MENTAWAI ISLANDS INDONESIA

Quiksilver's Jeff Hakman, Dave Kalama, Steve Valiere, Ryan Hakman, Reef Mc Intosh and photographer Affif returned from a trip to the Mentawais just before the Quiksilver Fiji Pro and filed this photographic Special Report with Surfersvillage.

Introduction:

The Mentawai group of islands are located about 120 km off the west coast of Sumatra, locked in their own time-zone, and isolated from the rest of Indonesia.
There are four large inhabited islands in the group; "Siberut", "Sipora", and "North and South Pagai".






They are covered in dense, tropical rainforest with isolated farming settlements scattered along river routes.




Many Mentawai people are still living as their ancestors did, carrying on their age old customs and traditions.





The island group, though belonging to the Province of West Sumatra, is not included in the Minangkabau cultural sphere because of its different social, cultural and linguistic characteristics.

Surfing Indonesia's Mentawai Islands. Indonesia's surfing potential appears to be limitless. The archipelago of Mentawai, pronounced Mentawi, which runs parallel to the South East coastline of Sumatra, and cuts the Equador, is the latest of its marvelous surprises. There are dozens of islands loaded with perfect lineups, where there is always some wave breaking clean and offshore in whatever wind and swell direction; a combination that existed until recently only in a surfers dreams. The Mentawais lie to the south of Nias on the edge of the Sumatran Ocean Trench. The islands benefit from every major depression/cyclone crossing the Southern Indian Ocean. Ground swell is given a boost by southerly winds off the Western Australian coast, and then turned in the direction of Sumatra by the South East trade winds above 20 degrees south latitude. It is not always fun and happiness when you are sailling the high seas into remote regions such as Mentawai, which lies some eighteen sailing hours from the nearest medical assistence. The first-aid kit is called on frequently since many surfers fall victim to the shallow reefs. Without doubt, a surf trip to Mentawai Islands is only recommended for experienced surfers. Photo gallery Some useful Information follows: Mentawai Cultural insight West Sumatra Info Travel & health prep. Swell map for Indian Ocean Weather maps Moon phase calculator