Waves
Indonesia is arguably the most famous surfing destination in the world. Great waves break here year round, especially if you know where to find them. However, it's the dry season which spans from April to November that is known the world over for producing those indelible images of perfect, empty, remote, offshore barrels, and sunny skies.

The challenge and thrill of exploration and being able to surf waves beyond comprehension is what normally drives most people to book a surf charter trip. Having the opportunity to surf with a small group of your friends in the middle of nowhere is the proverbial icing on the cake.

There are numerous surf locations throughout Indonesia that the Indies Trader fleet travels during the course of the year. We've discovered many of the spots we encounter and a lot of them are still only frequented by our surf charter vessels and our guests. It's simple, we know where the waves are, all you need to do is get on the boat.

In an effort to tread as lightly as possible, we have compiled a brief look at some of the more well-known surf spots in the Mentawai's to give you an idea about what to expect on your adventure. Martin has also offered some of his insight and knowledge into how a lot of these breaks originally got their names.

4 Bobs
4 Bobs is a short, playful right-hander located next to a popular mooring area. Swells that break here wrap considerably around the south end of the island and break over a relatively safe reef.

"4 Bobs" was originally known as "Morrisons". Peter Morrison, the publisher of Australian Surfing Life magazine, dislocated his knee there the first time it was surfed in September of 1993. MD

Recommended Board: Any type of board works great here.

Bankvaults
Bankvaults is a thick, barreling right punctuated by a shifting line-up. Sets seemingly emerge out of nowhere and can wreak havoc if you're caught out of position.

"Bankvaults" earned it's name because once you got locked in to the barrel here it's hard to get out of it. It was originally named by Moose, the captain of the Kuta Laut. MD

Recommended Board: A few extra inches will help you get into the waves easier and give you enough speed to make it out of the barrel.

Burgerworld
Burgerworld is a last alternative when everywhere else is flat. Most of the time it's a mushy, fat shoulder set against a scenic backdrop but every dog has its day and on ocassion "Burgers" can get quite fun if it's small enough and hugging the right section of reef.

"Burgerworld" was named by Ross Clarke Jones in 1995 because the first time he surfed it it was big and the waves were like big burgers everywhere. It took a few years to realize that Burgerworld is at its best when it small. MD

Recommended Board: Shortboard or fish if you brought one.

E-Bay
E-bay is a fast, barreling left that gets good when it's head high or bigger and the swell is out of the west. The overall set-up is flawless, stereotypical Indonesian, with beautiful, bluish-green water and tall palm trees everywhere.

"E-Bay" was first surfed in 1994 and named after "Emerald Bay" in Laguna Beach, California. It was given it's name by Bob McKnight, CEO of Quiksilver, because it reminded him of home. MD

Recommended Board: Usually you can get away with your shortboard but anything overhead and you might want to grab the next largest board in your arsenal.

Lance's Right
Lance's Right is a fast, perfect, barreling right-hander. There are three main take-off zones, but it's the deepest zone, dubbed "The Office" that serves up the heaviest, scariest, roundest, most mesmerizing barrels in the world.

Lance's Right was originally named after Lance Knight who was the first person to surf it in 1991. Ironically, a few friends and I pulled up the very next day and surfed it with Lance in small, offshore, afternoon surf. It was this discovery that fulfilled my lifelong mission to discover a righthander that was better than Lagundri Bay in Nias. In 1996 it was renamed Hollow Trees or "HT's" for short by a rival operator. Most people still call this break Lance's Right to this day. MD

Recommended Board: On smaller days a shortboard with a drawn in tail works great - on bigger days grab your favorite mid-sized gun and charge!

Nokandui
Nokandui is one of the fastest, down the line, left-hand barrels in the world, it is an obscenely hollow wave with your only option for survival being tucked deep inside the barrel. No room for turns just stand up and accelerate!

"Nokandui" was originally a no name break that was surfed several times over the years starting in 1996. It was renamed" by the Surfer Magazine crew after they "rediscovered" it during the OP Pro Boat Trip challenge in 2003. Today, it is generally known as "Kandui Left". MD

Recommended Board: Use a slightly bigger board than normal to get the necessary speed.

Rifles
Rifles aka Kandui Right is one of the longest, most perfect, awe-inspiring waves in the world. When it's breaking properly you can expect ridiculously long righthand walls which boasts numerous tube sections or one very long tube section from beginning to end when it's perfect. Rifles might just be the best right in the entire world.

"Rifles" was first surfed by Danny Madre in 1990. It's original name was simply "Kandui's". MD

Recommended Board: The fastest board you have, unless you're pro you'll need it.

Lance's Left
Lance's Left is one of the most popular destinations in the Mentawai's for consistency and quality. It is an occasionally grinding left with multiple take-off zones and during the right conditions two distinct barrel sections. It's a really good left hand reef point.

"Lance's Left" was patterned after "Lance's Right" because of their geographic proximity to each other. MD

Recommended Board: You can use almost anything out there.

Macaroni's
Macaroni's, also known as "Macca's" is one of the best lefts our planet has to offer. The wave barrels graciously on take-off before walling up into the most high performance oriented wave imaginable. Unfortunately it almost always has a few boats on it waiting for it to turn on.

"Macaroni's" was first surfed in the 1980's by Australian campers. It was named by my good mate Danny Madre in 1990 during his travels through the islands. MD

Recommended Board: Your favorite shortboard.


Nipussi
Nipussi is a fun right situated inside a reef-laden cove. Most people line up at the apex of the point and surf a solid wall that hugs the inside, but during a west swell some people prefer to sit wide and wait for the swinger sets which break in the middle of the cove. Nipussi always has waves and is a good alternative when the rest of the islands are flat.

"Nipussi" was first surfed in 1995 on "The Search". It was originally called "Tripods" because Sonny Miller lost his tripod there. Afterwards they decided to call it "Bells" because it was a fattish righthander. Today, Nipussi is a popular spot for most average surfers. MD

Recommended Board: It can be a little slopier than other waves in this area so if you have it a slightly flatter board works wonders.

Pitstops
Pitstops is a really rippable righthander that breaks when E-Bay is too small.

"Pitstops" name was given by Frankie Oberholzer and Tom Curren in 1995 during the filming of "Outside the Boundaries". The crew stopped at this spot on their way north to Nias to get wet and the name stuck. MD

Recommended Board: Shortboard or a fish.

Telescopes
Telescopes is a remarkably long left that serves up a wondrous, steep, hollow wall. Telescopes is frequented by many boats based on its premiere quality. However, there always seems to be plenty of waves to go around and when its absolutely firing at six to eight foot many less accomplished surfers watch it from the safe confines of their boats, videocameras in hand.

The first day we surfed Telescopes the waves looked like they were "telescoping" down the reef. On it's day it might be the best left in Indonesia. MD

Recommended Board: Once you see the waves make the best call for yourself.


Thunders
Thunders is the largest, most consistent break in the Mentawai's. The line-up is extremely complicated as waves seem to break everywhere around you; however, on a rising swell a solid, slabby wall offers a serious drop followed by a forceful shoulder. The wave breaks in deeper water than you'd expect so it's unlikely you will hit the bottom here until you hit the very inside.

"Thunders" was first surfed by Danny Madre. MD

Recommended Board: Your biggest gun if its double overhead plus.

What boards should I bring?
This is entirely up to how much overweight you are willing to pay for!  We have storage for them all on board. Most people bring 2-4 boards.

Mid length boards generally get used and only occasionally do the short boards and guns get pulled out.  If you are going to bring an extra board we would suggest a replacement for the board you will use the most as it is not uncommon to break boards