The only thing better than visiting the Mentawais is visiting the Mentawais on someone else’s dollar. Photo: Jim Russi
As crazy as this may sound, I won this trip through Instagram. Yes, you heard right. I entered an Instagram contest hosted by Glide Soul, a Russian-based wetsuit company. I saw it pop up on my news feed, and all I had to do was post photos of me surfing and hashtag “#girlsgomentawais” to win an all-inclusive boat trip to the Mentawais. I never thought in a million years I would actually win.
I figured what the hell and posted and tagged my life away in hopes to win the ultimate surf trip. I mean, I had nothing to lose. Coincidentally, my dad had made plans to go to the Mentawais the following summer without me, so I was determined to go there before him—served him right for not inviting me. Shortly after I entered, I forgot that I had even entered. After all, what are the chances of me winning, let alone it actually being a legitimate contest.
A month or so later I received an e-mail from Glide Soul, explaining that I had won. I was over the moon, to say the very least. I told my professors that I would be missing two weeks of class and that I’d be back in time for finals. I gathered my marbles and excitedly headed on my way to the most epic surf trip every surfer dreams of.
I stayed on the Raja Elang with the famous Aussie Tony Etherton as my boat captain. I didn’t know anyone on the boat trip except one other girl, Sierra Lierback, who was another winner from the contest. So there I was; in the Mentawais with this diverse group of surfer girls on a boat with perfect waves. I swear I was dreaming. Of the group, there were four Russians, one Balinese, one Brazilian, two Hawaiians, and Tai “Buddha” Gram holding it down for the Kiwis. Despite all the ethnic backgrounds and cultural differences, we all had two things in common: a fiery love for the ocean and a genuine excitement for being in the Mentawais, scoring perfect waves and completely disconnected from our normal lives.
Just one of thousands of islands that make up the Indonesian archipelago. It’s beauty is unrivaled. Photo: Jim Russi
We surfed A-Frames, Bank Vaults, Nipussy, Monkey’s, Telescopes, Roxie’s, Macaronis, Thunder’s, Outside Thunder’s Right, Lance’s Left, and HT’s. My homework assignment each day was to surf my brains out and get sun burnt—I loved it. Exploring the little islands, living freely, waking up at a new surf spot every day, and surfing from sun up to sun down was by far the most rewarding thing I’ve ever experienced. I learned so much, and this trip was nothing close to what my professors could ever teach me. Despite a minor mishap when the boat decided to break down, this trip to the Mentawais was by far the best trip I’ve ever taken. I would do anything to go back.
