I woke up to the best text message I have ever received last fall. It was an invitation to go on a boat trip to the Mentawais with six other kids from around the world. I’ve watched my idols like Dane Reynolds and Taj Burrow surf Macaronis, Roxys, HT’s, and Greenbush, and I was so happy and psyched to go to a place I’ve dreamt about all my life.
My Dad and I were a little surprised when we learned the trip was taking place in February, an “offseason” for the Ments, but once we watched some videos of uncrowded HTs and Macaronis with perfect, glassy, long, barreling waves in the offseason, I couldn’t wait.
I was pumped to make new friends and catch up with old ones. We all met up at a hotel close to the Padang Harbor and the day before we left, we got a preview tour of our home for the next two weeks, The King Millenium 2. The boat was like a house on water. Finally, at 7 pm the next day, we set out on our 10-hour journey crossing the channel to get to the Mentawai Islands. We awoke to perfect two to four foot, hundred-yard-long perfect rights at Burger World. It was a dream come true.
The swell forecast for the next two weeks was a bit tricky but we were lucky to have Captain Poto. With over 25 years of experience in Indonesia, he had us at the right spot at the right time every day. We got amazing waves the entire trip — fun HTs, long Burger World rights, small and fun Roxys, and of course, the cherry on top was perfect three-to-five-foot Macaronis. We surfed probably the best waves of my entire life those last few days at Macaronis. I must have surfed like twenty hours in that stretch at Macaronis and most of it was with nobody else in the water but the friends I’d come with.
Overall this was an incredible trip. Even with a difficult forecast, our captain got us on the best waves at the best spots with minimal to no crowds. The hospitality on the boat was amazing. Even the chef, Edu, was incredible, making us everything from lamb to amazing seafood. So I’ve come to the conclusion that there is truly no offseason in the Mentawais. It has perfect waves all year around. The water is 80 degrees, there is no current, and the waves break in the same spot every time. I had an awesome trip and to share this with friends made it even better. I will definitely be coming back soon.
