Surf Travel

Swellnet explores the bizarre edge to Mentawai charters

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 7 January, 2009 : - - Since they were first surfed in the late 1980's the Mentawai Islands have been a popular destination for Australian surfers. The scalloped bays and fringing reefs of the sinking islands create quality waves in concentration beyond anywhere else on Earth.

But despite their popularity most surfers are unaware of the behind-the-scene machinations that have been happening in these islands. Very early on entrepreneurial surfers saw the value of establishing business in the Mentawai's and tried to stake their claim.

Rivalry developed between the early operators such as Martin Daly, Paul King and Rick Cameron. The ensuing feuds were largely fought in the media; rumour and innuendo being fed to various press - surfing and mainstream - in order to discredit those involved. Last month however, it got physical.

On the 15th of November Rick Cameron, ex-pat Aussie surfer and long-time tour operator, had an attempt made on his life. While sitting in a restaurant in Padang he was attacked from behind.

Cameron survived the assault with head and neck injuries and his assailant, an Australian citizen, is in custody awaiting trial. Legal issues prevent Cameron shedding more light on the event but he has agreed to talk with us following the trial which is due soon.

This week though I spoke to Rick Cameron about surf tourism in the Mentawai's, how it has changed since he first sailed there in 1993 and why he is disliked by other tour operators.

Read the full interview by Stuart Nettle at Swellnet.com

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Source: Swellnet.com.au

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