Advertisement

You don't need to be a pro to find nirvana in 'The Ments'

Indonesia’s famed Mentawai Islands, is arguably the most perfect surf locale on the planet.

Yes, Hawaii’s North Shore is more revered but that is for big wave chargers.

‘The Ments’ is a tropical paradise, crystal clear waters, white sand beaches but most importantly perfect waves absolutely everywhere.

Loading up the boat each day to hit the surf. Pic: Alice Trend
Loading up the boat each day to hit the surf. Pic: Alice Trend

It is that one trip surfers dream about, a pilgrimage to make with mates hunting for the waves and experience of a lifetime.

But it is a trip often viewed as one just for pros, or at least exceptionally good surfers not scared to navigate heavy waves breaking over shallow and sharp reef.

It is not so, though and no one should be scared off by it.

Definitely not pros. Pic: Alice trend
Definitely not pros. Pic: Alice trend

This is a tale of 13 knockabout blokes. weekend chargers at best, who found surfing nirvana on a little island off west Sumatra.

Truth be told there were a few very good surfers in our group but the rest of us were under no illusion about our abilities.

We feared the beatings, the reef cuts, the hold downs and everything that comes with surfing waves of consequence. But the excitement of the trip outweighed it all.

There was a lot of this. A LOT. Pic: Alice Trend
There was a lot of this. A LOT. Pic: Alice Trend

So much so that in the months leading up to the trip some of the crew swore of the booze, got back in the gym, hit the water more often than normal all in an attempt to make the most of what was for many a once in a lifetime trip.

Try getting that many mates, all pushing 40 with families and responsibilities together in one place for a dinner let alone two weeks on an Indonesian island.

So it was with palpable excitement our team boarded a boat in Padang, Sumatra bound for WavePark Mentawai Resort four hours away.

Jockeying, joking, ribbing, talk of barrels, boards and whispered fears of the big swell arriving in three days made for a loud boat ride.

This is the bay of WavePark Resort you pull into on day one. Paradise. Pic: Alice Trend
This is the bay of WavePark Resort you pull into on day one. Paradise. Pic: Alice Trend

But an awed silence fell over the group as we pulled into the bay of our new island home for the next 11 days.

It was the true definition of tropical paradise, a stunning bay of the most beautiful water lapping onto a white sand beach fringed by a wall of swaying coconut trees.

It was strange to see a group of grown men giggling with happiness as we unloaded our bags and boards onto the beach to check out our new digs.

Traditional, beautiful bungalows. Only five on the island. Pic: Alice Trend
Traditional, beautiful bungalows. Only five on the island. Pic: Alice Trend

And they were everything you could hope for.

The island sleeps just 14 guests in five simple but elegant bungalows.

Each one has it’s own power, lovely outdoor bathroom, living area and a huge deck.

And they all front onto the beach and stare out at Hideaways, the island’s own wave and one of the most consistent in Mentawai. It is a thing of mechanical beauty when it lines up right and peels for 100m over a very shallow reef.

Pat catching one of the front doorstep at Hideaways. Pic: Alice Trend
Pat catching one of the front doorstep at Hideaways. Pic: Alice Trend

The island’s bar and shared eating quarters are spacious and open to the beauty outside.

It’s a place you get very accustomed to, sharing a few beers each night and a fine meal.

You spend a lot of time in WavePark's bar and dining area. Pic: Alice Trend
You spend a lot of time in WavePark's bar and dining area. Pic: Alice Trend

The food itself was excellent. Being 150kms off the west coast of Sumatra does not mean you won’t eat well, the kitchen churning out three great meals every day, all the bread, muffins and the like cooked fresh there every day.

It is a mix of western and local Asian dishes and even used the fresh fish we caught during our stay there for fish and chips, some sashimi and cerviche.

One of several successful fishing trips during our stay. pic: Alice Trend
One of several successful fishing trips during our stay. pic: Alice Trend

But now more importantly the waves. This is what we came here for.

The island has two of it’s own long boats that can ferry the surfers to 25 different breaks within 40mins of the island.

And unlike many of the other resorts the WavePark team are very happy to chase waves anywhere they think there will be waves.

Christie was the first surfer in the area, knows the waves better than anyone and surf better than everyone there. Pic: Alice Trend
Christie was the first surfer in the area, knows the waves better than anyone and surf better than everyone there. Pic: Alice Trend

They were the first resort in the area, with Christie Carter, the founder and owner of WavePark, the first surfer over 20 years ago.

He named pretty much every wave around the resort and no one knows more about conditions there than he does.

His knowledge was incredible and he was able to pin point the waves each day that would suit our experience level and wave lust.

And that’s the best thing about the Ments. There are waves for everyone, no matter your level.

Christie at a secret spot on a bigger day. Pic: Alice Trend
Christie at a secret spot on a bigger day. Pic: Alice Trend

We had guys that were hunting six-foot pits and scored them.

We had a beginner learning to surf a short board who wanted long, rolling, gentle waves and he got them.

We had a host of surfers in between those guys who just wanted long open walls or punchy little play things that challenged their skills. And we all got them.

GT getting outside his comfort zone. Pic: Alice Trend
GT getting outside his comfort zone. Pic: Alice Trend

To a man everyone got the best waves of their life, they got more waves than they thought imaginable and came in each afternoon laughing, smiling, recounting tales of the day.

The video above is actually of our trip so you can see for yourself the variation in waves, and also of surfer skill.

We were in the water anywhere up to eight hours a day, until our arms were jelly, our faces burnt, our backs aching but our hearts soaring.

Yes, there were crowds occasionally at a couple of waves but that is to be expected.

However we were lucky enough to get at least seven or so sessions where it was just our mates and a perfect little wave.

Dave, our team leader and organiser on a bomb. Pic: Alice Trend
Dave, our team leader and organiser on a bomb. Pic: Alice Trend

That is what you pay the money for, that is what you dream of before you go, it is what you cross your fingers for every day you pack the boards onto the boats, and when it happens there are not many better feelings in the world.

Sharing a perfect wave, with some of your closest friends in water so blue it defies description, in water so warm you need only boardshorts, cheering each other’s cracking waves and ripping into each other’s big falls.

With an esky on each boat in the afternoon there is a true sense of contentment as you motor home for sunset, Bintang in hand after another three-hour paddle, your mates around you re-telling in mind-numbingly boring detail their every wave.

None of this is possible however without the team of WavePark doing what they do.

Ex-CT surfer and WavePark guide Maz Quinn on the wave of the trip. Pic: Alice Trend
Ex-CT surfer and WavePark guide Maz Quinn on the wave of the trip. Pic: Alice Trend

Christie and his crew made the holiday what it was, there are no ifs or buts about it.

The resort is run so slickly but never feels anything but relaxed and carefree.

Their knowledge of the area was unparalleled, their commitment to getting everyone into the best waves they could was unquestioned.

Surf guide and general legend Shane on a huge one. He went out on his own here, we stayed in the boat and took the pics. Pic: Ben Cutler.
Surf guide and general legend Shane on a huge one. He went out on his own here, we stayed in the boat and took the pics. Pic: Ben Cutler.

They pushed us into waves that challenged us and we all left better surfers for the experience.

If you wanted to go fishing in the afternoon instead of surfing they organised a boat for that as well. If you wanted to go stand up paddle boarding, or kayaking they sorted you there.

They ran the bar, offered up massages for our old, weary bodies, joined in jam sessions on guitars at night and in general just came across as a bunch of legends living their dream and helping others experience theirs.

Afternoon fishing trip comes to a stunning end. pic: Alice Trend
Afternoon fishing trip comes to a stunning end. pic: Alice Trend

As always it was over too quickly, but on the return boat trip we sat out the back with an esky and some beers and the mood was almost joyous.

All of us need these kind of breaks. Yes, people missed their families but disconnecting from the hustle and bustle of city life, staying off your computers, out of the traffic, untouched by email and the demands of everyday life everyone of our surfers felt lighter, infinitely more relaxed after the trip.

The stress falls off you on a trip like this, where all you need to decide is what board to use, all you need to do is go out every day and surf as much as you can before sharing a meal with friends.

You can’t put a price on that and I would urge anyone who has ever thought about planning a trip to the Menatwai Islands to just bloody DO IT..

You won’t ever regret it.

And like us, a once in a lifetime trip will become a must-do yearly adventure.

The boys, happy and sad at the same time, on the last day of the trip. Pic: Alice Trend
The boys, happy and sad at the same time, on the last day of the trip. Pic: Alice Trend

Of course if you are a pro surfer then you are going to completely lose your mind in the Mentawai.

Take this for example.

This clip is of the WavePark Resort guide Maz Quinn, New Zealand's first Championship Tour surfer, absolutely tearing apart perfect waves over just a ONE-MONTH period in June this year. If you surf then this will melt your brain.

For more information on WavePark Resort Mentawai.