Prado Summer 2024: Watersports
Toyota New Zealand loaned writer Tim Warren a smoky blue 2024 Toyota Prado Adventure to go and have a good Kiwi summer. He did that and we are publishing Tim’s exploits progressively. Read on and enjoy!
Time to go windsurfing. I don’t own one, but my good friend Bob does. We rummage his storage unit, loading up with the latest foiling windsurfer. It’s a monster with its prominent foil yet it fits easily on the top of the car using the running board to get enough height. In goes all the associated equipment, wetsuits, lifejackets, plus a few other toys thrown in the back and the auto opening door makes it easy. Folding up the seats I throw in a cooler full of hydration for good measure. Bob is 6 foot 5 yet when it’s time to stow him in the passenger seat he fits without an issue. The local beach which has great facilities but in my view the water looks a little more ‘surf’ than ‘sail’. Bob laughs and tells me it doesn’t matter on a foil board – you are “above all that”.
The wind is perfect and Bob goes first to give me a demo. He makes it look easy – it must be – just a moment in displacement then on to the foil and he’s off like a stung cat. I gather some of NZ’s overly strong sun rays till it’s my turn. Let’s just say that while I have sailed and windsurfed, foiling is new to me. Forget a lot of what you know about sailing and learn a whole new skill. After an hour of ignoring my instincts, wobbling and nose diving, it starts to work and I’m ripping along. Well, as long as the wind and waves are in perfect condition. Then I nosedive. Handing back the rig to my mate, he again makes it look easy – it isn’t. I’m not yet done so I grab a boogie board where I feel more at home if not a little un-talented.
When we’re done with sailing and refreshments we throw things into the Prado. I realize too late it’s getting filthy. I’ll deal with that later. Bob is impressed with the Prado – he likes the height for his tall frame, and ventilation on this hot day, and the fact that is tough : “It’s no baby SUV to pamper..” he opines. Overall it was easy, excluding the foiling that is. Next time I’d take a rig each so we can go out together. Foiling is hard for beginners, but getting there and back wasn’t! I can see how this Prado would be perfect if you own a JetSki. You can tow anything you want, go anywhere you want and load up the inside and the outside with any equipment you need. I promise I’m much better on a JetSki, and while I tried to find one, it seemed the owners were using them during the summer!