Sumatran Pipe-shallow and sharp
I'm writing to you from Krui, which is in the south of Sumatra, Indonesia. I'm traveling with 4 other Kiwi surfers; Brent Alexander, Sam 'Calfy' Ryan and the Strom brothers, Barton and Hayden. We're half way through our most excellent adventure. And it is excellent.
At this juncture of the adventure there was a hope/expectation that this post would be filled with stunning first hand accounts of surfing prowess. Sadly [or maybe luckily for you] this is not the case. The wave quota, thus far, stands at 5 rides. 5 very medicore rides at that. Just over a month ago I tore my hamstring, and while the recovery had gone well, standing on a wave is too painful.
This surfing trip has defaulted to a photography trip. To be really honest it is gutting. But what can you do, there's no point in dwelling on what should have been. I'm lucky that I have the cameras to fall back on, a secondary passion.
So rather than bleat on too much about what's been going on here's a visual account. Next week there'll be a full wrap up of the hows and whys.
First evening in Kuta before the transit flights and 5 hour drive to Krui
Yum, Padang
The two connecting flights went pretty well, the boards arrived in Sumatra at the same time as us
Now for a mellow drive through rain and flooded roads for five hours in 3rd gear
The pay off
Barton firmly focussed on Hayden's next dart
When it rains around these parts you'll know it
Early morning reef blurs
Brent Alexander lining up the section at Pipe
The Pipe's room with a view
The local lads
The peak in fine form
Calfy between sets
Hayden in the happy place
Our guide and local photographer Dedi, check out his instagram @dedilock
Out in front
According to the speedo I'm a pretty slow rider
Fair to say from where we'd all rather be
Pipe doing its thing. Tomorrow the swell jumps 4x in size. Ok, big boy pants on