Nias, looking about as good as it can look. Photo: YouTube//Screenshot
The wave at Lagundri Bay on Nias is fantastically good, and at the end of May it was about as good as it can get. The makers of this clip, Surf Raw Files, called it “Nias on Steroids.”
A few windless days paired with powerful a southwest swell made for conditions every surfer dreams about. It wasn’t completely maxed out, but honestly, conditions at maxed-out Nias are not what every surfer dreams about. Sure, maybe we like to dream about being able to handle maxed-out Nias, but the vast majority of us couldn’t. But this? This is doable. This is manageable.
One of the best things about Nias is the wave. But second best, for surfers at least, is that it’s not an easy place to get to. Despite its fame, it often remains relatively uncrowded for a wave of its calibre. Then, depending on where in Indonesia you flew into — likely either Jakarta or Bali — you’l have to take another flight to Sumatra. Then one more short jump to the island of Nias.
Now, if all things went well and your surfboards arrived intact and the forecast holds up… well, hold on to your hat, because you could be in for a surf trip you’ll never forget. A bucket list, for certain, especially if the stars align and the conditions you see are anywhere even close to the conditions you see here.
