telling my body what to do, I focused on the outcome I wanted to achieve — or the feeling I was looking for. For example, when I work on my forward stroke, I focus on making as little splash as possible when the paddle enters the water. That’s the outcome. My body then figures out on its own how to position itself to achieve it. The checklist disappears, and I only have to remember two simple things: no splash, and a vertical shaft.

Darrell: I love that. You can go down a rabbit hole really fast — bend your knees, reach forward, rotate your hips, plant your feet. But if you just tell yourself “don’t splash,” your body figures the rest out. That’s a really elegant way to think about it.

DJ: Exactly.

Darrell: What else have you learned from other people in the SUP community that changed your game?

DJ: There have been quite a few things over the years, and I’ve been fortunate to learn from people who are far better than me and incredibly generous with their knowledge.

One memory that stands out is from my first world championships in Poland. The conditions were unexpectedly rough and very windy — and in Singapore, there’s no surf, so I had never paddled in waves before. I was standing there feeling completely lost, and Connor Baxter happened to be right next to me. I decided to ask him what I should do.

I was expecting maybe a quick tip or two, but instead he spent 10 to 15 minutes walking me through exactly how to manage the rough conditions — and this was while he was trying to prepare for his own sprint race. I was genuinely humbled. He was so generous with his time. I felt very blessed to have met him at that moment and learned from him.

Darrell: That’s a wonderful story. Our community is so generous, and it’s great to hear that about Connor especially, given the circumstances.

Darrell: You have quite a story about how downwinding changed your paddling. Talk us through that.

DJ: Last November, I spent about a week paddling downwind in Western Australia. The format was essentially a 0.8 to 0.8 — I’d paddle upwind for about an hour and then come back downwind in about 20 minutes, then repeat that cycle throughout the day. The week finished with a race called the Mayor’s Cup, which is a side event from the ICF Ocean Paddling World Championships.

In that race, I felt I performed around average or maybe slightly above — I could catch a few waves but couldn’t really link them together. Anyway, the week ended and I flew back to Singapore.

Then in January, when I showed up to a regular club session, our coach at Singapore Paddle Club looked at me and said, “Something’s different. You look different.” He said it appeared as though I was leaning more into the paddle and being more effective with my strokes. That’s when I put it together — the downwind week must have made the difference. When you’re trying to catch waves, every single stroke matters. You can’t afford to be inefficient. The environment forces you to improve.

Then, earlier this year, I came across an article by Danny Ching about something he calls the “wave method.” In his clinics, he uses a motorized boat and has people try to paddle on the wake it creates, because riding a wave forces paddlers to become more efficient. When I read that, I thought, “Oh my goodness — I think I’ve been onto something.” It confirmed what I had experienced firsthand.

Darrell: That’s fantastic. When you’re on a wave, that outcome is basically all you have time to focus on. You have to make it happen. Thank you for that insight.

Darrell: And that eventually brought you all the way here to the Columbia River for an extended stay. How did that come about?

DJ: My coach at Singapore Paddle Club suggested I come to the Gorge Downwind Championships. Once I signed up, I did my own research and found that there was also the Vortex race beforehand and the Gorge Paddle Challenge afterward. So I decided to stay for all three events — which is how I ended up here for about a month.

Darrell: You know, unfortunately the Gorge Paddle Challenge isn’t running this year, which surprised a lot of us. Of all the events in this region, that was our one truly world-class race — Connor Baxter, Danny Ching, all the top pros. We’re hoping it comes back. But our Seattle group is heading down anyway and running the course unofficially, just like we’ve kept the Round the Rock series alive here after it was canceled years ago. The community just keeps showing up.

Darrell: DJ, you’re currently on a 12-month sabbatical to pursue competitive SUP more seriously. Tell us about that decision.

DJ: Sure. At last year’s World Championships in Thailand, I managed to squeeze into the top 20 in the 40-plus long-distance category — just barely claiming that last spot. At the time, I was still teaching full-time at an elementary school, which meant whatever training plan I laid out for myself, I probably followed through on only about 50% of it. And I thought: if I can make the top 20 on 50% of my training, what could I accomplish with 100%?

So I started thinking seriously about taking a break from work and committing fully to competitive paddling. I brought the idea to my school principal, not knowing what she would say — and she was completely supportive. She told me to go ahead and plan it. I worked with the Ministry of Education to find someone to replace me at school, and my sabbatical officially began on the 1st of April. It runs for 12 months and four weeks, which is my maximum entitlement.

I’m not even halfway through yet, and I’m trying to paddle as much as possible. That’s precisely why I wanted to come here and stay for a month — to specifically focus on downwind paddling. When I’m on my own, I have to paddle downwind and then struggle back upwind for another run. So having the Seattle group to paddle with makes a huge difference.

Darrell: Tell us about your experience here in the Columbia Gorge. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world.

DJ: It really is stunning. The mountains are impressive, and there are so many waterfalls. Between training sessions, I’ve been making a point to go visit them — most are quite accessible, just a short 10-to-15-minute walk from the road. Beautiful place. And the beer is exceptional. I’ve been telling myself I need to keep training hard so I can justify drinking more of it! I’ve been sampling beers from both the Oregon side and the Washington side of the river.

Darrell: Did you make it to Stevenson, Washington?

DJ: Yes — that was the race headquarters for the Downwind Champs, so I was on that side.

Darrell: Did you make it to the Walking Man Brew Pub?

DJ: I did not — but now that you’ve mentioned it, I know I need to get there.

Darrell: I have to put in a plug for them. We’ve been going there for about 22 years. They have an award-winning cherry stout and the most wonderful Thai pizza. It’s the kind of place where tourists and locals both end up, and the vibe is just right. You have to go before you leave the area.

Darrell: What’s next on your race calendar?

DJ: My next race is the Singapore Ocean Cup — that’s at home, so it’s one I need to be there for. Then, about two weeks after that, I’m heading to Crete, Greece for an ICF SUP World Cup event. In October, I’m planning a flat-water race in Shanghai. I learned about the Chinese race scene from Daniel Hasulyo, who told me that even a small event in China draws 500 paddlers. I couldn’t believe it — I have to see it for myself.

The Shanghai race is called Jiangxia Jiangnan, which loosely translates to “paddle down the river in the south.” Most of the event information is shared through WeChat, so I’ve had to download the app and join the group just to stay updated on registration dates.

After Shanghai, I plan to use it as a tune-up race leading into the ICF SUP World Championships in Sarasota, Florida — which will most likely be my final race of the year.

Darrell: Incredible schedule. What about boards and gear back in Singapore?

DJ: I’m on a Starboard All-Star. The two biggest brands in Singapore are Starboard and SIC, with NSP also having a presence. Since all three have distributors in Singapore, most of us are on one of those three.

Darrell: Funny enough, most of our race group here in Seattle is on SIC or Starboard as well. Small world!

Darrell: Is there anything else you’d like to share before we wrap up?

DJ: I think we’ve covered it all pretty well!

Darrell: Well, it has been such an honor to have you here. Your dedication to the sport is truly inspiring. I love your approach to training — focusing on the outcome you want rather than a hundred technical checkboxes. It’s such a clear and practical way to think about improvement.

DJ: It really does get confusing when you try to manage too many things at once.

Darrell: Absolutely. Thank you so much, DJ. Thank you for joining our community, for making the trip to Hood River, and for everything you’ve shared today. I hope our paths cross again soon — maybe even in Singapore.

DJ: The honor is truly mine. I am so grateful for how warm and welcoming everyone has been. When Christian put the word out that I needed to borrow a board, so many people immediately offered theirs. I am truly humbled and blessed.

Darrell: That’s exactly what this sport is about — bringing people together from all over the world. And what a risk you’ve taken, stepping away from your career for a year to chase this goal. That takes real courage, and it warms my heart.

DJ: I had to do it before I get too old!

Darrell: Ha! That’s the only question you’d have otherwise — “what if?” You answered it. So good for you.

Thanks for listening to Stand Up Paddle World Radio. That was DJ from Singapore — what an incredible person to have join our community. We met him in the Columbia River Gorge, and he came back to Seattle and finished third in our Monday night race among some seriously strong competition. This is Darrell Kirk, Stand Up Paddle the World Radio. Give us a five-star review on iTunes or your podcast platform of choice, and we’ll see you on the water — Monday nights in Seattle all summer long. Stay up and stay on that board!

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