my story

let my pain be your gain

Hey, I'm Van Vu. I created the Basis Paddle Trainer because I was sick of struggling.

I live an hour from a break that's flat 90% of the time. I'm in my 40s so I don't recover the way I used to.

I missed waves, got denied trying to make it out the back, and was always exhausted.

All because I couldn't maintain my paddle fitness.

I felt like a failure.

before paddle training

on a surf trip too exhausted to paddle

i became obsessed

If runners use treadmills and rowers use rowing ergs, then why didn't surfers have a way to train paddling?

I tried everything. Resistance bands. Swimming. Gym workouts. Nothing worked.

3+ years of late nights, 7 day work weeks, and endless R&D lead to the Basis Paddle Trainer.

But would it really work? Could I not surf for months and show up and surf 3-4 hr sessions day after day?

The answer was yes:

after paddle training

in the best paddle shape of my life in my 40s even though i hadn't surfed in months

sharing the joy of surfing

I'll be honest. I was tempted to keep the secret to myself. More waves for me.

But I realized I had to share the gift of paddle power with others.

I also knew it would require a lot more than just the trainer itself. I would have to help others improve their paddle technique, implement effective traning programs so they'd peak before their swell events, and much much more.

I'm glad I did. The Basis Paddle Trainer has transformed the lives of hundreds of surfers:

transforming the surfing of others

these results are not uncommon

what a journey

Solving this problem has lead me on quite the journey.

My surf progression has increased exponentiolly because of the sheer volume of waves I've been able to catch.

The Inertia voted the Basis Surf Podcast the best overall surf podcast and I've had the privilege of interviewing nearly a hundred of my surf heroes such as Tom Carroll, Zeke Lau, Parker Coffin, Dane Gudauskus, Victor Bernardo, and Margo Margieson to name just a few.

I've been invited by Olympic Surf Coach Marcello Castellanos to teach paddling technique to elite surfers including Olympian and pro surfer Bryan Perez.

it's been an honor to learn and to teach

where does your journey lead?

If you’re tired of feeling frustrated and exhausted — whether in surfing or in general — remember that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results.

So take action. Invest in yourself.

You don’t have endless free time and energy anymore.

But, if you train smart — you don’t just maintain…

You can progress. You can build a version of yourself you didn’t think was still possible.

It was possible for not just me, but hundreds of surfers at this point.

So now you have a choice. Are you going to:
Give up?
Ortake action?

– Van Vu
Founder, Basis Surf

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