Overview of Mentawai's: The mentawai's is
an island chain situated about 100km off the west sumatran
mainland, the island group consist of 3 main
large islands and many smaller islands, surrounded by coral
reefs
and white palm lined beaches, on land the islands are barely
populated with hardly any roads and only the odd small village.
The waves: If you haven't heard or seen
how perfect the waves get in the mentawai's then it's highly
likely you haven't picked up a surf mag or watched a surfing
DVD in the last 15 years.
The mentawai's has arguably the highest number of world class
breaks in one area anywhere, with many of those waves being
in the top 10 in the world, waves like HT's, Macaronis, Rifles,
Kandui, Green bush, Telescopes, the hole etc
But the other good news is there is plenty more waves that
are super fun and rippable, waves like Pit stops, Beng
bengs, Pussy's, A frames, 4 bobs, Bat cave, Lances left, Scarecrows
etc So no matter what your level of surfing, there is a perfect
wave for you.
Crowds: Crowds
these days are a fact of life in the Mentawai's, however most
waves break on isolated islands,
so crowds can vary hugely from spot to spot, month to month
day, to day even hour to hour, and although it is extremely
rare
to catch
waves
such as Macaronis and HT's without a soul, it is still possible
to get empty sessions with perfect waves at lesser name spots,
in particular late or early in the season.
Mentawai surf spots (north to
south) :
Description and video's
North Mentawai's/Playgrounds (sth Siberut)-
This area is a pure gift from god, a true surfers paradise
a small
group
of
islands, with roughly
a total of 20 surf spots, with a fairly even number of lefts
and rights suitable for all levels of surfers from beginners
to pro's, working in every swell/wind/tide condition possible
it's almost guaranteed there will be a wave breaking and more
often than not a world class wave cranking.
However due to these factors there is also a large number
of surf camps/resorts, plus visiting boat charters, however
if there is a solid swell and light winds, many spots may be
working
at once, and most breaks also work on low and hight tide, although
under very small swells or certain wind directions's crowds
can be
a problem.
Burger world - ls the swell magnet of the
playgrounds area, when everywhere else in the area
is small to flat, burger world is the spot, an easy fun
right
point that peels down the side of a beautiful tropical island
with jungle growing all the way to the shoreline, burgers is
suitable
for
all levels
of surfers,on a good day a variety of fun sections can be had,
while as it's names suggest other days the waves can be fat
dribbling burgers, burgers is actually better when smaller
and above head high tends to
get
fat and
mushy,
however at this size other waves should start to
be breaking, can get crowded due to there not being many options
when working.
Beng Bengs- A fairly short playful
left, not really a barrel, but can have good shape and be quite
whackable,
hence a wave that all levels of surfers can have
fun
on, can get crowded with only half a dozen surfers out due
to being a fairly short wave, although when it's breaking there
is also normally many other waves working unless's tide is
very low.
E-bay-Set at the point of a picture perfect
bay, ebay is a world class left, when small it can be surfed
by most levels of surfers but when solid it experts only with
very hollow lefts breaking over shallow reef, two large rocks
stand out of the reef, ready to claim those who fall
Pit stops- Is a super fun playful small wave
right, waves form a perfect wedgy peak where you can
often tuck
into a small short barrel, the wave
then runs off over a mixture of reef and sand in a fast sectiony
wall suitable for small wave performance surfing, can get
crowded easy as the take off areas is rather small, doesn't
hold anything
bigger than head high, mostly surfed around waist to shoulder
high.
Nippusi's/Pussy's/Tikis/Bells- Although a
fairly average wave by Indo standards, what it lacks in shape
this
wave makes
up
in
consistency, the shape of the wave is similar to bells beach
in Australia, although it can throw up the odd barrel, its
more a bottom turn, top turn carve kind of wave, waves often
shift around a bit breaking on different areas of the reef
which can be a good thing to help spread the crowd out., handles
a few guys okay for this reason.
Bank vaults - A Hawaiian style right, think
solid shifty peaks, big barrels and long hold downs, needs
some size to be working properly and holds large swells.
Hideaways(mentawai pipe)- Like the name suggest
a fast hollow left, similar in some regards to E-bay, suitable
for most surfers when smaller, but experts only when bigger.
4 Bobs/Spankers- A short fun right on lower
tides it can get quite hollow and shallow while on higher
tides it offers a
fun peeling
wall allowing a couple quick turns, can get crowded easily
but other waves nearby are often working when its breaking
John candy's/A-frames-Mostly a left with
the left being the longer more often surfed wave, a wave of
many moods, generally suitable for all levels
of surfers.
Playgrounds/Karangbat left-The
long mellow lefts are perfect for
long
boarders
or average surfers
and often peel with perfect shape,
needs a bit of swell to get going and never really gets very
big.
Rifles/Kandui
right-Although
not the most consistent wave in the mentawai's, on its day
Rifles can be one of the most perfect rights anywhere
in the world, a long hollow super fast right, although a long
wave it rarely breaks from start to finish,depending on
the day, tide, swell, depends on the section of reef that
will
be working the
best, often different waves hit the reef at different areas
allowing for different take of points, hence spreading the
crowd out.
Kandui
left/No Kandui- One of the fastest hollowest
lefts in the world, kandui is a beast of a wave only suitable
to advanced surfers, a heavy take off that runs through a series
of fast hollow bowls, resulting in either the barrel of your
life or the thrashing of your life.
when Kandui is to big or crazy an inside reef known as Baby
Kandui/Corners can have a scaled down version of
kandui, although a little more approachable for average surfers.
Other
waves in area- Almost as many less consitent, lesser known
rights and lefts from dry reef death pits to kiddies waves.
Mid zone mentawai's- This area has the
second highest number of surf spots in one area, mostly lefts
suitable
for most
surfers, most of the waves work under southerly winds which
can be one of the most common wind directions during peak
season, there is about a dozen surf spots although generally
half
a
dozen are consistently surfed, with the others being fickle
or average waves needing big or west swells, crowds can be
a mixed bag depending on how many boats are passing
through.
Scarecrows- A fairly consistent left, and
a wave of many moods, not the best wave in the mentawai's
but
still
throws up a good variety of sections including a few barrels,
waves hit a number of sections of the reef, hence handles a
crowd okay, another swell magnet.
7 palm point- A fickle left that isn't surfed
very often, picks up a fair bit of swell, better when small.
Telescopes- Another one of those world
class picture perfect mentawai waves, below head high it
can be a fun wave
suitable for all
levels
of surfers, with a variety of hollow sections and rippable
walls, breaking over a flat fairly safe reef, for these reasons
it can at times get crowded, however telescopes tends to
hold a crowd okay as there is generally two take off points,
with
some surfers opting for waves that peel from in deep and
others waiting for sets that break wide. On a solid swell Telescopes
is a world class, with a fast
hollow
barrel from start to finish.
Ice
lands- Another swell magnet in the telescopes area,
Iceland's has two personality's, when small its a mostly
a very average
wave with a peaky take off, the odd short wedgy right and a
left with a good drop and a dribbly wall if your lucky.
On solid swells, Iceland's can be the complete opposite a
world class heavy hollow left, that holds very solid waves,
suited
only to experienced surfers.
Suicides-A fast rarely surfed left , fickle
shallow and heavy.
Ombak tidur- On a west swell some fast
long rights can line up, although most days it's a series
of fast
sectiony
rights that can be fun or frustrating.
Ariks- The last section of the long reef
at ombak tidur, Ariks is a right breaking over very shallow
sharp reef, the waves are often a mix of
different sections with the odd barrel, before backing of in
deep water.
#The local kids often call Ariks, Suicides.
Other waves in area- There is also a
few lesser known more fickle lefts of average quality.
Central mentawai's(Sth Sipura)- this
area has two main spots that work in opposite winds (lances
left
and
Ht's) both waves
being very consistent, normally one or the other is breaking,
with about half a dozen other surf spots that are more
fickle, due to
there consistency and quality, both Lances left and Ht's
can at times get crowded, with it being rare to catch Ht's
without at least a few guys out.
HT's/Lances right- The mentawai's most
famous right, swells wrap around the tip of P. Sipura refracting
almost
180 despite this surprisingly Ht's
picks up it's fair share of swell, the set up is idyllic,
a perfect right reef, breaking into a small bay with a
coconut palm lined beach.
The wave although not very long is made up of a number of
section's depending on how the swell/sets hit the reef, good
surfers often sit further up the point deep on a section of
the reef called the office, where very hollow rights peel off,(over
very shallow reef) wider sets often hit area of reef called
the cage, where it
is a little deeper but still can throw up a barrel, further
in from mid to low tide is a section of reef that everyone
try's to avoid that often sits clear out of the water " the
surgeons table" entertaining to watch surfers get washed
over, but not something you want to experience yourself.
When small most surfers can get
out among the action especially on higher tides, although
low is when it often breaks best, and it must be noted the
reef is always very shallow and many guys surf trips have
ended
here, not recommenced to have your first surf of your trip
here for that reason.
However when bigger it's definitely experts only, big barrels
over shallow reef.
Lances left- one of the most consistent
waves in the Mentawai's lance's picks up its fair share of
swell and can be surfed
on all sized swells offering a variety of take off points
and sections, handles a crowd okay for those reasons, works
in the opposite wind direction to Ht's hence normally everyone's
at
lances
left
or everyone's
at Ht's.
Cobras- A little further up the reef at
lances short hollow lefts are often worth a paddle.
Bitangs- A short sucky right that often sucks
below sea level, a little fickle but when on a nice wave.
Other wave in area- there are a few other
waves in the area, although they are fairly fickle and not
often
surfed, including a beach break near lances.
Central mentawais-(Nth Pagai) The main focus
in this area is Macaronis, with other waves being either some
distance
apart or of average quality or fickle in nature, maccas along
with ht's is generally the most crowded wave in the mentawai's,
and if
your
score any ride able session with low crowds, consider yourself
lucky.
Bat cave- Peeling down the edge of a small
perfect tropical island, a few hundred meter's from the main
island Pagai, the set
up is picture perfect, the wave itself, is fairly average by
indo
standards,
not really
a barrel,
generally a series of fat shoulders, walls and crumbling sections,
but is often worth a look and a paddle if passing through as
is really the only wave between Ht's and Maccas and sometimes
can be
much better
than
it looks, usually not many guys here, but holds a crowd okay
due to its shifty nature.
Silabu- A short fast fairly average left,
really only surfed to escape the crowds of maccas.
Maccas right-KFC's A shifty right breaking
over an uneven reef, generally only a last resort, if the winds
are light and maccas
is crowded, winds northerly or for those in need of a right
fix, an average wave by mentawai standards, but often just
as you
have written it off the most perfect wave will peel through,
normally just as you have started paddling back to the boat.
Macaronis/Maccas left- One of mentawai's
true jewels, this left has perfect shape, on take of it is
possible to pull
straight into
a nice barrel, then the wave slows down a little peeling
with perfect shape at a perfect speed, for high performance
surfing, generally a fun wave from knee to
head high,although over that it can get very heavy, even
looking like a mini Teahupoo.
The real plus of this wave is
how consistent
it is, breaking at any tide in
any
swell
at
any size and just about any wind, perhaps even being at
it's best with a light onshore(sea breeze) creating the
most whackable lip
imaginable, possibly the only downside of this wave is
because it peels so perfectly and on the same piece of reef
every wave,
generally if surfers make the take off they rarely fall
or end up to deep, combined with one small take off area, and
a few good surfers out or more than 10 guys and it
can
be a challenge to get a wave.
Green bush- Unlike Macaronis Green bush is
a fickle wave requiring a certain set of conditions, even on
perfect days, many waves
section or don't line up right,(something the surf vids often
don't show) the perfect ones thou are perfect, forming a peak
that
pitches
and barrels all the way through to the inside, although watch
the inside section that temp's you to backdoor it as it often
sucks dry sending you into an area of shallow reef, Green bush
is really only for experts. surprisingly you can luck into
un crowded days, perhaps due to its fickle nature, it being
far from other
proper surf spots and the fact that its not
a wave for your average joe.
South Mentawais- There is about half a dozen
spots in this area relatively close, the waves in this region
apart from
roxys, lean towards surfers with a higher skill level, with
most of the waves being thicker powerful shallow and very hollow,
crowds are a mixed bag, thunders can get crowded as it is the
go to spot in the south when swell is small.
Roxy's/Malakopa/clear water springs- A
fun right that has actually increased in quality with a slight
reef uplift a few
years
back, not the longest wave or the most consistent, but a fun
wave in an area where most of the waves lean towards the more
hollow heavy side.
Rags left- When on this left has been compared to G-land,
long left's with a variety of hollow sections, needs a solid
swell to get going ,if you catch this wave on you should
consider your self lucky.
Rags right- A very hollow right barrel breaking
over very shallow reef, this is perhaps the most dangerous
wave in the mentawai's and only to be surfed by the most
experienced surfer.
Thunders left-Often the last stop south before
heading back north, Thunders is a swell magnet, picking up
any available
swell and holding just about any size swell, although it is
mostly surfed when smaller, at any size is a rather thick powerful
wave, with a variety of hollow slabing sections.
The far south- The most rarely visited
area of the Mentawai's the area is isolated and far from civilization,
the waves are
generally more fickle and some distance apart, although if
you do score good waves in this area, normally crowds
are
not a problem.
Between Thunders and the Hole, are a few more surf spots,
but they are more fickle and only real surfed or checked if
venturing
down
to
the area of the Hole/lighthouse.
The Hole- Another wave only suitable for
experts, very hollow heavy and shallow,from start to finish,
with a nasty inside section ending on dry
reef.
Moots- A more mellow left, suitable for most
surfers and a good alternative to the hole
Light house- Both a left and right peel off
either side of the Island, where a lighthouse is situated,
the right is the
most commonly surfed, a wave that can be surfed by all levels,
a long shifty right pt with a variety of walls and hollow sections.
Beyond light house are more small islands but it's very rare
that charters venture further south as the waves are very fickle
and some distance from anywhere.
Please note: Video's have been chosen because
they contain only or mostly the spot we describe, we also
try to show video's that are typical days or good days with
good surfing,
however sometimes we have little choice but to use a video
of poor quality or not the best day or best standard of
surfing,
sometimes charter boats or resorts have the best video footage
this is the reason why we use them, not for any other reasons
All surfing spots shown are also well known
and have been described on other commercial sites, we don't
not show any secret spots or support giving conditions waves
break
in or GPS
(google
earth)
locations.
