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Mentawai Islands |
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Sumatra, Indonesia |
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In September, 1998 I took a trip with the five J's... Jeff W, Jimmy, Joe, Jamie, and Jeff S. to the Mentawai Islands. The Mentawai Islands are located 90 miles off Sumatra, Indonesia. The islands have received a lot of hype from the surf magazines in recent months. This is du to the fact that the surf charter companies are fighting for exclusive rights to surf these prestine islands. There are many great waves in the Mentawais, we surfed just a handful. We mainly surfed Lance's Left, Hallow Trees (aka HT's or Lance's Right), and Maccaronnis (aka Maccas). |
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We chartered The Electric Lamp for 8 days from Great Breaks International. Before the boat trip even started, we were having a blast with Antion, Great Breaks tour guide of Padang. There's not much to see in Padang, but Antion makes sure you see everyting it has to offer. From that point forward we were treated like kings. The captain and crew were outstanding. The cook made some of the best meals I've ever eaten.
On to the good stuff. The surf was perfect 3-5 feet and consistant the whole time. We would have liked it a little bigger, but no one was complaining. Lance's was a perfect left over a shallow reef. Joe was so shocked at it's perfection, he almost moved in with the natives. After a few killer sessions we headed over to HT's, a fun right hander that bowls into a channel. Several other boats appeared with surfers from California, Hawaii, Australia, and Brazil. Everyone was pretty laid back in the line-up. Once the swell dropped a little we headed over to Maccas. Maccas is a left that starts out as a fast tube and then becomes a trestles like left except it's 300 yards longer. It was the heaviest wave of the trip, and most packed.
The Mentawai Islands are magical. The locals where very friendly and always willing to sell you the beaded neckless off their back. They are a very primitive culture that is being catapualted into the 21st century. Luckily the islands are riddled with Malaria. Hopefully it will keep visiters on their boats instead of hotels.
For our journey home we were lead by schools of Dolphin and Pilot Whales. As we sailed back to the mainland, we all wondered when we would return. |
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The Electric Lamb... home for eight surf-packed days. |
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The Crew. |
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Joe @ Lance's. This was Joes first Surfari. Not bad eh Joe? |
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Jimmy P. on a Lance's Left |
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Me @ HT's... Perfection!!! |
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Jamie catchin some dinner. |
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Perfection... part 2. |
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Local taxi to and from HT's. |
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Jeff getting tucked in by Mother Ocean @ HT's |
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"Comin down!" Jimmy P. @ HT's |
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"That fish Jamie caught was this big" Me skating through the sections @ HT's |
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Me standing firm @ HT's |
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Jeff having a lip smackin good time @ HT's. |
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"Uh Andy... the tube is back there!" |
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Coppin a feel! |
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Bintang Beer... Indo for rice and patatoes. |
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| Back to my homepage. |
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Show me more surf pics! |
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