The 2010 Indian Ocean Season has been cranking, the below are an assortment of pictures that have landed in our laps from Maldives and Sumatra surf trips. This season is going to be chalked up as ‘all time’ and be constantly referred to. Ever wanted to book a surf trip and just do it? 2010 is the year to get on a boat charter or into a surf resort and become part of this epic year!!

Maldives Surf Trips  & Sumatra Surf Trips 2010!!!

This post comes from World Surfaris, the leading adventure surfing holidays company. Want to Surf Maldives or Surf Indonesia then talk to us.

Hi all,

        Please read on for more epic action from the Maldives and our very awesome Richard and Amy Kotch living it up in the Maldives at Hudhuranfushi resort and guiding you to the right spot on the right days…..

World Surfaris, Hudhuran Fushi Surf Journal. Report and Photo’s  by Richard and Amy Kotch.

The great thing about that last epic swell was the way that it didn’t just vanish overnight. It wasn’t a one day wonder – it picked up and dropped off very gradually – there were still good waves to be had a week after the biggest days and by then everyone was well and truly surfed out!!  Looking back over the last two weeks of photo’s I realize just how many fun days of waves there has been. It goes with out saying that the World Surfaris guests here at Hudhuran Fushi in the Maldives have been surfing two or three times a day every day and while it hasn’t been anything like “that swell”, it has still been really good fun. Lohi’s has had fun, clean little waves every day from 2-4ft, and as usual we have been running our boats up to Cokes and Chickens and down to Sultans, Honkeys and Jails, every day, morning and afternoon. Crowds have been light, the weather amazing, sunsets spectacular and the on island atmosphere better than ever. And this is me trying not to talk it up too much!! I’m so stoked to be back in the water, fit and healthy, after being out of the water for a couple weeks so forgive me if I’m frothing!

I like the variety of photo’s I’ve posted here, from a Cali shredder on his 5’3 Rocket,  to Ashley (“one wave every 4 sets”- good on ya mate!!!) cruising on his log, there’s Ben on his Bertleman twinnie , a Rugby Legend, a family portrait and some bloke in blue who surfs like Simon Anderson!

This post comes from World Surfaris, the leading adventure surfing holidays company. Want to Surf Maldives or Surf Indonesia then talk to us.

This E-mail has come in from a group of surf stoked customers. Some great waves and we at World Surfaris are genuinely pumped for them cause this is what it’s all about!!! Want your own swell stoke in the Maldives click here to see where we can put you !!

Sent: Monday, 26 July 2010 1:13 PM

To:World Surfaris

Subject: End of epic week in the Maldives

Hi Shaun,

We are nearing the end of this charter and what a hell one it has been for waves as the swell has hung all week. We have had a Southeast swell, so as you know it pushes into all the breaks including the breaks in the South Atolls, which we usually can head to for smaller waves. It has been the most solid swell I have had here, 6 to 8ft with bomb sets coming through cleaning everyone up. Mate people think the Maldives is mellow, it may be most of the time but you and I know that when there’s swell it’s game on. Talking to Brian and the other guides they reckon it has been the most consistent biggest swell they have seen.

I have not seen so much carnage on one trip as we have 3 broken boards, 5 with busted fins, 3 leggies snapped, dings, reef scrapes and aching bodies. The week started with 3 big days at Sultans and Jails, then another 2 big days at Kandooma. It was that big down they’re that the channel at Riptides was closing out!!

The last 2 days we have been at Cokes and Chickens where we have scored great 4 to 5ft waves and there have been us and 2 other boats.

Heard from Richard that it has been packed at Sultans so we have scored well.

Has been another great charter with a good bunch of guys, although very tired and sore Ha Ha. They were stoked with the boat, food and the service they received.

I will be on Handu next week and will leave early to be back on the boat next Monday.

Have attached some pics from the week for you to see.

Cheers

Gav

This post comes from World Surfaris, the leading adventure surfing holidays company. Want to Surf Maldives or Surf Indonesia then talk to us.

Hi All,

            Our Good friend Richard Kotch from Hudhuranfushi Resort has regaled us with the latest from the Maldives. The pictures tell it all and the surf has yet again turned it on. Tropical warm water and wave perfection ……. let’s go!

My last report signed off with the note that after a couple weeks of mostly surfing the rights the wind had veered N/NW and that the lefts were working. The wind stayed out of the N/NW for a week of waves on the lefts. Between the 5^th and the 11^th July we had a small but super clean and very consistent S/SE swell with moderate, occasionally strong N/NW winds. Lohi’s and Chickens both had perfect 2-4ft, super rippable lefts . Sally Fitzgibbons (currently no2 in the world) was here at Hudhuran Fushi for a week before joining a World Surfaris boat trip. She made the most of the small but perfect lefts at Lohi’s and inspired everyone to try a little harder! She was surfing so fast, linking 4 or 5 critical turns on every wave with a big smile on her face! This was the highest performance week of the season. The girls blowing up seemed to push the boys every session. Kyle and Tom were airborne every other wave!

From the 12^{th ,} the swell picked up to the 4-6ft range, the wind dropped off to light and variable so everywhere was working. We had some great sessions up at Cokes and Chickens. One memorable morning we were the only boat in the area, the left and the right were both pumping. The guests split between the two waves and surfed their brains out!! I love the shot of Rob Skelton at Chickens on the 13th. I was on the boat shooting Cokes while Rob, Darren and Trav surfed across the channel at Chickens. We had anchored our Dhoni slightly further down the channel than usual to get more of a “front on” perspective of the waves at Cokes, which also meant that I could see into the barrel at Chickens. I’m glad I turned around for this shot!

This post comes from World Surfaris, the leading adventure surfing holidays company. Want to Surf Maldives or Surf Indonesia then talk to us.

Hi All,

       This just come in from one of our clients recently returned from the Maldives onboard the Handhu Fahli. Genuine Surf stoke and really great to hear. The season is in full swing now and trips are filling fast but there is some availablity later in the season. If you want to score your own 2010 surf stoke you better hurry. To veiw full charters click here and for smaller spaces avaialble please enquire…. Anyway here’s some surf stoke for you and some great images to get you motivated, thanks for the report Sean and the photos …….

Hi Alinda,
      I just wanted to send you a quick email about the trip on the Handu Fahli. Thank you so much, trip was amazing. Scored great waves, I was told by Ryan (surf guide extradonaire) that it gets better. If it does, wow. Boat was great, crew were fantastic, really friendly and helpful. Food was tasty and plentiful and the perfect refuel between surfs. Ryan was cool and fun to hang out with, I will trust him next time about the in current (haha). The other guys on the boat were really cool guys and many laughs were shared over beers at the end of the day.

So yeah, stoked off my head. Book me in again next year. I will be in touch. I have sent a couple of shots that I took on my little cannon from the boat. They don’t really do the waves justice. Again thanks, you may have created a surf travel monster.

Cheers,

Sean S

This post comes from World Surfaris, the leading adventure surfing holidays company. Want to Surf Maldives or Surf Indonesia then talk to us.

Hi All,

        After hearing about epic conditions and glorious swells pounding the Southern Coasts of Australia I was super pumped when a family gig meant we would be heading down. But after being greeted by 11′c days and surfing in 14′c water I realised how much I love surfing……. in the tropics. So to anyone out there suiting up in the predawn glow, being greeted by chilly offshore winds and conditions better suited to ice fishing.  I can only commend you and admire the alacracity in which you continue to pursue the sport of surfing.  I understand the journey is important and the old chestnut “It doesn’t matter if its snowing or blowing I’m going” but cold is cold. The team here at World Surfaris hope that the below warm your toes and get you pumped to head off to some distant tropical wonderland in just your boardies or bikinis and surf to your hearts content as the only thing getting you out of the water is the exhaustion of paddling onto wave after wave and not numb fingers, purple cheeks and the ice cream headache which resulted because of your first duck dive.

Check our range to help thaw out your toes - Maldives, Sumatra, Fiji, New Caledonia, Caroline Islands, Tonga, Bali, West Timor, Java, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Lombook- Discover you unqiue surf adventure.

Good Luck and Enjoy!

This post comes from World Surfaris, the leading adventure surfing holidays company. Want to Surf Maldives or Surf Indonesia then talk to us.

Hi all,

Week two of Richard Koch’s Maldives Swell journal has come in and it looks like a cracker of a season,  Hudhuranfushi Resort is firing, check out the pics and enjoy the dream or start planning a trip today.

Happy Reading,  the Indian Ocean season is underway and there are some limited spaces available. Check out what’s on offer in the Maldives and Sumatra or get onboard trips that are departing now!

May 5-18                                   

The last two weeks delivered a bit of everything from sheet glass 2ft perfect peelers to overhead pumping pits and a bit of junk in between!  From Thursday 6^th the swell started to build out of the S-SE, initially raw, unpredictable and with a strong W wind blowing up the face Lohis it was hard work, but by mid morning the wind swung around to light W-NW, the swell cleaned up and the Word Surfaris crew who had joined the morning boat to Sultans scored. It was one of those beautiful days when everything came together – the swell was building and super consistent, the wind was perfect and we had the line up to ourselves!

Meanwhile Amy and guests were surfing Cokes and Chickens and over lunch, tales were told of big barrels and some solid sets!

After lunch and a brief rest it was back to business! Amy took half the WS guests down to Jails for some fast, down the line, J bay like barrels and I was back at Sultans loving the inside barrel section…needless to say that another great session was had by all.

The following day it was more of the same though with some very hung-over heads!  Apparently a quiet drink had turned into a huge night on the dance floor!…I heard something about a “dance off” with some Russian air hostesses…though it was all a bit vague!!?

Saturday was slightly smaller but still good. By the afternoon the swell had shifted to the S-SW, which is my favorite direction for Cokes…. we arrived to find a crowd of two friendly locals in the water and 3-4ft barrels! It was hitting the reef perfectly so you just had to take off behind the peak, pull in tight, enjoy the view, get spat out, lay down a cutty….then watch your friend on the next one!!

Eventually a squall blew through and the waves never really recovered, the call was made for early beers. Scudding clouds made for a moody sunset boat ride home.

The next few days were small but OK, we had a couple of fun evening sessions at Jails, nothing too epic but still perfect shape and no crowd.

Here’s my swell journal from the week:

Wednesday May 5, 2010

2 ft SE swell, S wind.

Sultans 2 ft onshore junk short period swell

Thursday May 6, 2010

3-4ft S-SE  Swell,  Strong W wind early, decreasing to light W-NW throughout day.

Swell building all day becoming 4-5ft by evening.

Good all day – we split between Sultans and Cokes/Chickens

Friday May 7, 2010

4-5 ft S-SE swell, light westerly wind.

Sultans in the morning was smoking.

Sultans afternoon epic. Good pits through the inside.

Jails 4-5 ft pumping.

Lohi’s good through the afternoon.

Saturday May 8, 2010

Smaller but still good.

Cokes good in afternoon, every wave a barrel.

Sunday May 9, 2010

2-3 ft weak S-SE swell weak and mixed up with southwesterly wind giving it a bump everywhere. Still fun on a short, fat, wider board though.

Monday May 10, 2010

2-3 ft S-SE swell, lighter west wind, still weak but a bit better

Sultans 2-3ft mixed up but OK.

Jails weak 2-3 ft

Lohis is probably the best of anywhere with good waves through the evening glass off, it seemed to be slightly bigger and more powerful than everywhere else.

Tuesday May 11, 2010

2 ft S-SE light SW wind

 Jails was great fun in the afternoon – waist to chest high, but breaking perfectly down the reef. Light W wind. No crowd -only our boat and a couple Eagle Rays…

 Wednesday May 12, 2010

 Gotta be honest, it’s terrible everywhere. Strong, gusty S-SW wind. And very little swell.

Quick surf at crowded Sultans. It’s not looking good for tomorrow.

 Friday May 14, 2010

 It’s still small and windy but definitely building, there should be small waves by the afternoon. The last few days have been tough but the guests have been relaxing into island life and no one seems too worried. I’ve been told, “this is a great place to have a couple small days”!   I’d have to agree, what with the Spa and it’s extensive range of massage and treatments, the Gym, the Diving and Snorkeling and the Bar and Buffet, life sure is good, but anyway, the forecast looks promising so it will be business as usual over the next few days.

 Friday afternoon

 The swell is building, it’s still windy but the rights are fun – Amy is down at Jails with the World Surfaris guests where she tells me it’s 2-3ft and getting better with each set.

 Saturday May 15, 2010

 3-4ft S-SE swell but strong S-SW wind. OK Sultans and Jails.

 Sunday May 16,

 2-3ft S-SE swell, Strong S-SW wind.

 Monday May 17,

3-4ft S-SE swell, very strong S-SW wind.

Fun Sultans and Jails.

Jails this evening was pumping, with really consistent 4-5ft sets and so many good waves coming through. For the last hour it was only our boat enjoying the glassy barrels.

Tuesday 18^th May,

4-5ft S-SE swell, very strong S wind early, veering W, strong and gusty.

Jails, 4-5ft and very good fun through the afternoon and evening.

OK, well that’s it from me for the last couple weeks. It’s not been epic but we’ve still surfed every day except one, which is pretty good I reckon! The strong S-W winds over the last week have dictated that most of our sessions have been on the more sheltered rights at Jails and Sultans. This has meant that it’s been a bit more crowded than usual but everyone’s still getting plenty of waves, especially the World Surfaris guests with their two boat trips a day surf pass. To me, it’s times like these that really validate this region of the Maldives as a world class surf region, especially for trips booked months in advance – the forecast hasn’t been great, the weathers been funky and it has been more crowded than usual, but our guests are still stoked, guys and girls are still paddling back to the boat with aching shoulders and big smiles, talking about the best waves of their lives and when they will be coming back.

See you soon,

Rich.

This post comes from World Surfaris, the leading adventure surfing holidays company. Want to Surf Maldives or Surf Indonesia then talk to us.

Hi All,

        You remember Richard Kotch our live in surf guide at Hudhuranfushi Resort Maldives, he’s the now married,  living the dream, all round ‘happy chappy’ and he’ll be sending us info every so often detailing the swell conditions at Hudhuranfushi and the surrounding breaks.  So far its been a cracker of a season and our very own Shaun Levings was able to get a few great waves in over there with a recent visit – he’s the one charging in shot #5 (you’ll have to take our word for it).

Happy Reading and remember the Indian Ocean season is underway and there are some limited spaces available. Check out what’s on offer in the Maldives and Sumatra or get onboard trips that are departing now! 

Richards report as follows:

 

Who would have made the connection between an erupting Icelandic Volcano and un-crowded surf in the Maldives?!

The first week of the 2010 World Surfaris Hudhuran Fushi surf season has been a great success, with epic waves, beautiful weather and light crowds.

I must say that it is so good to be back here at Hudhuran Fushi!

My wife Amy and I arrived here after a relatively surf starved couple of months in NZ where it was either tiny or big and on-shore with not much in between. El Nino seems to deliver for the North Pacific but not, for this year at least, NZ.

We came ready for anything, laden down with board bags bursting at the seams… excess baggage was written all over us, but hey, you’ve got to be prepared. Our room is now full of boards – everything from 5’4 quads to 6’6 single fins and a full range of short boards in between, yet on our first day on the island we awoke to 1ft on-shore slop and calls of “you shoulda been here 2 days ago”!  To be honest it was probably a good thing as the lack of swell gave us time to get organized and head into Male to finalize our paperwork for the season.

Male is a busy little island/city/port. It is one of those places where you can find anything you need, though after island life, it can be chaotic. We completed our jobs and bolted back to the tranquility of Hudhuran Fushi. We were joined on the speed boat transfer by World Surfaris owner Shaun Levings who had just spent a few days down south. He didn’t seem too worried about the lack of swell and he assured us that the following day (by early afternoon to be specific) it would start to pick up!

Checking Lohi’s early the next day there was just a hint of swell under the wind chop but after the mornings meetings there were definite lines. Amy was most impressed when by 2PM the swell had arrived and the wind backed off!! Shaun and a couple friends surfed 3-4ft Sultans while we re-aquainted ourselves with Lohis.

Our first guests of the season woke up to fun little waves on the reef at Lohi’s, it really is such a joy to wake up, walk out to the waves and have a surf without the hassle of driving or putting on a wetsuit.

After breakfast it was business as usual; one boat up to Cokes and Chickens, the other to Sultans/Honkeys or Jails. While Amy and her guests surfed playful head high Sultans, I found myself back at Cokes with repeat guests Cameron and the re-invented super fit Peter Gouws, Sabrina Scott and her father Robert. We surfed fun, head high peaks with a couple other World Surfaris guests while the rest of the Gouws/Scott clan snorkled and swam in the crystal clear water. Great way to start the season!!

Motoring back past Lohi’s the swell looked to be building so it was a quick light lunch then up to check it. I’ve always said that surfing Lohi’s is all about timing and this was a perfect example; while everyone else enjoyed an after lunch nap Lohi’s was looking beautiful, there was just one guy in the water making the most of the 3-4ft lefts – Shaun Levings. I snapped a couple photo’s of the boss then paddled out to get a couple waves myself! After a few more waves Shaun had to run to get his transfer back to Male with wet boardies and a huge grin. 

That evening the swell continued to build and Amy surfed fun 3-4ft Jails, while I surfed Sultans 3-5ft and pumping. It was low tide and going round on the inside. The crowd was mellow and with the building swell it was very consistent. We scored. It was one of those sessions where everyone caught waves whether it was a gentle peak way out or a mutant wedge on the inside. That’s the beauty of the place. Oh, and the sunset was incredible too.

I can’t remember who it was that gave me a beer that night but I do remember it tasting pretty good then falling asleep about ten minutes later!

The next day I awoke feeling sun-burnt and dehydrated! – Not the best feeling in the world, especially as I’m constantly advising people to wear heaps of sun-screen and drink more water than they think they need! Oh well, after a bottle of water, heaps of fruit, a coffee and a good breakfast (gotta love the omlettes here!) the day started to look brighter and we were back on the boats heading south. The wind was a bit funky coming out of the S-SW meaning that Lohi’s was rather ugly but we knew that the rights down south would be OK.  Amy and her boat went to Jails while we went back to Sultans. The session started slow but as the tide pushed and the wind dropped it got better and better, again it was only us in the water and another great session went down (great for everyone bar Ross who snapped his 7’2 – sorry Rossco!).

The next few days are a blur of fun surfs and good times (have I said that in a past blog?!!) … We surfed Cokes a couple times. It wasn’t perfect as the swell had a bit of east in it meaning that it was rather too straight on the reef, but there were some good pits to be found…..We surfed Jails super fun numerous times. One evening in particular was just a barrel fest on the second section, another time it was so glassy and the water so clear you could see right through the waves and check the fish surfing with you. Life’s good!

So that’s it from me for the next week or two,

See you soon,

Rich.

Pic 1- Right Hand Perfection – Maldives style

Pic 2- Epic Lohi’s left

Pic 3 – Cameron at Cokes

Pic4 – Hiromi and Koji Yoshima celebrate their Honeymoon

Pic 5 – Shaun “Levo” Levings living the dream

Pic 6 – Perfect Peak at Sultan’s

Pic 7 – Father and Son Robbie and Troy (Chargers)

Pic 8 – Robbie the only one left with any energy after a long session.

This post comes from World Surfaris, the leading adventure surfing holidays company. Want to Surf Maldives or Surf Indonesia then talk to us.

After recently returning  from the Maldives - Southern Atolls on a 12 day trip on the Handhu,  Andrew Johnston dropped us a line to fill us in on his trip. The report more or less sums up the ultimate surf trip and the pictures say what the words can’t.

The Maldives is looking more and more attractive with this season shaping up very nicely feel free to visit the link and have a look at what could be your perfect surf get a way.

A big shout out and huge thanks to Andrew Johnston for getting back to us with the great pictures even if they did make us a little jealous!

SOUTHERN ATOLLS – MALDIVES

I have just returned from the Southern Atolls surf trip in the Maldives. I used to work the area years ago as a surf guide and have not been back for about 7 years choosing to travel to Indo as a cheaper option. I have been telling my friends for years how good the Southern Atolls are and we should get over there but we have taken until now to make it over (what were we thinking)…

After spending 12 days on the Handhu we all  agreed that we had just experienced the best surf trip any of us had ever been on (and we have been on a lot). The surf did not get below 3ft the whole time and it was consistently in the 4 – 8ft range and we were  able to surf every break in area on our 12 day trip. And for the myth “The Maldives is for longboarders” the Southern Atolls has a whole lot on offer. The only longboarder I saw was one paddling in as his long board was not long any more after being snapped in two on one of the smaller days.

 Not only did we surf all day but our nights and early mornings were spent fishing with alarm clocks being set at 3am for the early morning Tuna run… We often found ourselves asking the question “Are we on a surfing holiday or a fishing holiday” even the guy’s who have never fished before were pulling monsters out of the deep which would then be straight into the kitchen and on the table for lunch and dinner.

 The Handhu is by far the best boat working in the Southern Atolls being large and spacious that you never felt liked you were living in each other’s pockets. The crew, the boat and the food was far above anybody’s expectations and I only had 2 things to do each day which was put suncream on and wax my board and 2 decisions to make each day which was when to surf and what time to crack a beer.

 On a whole I think the Southern Atolls of the Maldives would have to be one of the most under rated surfing and fishing destinations around which is still hanging onto its untouched beauty.

This post comes from World Surfaris, the leading adventure surfing holidays company. Want to Surf Maldives or Surf Indonesia then talk to us.

No pros in the Maldives in 2010

The ASP have announced the cancellation of a few events for 2010 including the Maldives Pro in early June 2010.

More info can be found at http://www.aspworldtour.com/2009/pdf/aspschedule2010.pdf

This is a prime time for great waves and the event has always been blessed with great conditions.  World Surfaris usually have a bunch of pro surfers onboard our boats over this period and with the cancellation of the event we have now opened them up for sale.  World Surfaris sponsored surf Blake Wilson is disapointed that the event has been cancelled as this event offerred quality high performance waves.  World Surfaris instead will fly Blake to The Maldives to warm up, prior to the 5 star Sri Lankan Airlines pro in Sri Lanka in Mid June that replaces the Maldives event. 

See details on our Maldives range at http://www.worldsurfaris.com/surf-travel/surf-trips/Maldives/ 

Maldives Pro 2010 cancelled

This post comes from World Surfaris, the leading adventure surfing holidays company. Want to Surf Maldives or Surf Indonesia then talk to us.