Our Staff

Troy has UK Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and is a Water Skills Academy (WSA) SUP Adventure Guide, with 20 years of Duke of Edinburgh International Award, leadership of school expeditions and a lifetime of watersports experience (Sailing, Kitesurfing, Windsurfing and SUP). He is a qualified Emergency First Responder Instructor (meaning that he can train EFRs). Troy has qualified as a Duke of Edinburgh International Award Supervisor, Assessor and Award Leader, so is strongly placed to help you to achieve your aims on adventurous journeys and learning to SUP on rivers. He is a Rescue 3 International trained and certified Whitewater Rescue Technician – Professional.

Hojeong and Peng (Senior SUP Instructor and our Medical Team)

This is our medical team and also WSA SUP Foundation Instructor. We are passionate Stand Up Paddleboarders who love being on the water and teaching people. We are always there for expeditions and large groups, like when we had 175 students and 24 teachers visit for stand up paddleboarding and cycling in November 2018. We always check your Physical Activity Readiness before we take you on the water. We would never risk our reputations to work for a company which does not have the very highest safety standards.

Fadel (Lead SUP and Outward Bound Instructor)

Fadel Samali is from Raman district, Yala province. Fadel believes that all of us have goals in life, none the same. His goals are to enjoy learning and the journey of life. He is a quiet person who rarely speaks, but if you get close to him, that changes. Fadel is one of the most knowledgeable, experienced and skilled instructors in our team. He is very tough and never complains when tired or hot – he is a very positive person. You will find him to be very patient and excellent with young children. Before joining our company Fadel was a teacher of the Muslim faith, as well as his own regional language, Malay and it was his experience as a teacher and calm demeanor that caused us to recruit Fadel.

Ohm (General Manager & Lead SUP and Outward Bound Instructor)

Ohm is from Kanchanaburi. He is someone who likes adventure, loves camping, traveling to explore new places and he possesses jungle survival skills – he loves the challenge of surviving in the jungle. Ohm is a lifelong learner, currently developing his English, who is extremely organised and thrives on the pressure of complex logistics, like when we deal with large schools. Ohm is a very responsible person and hard-worker, who will keep you very safe on the water and he is patient and gentle with young children and adults alike.

James (SUP Instructor and Cycling Team Leader)

I am a former cyclist of northeastern Thailand. I’ve competed for more than 15 years there, competing at many levels, including multi-day races and National Sports Competitions. I have raced many types of bikes such as bicycles & mountain bikes. I love all sorts of other sport. I am passionate about being a Bike Leader and SUP Instructor for learners. I’ve learnt a lot in a very short time about the sport and I want to be the best instructor I can. I really like SUP because it’s a bike-like sport. It requires patience and perseverance. Of course it is also great fitness and conditioning.

Testimonials from some of the amazing International Schools we have worked with

James Calder Social Studies Curriculum Coordinator, Panyarat High School, Bangkok. April, 2021
“We have enjoyed two camps now with Troy Wells, the team of Doctors and the instructor team, both of them wonderful successes. From beginning to the end Troy offers a very professional approach to the details of the itinerary and camp activities. The instruction in each activity is well paced and very clear with students’ safety and achievement paramount. The team of instructors is highly professional, supportive and caring with the students at all times. Students have all given excellent feedback on his camps and request more camps with his team. It has been a great pleasure for PHS to work with SUP Hire (Thailand).”

David Whitsed (St. Andrews, 107, Bangkok). January, 2020

“Troy and his team are very professional and worked closely with us right from the start. Their flexibility allowed us to create the programme we wanted while maintaining high quality. I would not hesitate in recommending SUP Hire (Thailand) to other schools.”

Tim Urwin (Head of Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Bromsgrove International School, Bangkok). January, 2019

“SUP Hire Thailand could not have been more flexible and accommodating. They tailored our needs in terms of where we camped and supplied us with extras to help us – eggs, bread, milk, ice and wood for camp-fires. Instructors gave students lots of encouragement and boards and equipment were in excellent condition. SUP Hire Thailand’s Support staff were on hand on the riverside at frequent checkpoints to ensure safety at all times, there was full vehicle support and qualified doctors were on hand also. Communication between staff on land and instructors on the river was excellent. SUP Hire Thailand were happy to develop the expedition from what was learned on the practice journey; they then provided necessary changes for example tents being available for students to change in upon exiting the river”

Kris Meadows (Head of Year Bangkok Patana). November 2018

“From start to finish the dealings with Troy and everyone at SUP Hire Thailand were outstanding. Taking a group of nearly 200 up to Kanchanaburi last November we had a number of very specific demands as to what we required. Troy was both flexible and knowledgeable in meeting our needs perfectly. The attention to detail was first class, as was the delivery of the range of activities (team building exercises, stand up paddleboarding, cycling and walking). Students were challenged and pushed in the right amount and this was thanks to Troy and his team. I recommend the team at SUP Hire Thailand without reservation.”

Alistair Marshall (Head of Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award at Harrow International School Bangkok). September, 2018

“We could not have been happier with Troy and Hojeong at SUP Hire (Thailand), who organised our Gold DoE International Award adventurous journey in September 2018. The attention to detail that was given to every part of the expedition was second to none; from the route planning and accommodation through to quality of instruction of our students on the water. Troy and Hojeong are meticulous about safety and this was evident from the first stages of planning right through to the last meal of the expedition. Our students loved their Gold Expedition and we will most certainly continue to use this excellent service provider.”

Richard Noble (Teacher at Harrow International School Bangkok). July, 2018
“I know the Director of the business through his work at our school, 2016 through 2018, on school expeditions and his teaching of sailing. He had significant involvement with the Year 9 expeditions at our school and I would say that he has a thorough understanding of how to conduct a challenging, fun, worthwhile and above all safe experience for international school students with regard to the Duke of Edinburgh International Award. I would unhesitatingly recommend schools use SUP Hire (Thailand) for this type of adventurous journey.”

Matthew Farthing  (Principal Nord Anglia International School Dubai). June, 2018

“I have known the Director of the business since 2005 when he joined Harrow International School Beijing when I was Head Master there. At Harrow Beijing Troy served as Head of Mathematics achieving great academic results throughout, but in addition to this, Troy led the charge for outdoor pursuits at the School. After taking a first end of year expedition into the mountains outside Beijing he helped to plan the systematic scheduling of outdoor activities for all year groups. As well as leading trekking and camping, Troy developed a significant relationship with a sailing centre to include kayaking, windsurfing, kitesurfing and sailing. In all that he does Troy ensures a positive experience for students and staff alike always putting health and safety in first place and modelling a meticulous approach to planning. His follow up is equally impressive as he uses reflection and review to continually upgrade and to improve.”

Kate Rowe (Head of Education, Venture Education)

“Troy’s enthusiasm for the transformative power of all outdoor activities, excellent communication skills and sound organisation shine through in his management of the student experience.  He thinks carefully about building learning into every activity, and is extremely thoughtful and considerate about what accompanying teachers need to know about their role.  It is a pleasure to see the learning and growth that students encounter on his trips.”