“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” – Miriam Beard.

After a small arguement with my wife I won the right to take my surf board down to Cronulla Sydney for my sisters wedding. The plan was whilst all hell breaks loose, as is usual pre wedding, I could escape for a quick surf.

The crowd factor down there left me flabbergasted, if you’re from down that way and reading this I doff my cap to you- Well done for staying true to your chosen sport admist the face of what seems like millions! Staring at the black dots crowded around breaks I wondered if perhaps staying back at the apartment, listening to pre wedding jitters and waiting for the inevitable emergence of the legendary bridezilla,  may have been more relaxing ? I wasn’t far wrong .

Wosre yet, no matter where you are reading this, you can probably relate. The crowd sucks, the tension pinballing from person to person, hateful stares, drop ins, snaking, your mates reminiscing about that one time you scored this spot big without the crowd leading to the eventual defeat causing you to paddle in.  

So the mind wonders…… Adventures, glassy waves, the type you see on the front cover of magazines, reef perfection, strange sunsets over distant lands, smiling locals sporting otherworldly clothes, the sense and thrill of the unknown and the time to enjoy it. I can’t imagine what you’re searching for but if any of the below photos inspire you then here might be a good place to start looking.

All photos are taken from somewhere we can put you; the South Pacific, the Maldives, the Mentawais, Caroline Islands, East Indo, G-Land, and Papua New Guinea

Good luck with your journey!  

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

Captain Andrew Rigby’s Blog – PNG EXPLORER

9^th March 2010

Just returned from a last minute hit and run trip put together by the team at World Surfaris.

I spotted a cracker swell on the charts right when we had a scheduled maintenance week in port Kavieng.

Bugger swinging spanners in the engine room sitting in the harbour whilst 4 – 6 foot waves are dropping out of the sky on the outer islands regions. A quick call to World Surfaris and the gang worked around the clock utilizing the stealth club. The trip hit and run idea was dropped on WS with 48 hours to fill and locked down within minutes of the deadline, an awesome job.

Crew we had for the run were Andrew Shields (Photographer), Lincoln Taylor (pro surfer), Dru Adler (pro surfer), Angie Koops (pro surfer), Sam Page (pro surfer) and three stealth club members Howard Patrick, Jaxon Taylor and Ryan Taylor. Also we had Titima Mange onboard – a PNG shredder and National Champ.  

We hit the outer islands buzzing knowing it was going to be pumping and it produced as expected.

We scored our known spots at the wave park up north. Korangai “the slab” was heaving 6 foot whilst the left point Malillie was throwing out long 4-5 foot playful walls. After two days worth it was time to head south to our newest secret location. South island 1 and South Island 2. The left slab “bonemans” was firing some heavy barrels off. Firstly Lincoln got pumped on a double up.  He suffered 14 stitches in his mellon, a burst sinovial sack on his elbow and bark off everywhere left him on the couch for the rest of the trip. Unfortunately he was joined by Howie who also copped a flogging when he went for a run over the falls that tweaked his ankle.  

The right hand nugget on south island 1 was 4-6 foot and just going off but we managed to stumble onto two left point breaks never surfed before on a part of the islands coast I just haven’t had the chance to scope yet. It was one of those moments where you just stand there and scratch your head in disbelief, the first left we named “Manalos” a long hollow left with a big rig tender ship wreck right next to the takeoff, the bottom is flat bedrock so you can bounce without ripping too much skin off and the other “Apostles” has similarities to Bingin but WAY better! We found these spots at the end of the trip when the swell was starting to drop so it was only 3 foot but heaps of fun. The thought of those two dream set ups at six foot has me losing sleep already.   

What a trip! Stay tuned for updates on the NEW secret lefts and dates for next season.

Cheers

Andrew Rigby

Get in on this awesome experience;

Andrew Rigby and PNG Explorers next exploratory mission is to Bouganville from 13 to 23 April.

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

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

By Shaun Levings of World Surfaris after a recent visit to Rubio in February 2010.

If you want to escape your normal every day existence and experience a real surf adventure then Rubio Plantation Retreat is worth considering.

Your host Shane Clark (expat Hawaiian and one of the nicest guys you will meet, not too mention super keen surfer and adventurer) will pick you up from Kavieng in his Landcruiser Troop Carrier and you will drive approx. 3-4 hours to his little piece of paradise which is Rubio Island Retreat.  You will get a sore arm from waving to the friendly locals as you travel down the Boluminski Highway. 

Whilst at Rubio, you will be comfortable in your modest bungalow lodgings (with private facilities) and deck overlooking the bay and you will be well fed by the lovely local girls in the kitchen. 

On a daily basis you may surf out front at the left and right or hike over the hill to the next bay to surf a nice left (you can actually paddle from Rubio also to here).  Most days you will travel on a road trip to surf and explore this magnificent coastline.  Stopping the truck on the side of the ride and hiking 100m through a clearing in the vegetation to view the wave out front.  There are so many surf options from Rivermouths to Reef passes.  Shane knows most of them although he still hasn’t surfed them all yet.  You may get to name one however usually just name them after the nearest village.

No hardcore World-Class G-Land or Pipeline waves exist however the waves there are user friendly with good variety of lefts and rights and varying degrees of intensity from short sucky barrells to longer wally waves breaking in deep water.  One thing is 100% guaranteed is NO CROWDS !  Infact you WILL be the only surfers in the region.   With a maximum of 8 surfers at a time able to stay at Rubio and you can book the whole place out with 7 you are in for a surf adventure you will never forget.

The images below portray the surf, culture and scenery.  Bookings now open for 2010/11 season!

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

WEEKLY   REPORTS for    2010

Monday   More great south swell had all the crew into some super fun waves at Inside Siumu! It was overhead, glassy, and had an outside barrel section with a rippable wall! The crew were stoked as we cruised back aboard the catamaran on sunset!

Tuesday.  After an amazing adventure through the underwater sea caves on our Ocean Trenches Tour we headed to the north coast for a surf in some spectacular scenery. The River Mouth served up some rippable walls with crumbly lips for the surfers, while the body boarders slipped into some nice barrels from behind The Peak!

Wednesday   After a huge day of adventures yesterday, a surf at Resorts this morning was the perfect call.  With overhead sets and glassy conditions there were barrels ridden and some good turns.

Thursday   The boat trip today was to Wakas and saw some rippable left handers. There were head high sets and the crumbly on shores made for great fun conditions. A couple hours alone in the uncrowded lineup had all the guys stoked.

Friday   A new solid new north swell that had arrived overnight had all the crew amped and keen to get out there! A trip to a heavy barreling right and left had the crew into some epic waves! Well overhead spitting barrels were ridden in the light and variable winds.

Saturday   Another awesome day of swell and light winds on the north coast! A trip into the remote north coast villages had the crew into a variety of pumping waves! They got barreled at the well overhead hollow pits at The Peak, before moving on to the rippable waves of The River Mouth and then the fast hollow left handers at Jimmy’s. A huge day of surfing had everyone exhausted!

Sunday  Pulling the boat up to the empty barreling rights at Coco’s this morning had everyone psyched!  The crew were out there in a flash and into the well overhead, offshore barreling right handers! While some guys got barreled, others relaxed in the brilliant blue reef waters with their partners.  A cruise back to shore and en evening barbeque feast was a great end to the week!

Photos

7a-10 Cory Lopez going big at Jimmy’s.

7b-10 Slotted at The River Mouth

7c-10 More super rippable waves at the River Mouth!

7d-10 The Peak about to throw!

Cheers ………………… George

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

Photographer Simon Williams (Swilly) has recently returned from Tupira Surf Club, Papua New Guinea. The photos say it all. Green hills rolling towards the ocean, pumping sets beyond. The small buildings that lie nestled somewhere in between represent both escape and opportunity. The opportunity to paddle out and face the rolling sets, hang out with your mates in the interim and a place to put your head down while the ocean lolls you to sleep. The chance to escape from local surf frustration, from the crowds or whatever hassle has worried away at you.

The season is running away but there is still some space left on this bargain priced adventure.  

The opportunity to escape to a new frontier that time has forgotten and white fella has not stuffed up !!!!

We trust this amazing array of images by Swilly taken during a recent promo trip with some hot young retro and longboard riding groms will set your mind on a journey, dreaming of ‘Getting the hell out of here’ to warm tropical UNCROWDED surf.  Tupira Surf Club is accessible within a days travel from Australia, yet it’s another world altogether from your everyday existence.  

NB. Pacific Longboard magazine will be running a feature article on this trip in their April/May issue. 

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

The famous ‘Pa Bendall’ Surfing Contest (2nd oldest surfing contest in Oz, after Bells) was hotly contested last weekend at Moffat Beach, Caloundra,   World Surfaris were well represented with our Kirra Surf manager, David Scard narrowly missing a finals berth in the Senior mens. Ben Silk, (brother of World Surfaris, Mooloolaba office manager, Wendy) making the masters final and last but not least Matt Clark ,(husband of World Surfaris, consultant Alison) WON the OPEN division beating a couple of seasoned pros in Dean Brady and Dave Reardon Smith for the coveted open winners division and pocketing himself a cool $1000 for his trouble.   The WORLD SURFARIS junior division had a red hot field and was won by Ziggy Alberts (photo shows the groms in their World Surfaris caps)  

 1^st Ziggy Alberts

2^nd Nic Edgerton

3^rd Eli Steele

4^th Jake Fissenden

For more info see http://www.sunshinecoastsurf.com.au/   World Surfaris is a long term sponsor of this legendary event and will continue to do so for years to come. 

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

BLAKES PNG BLOG

22-31 January 2010.  Admiralty Islands – Kavieng Exploratory mission onboard PNG Explorer

 MONDAY 18 Jan:  Shaun Levings from World Surfaris rings me to tell me to pack my bags as he’s got a ticket for me on a PNG exploration mission leaving Friday this week….stoked !  The benefits of being World Surfaris No.1 team rider is starting to pay off.  Not only do I have a billboard above World Surfaris headquarters, now I’m on a Stealth Mission to PNG.  My mates on the WQS are definitely jealous of this gig!

FRIDAY 22^ND – DAY ONE. I met all the boys when we landed in the Admiralties ; boat was parked in a small bay 200m from the airport strip. It looked like the whole island village came out of their homes to welcome us. We walked through tropical bush until we found the small boat, loaded the gear and we were on our way to the PNG Explorer! We were welcomed aboard by the crew and Judy. Straight away the boys and I were starving so Judy (The Captains wife) whipped us up some amazing fish burgers. It was great to be in PNG and on a great boat. We had lunch and unpacked all the boards and got settled into our rooms. Cammo and I scored double beds..stoked! We all got our own room which was unreal. We had a quick surf, and a trawl on our way home and we caught our first fish of the trip which was a 60cm Spanish Mackerel. We had dinner, and everyone was getting to know each other. The skipper seems like a legend and so does his wife Judy. Peely (the Photographer) was tipsy by this stage. Cammo shit himself out in the water this afternoon and though he saw a shark. I’ve found personally some things that are really different to Australia like the smell of the PNG locals B.O, apparently no one wears deodorant. They also speak really soft and quiet and have red lips, teeth and tongues!

SATURDAY 23^RD – DAY TWO. We woke this morning and it was pretty windy and the waves were pretty bad so we headed further towards the northwest. Heading straight into the wind and swell for about 4 hours. Cammo and all the boys started to feel pretty sick, and I was feeling Okay, but after about 4 hours it was all over. Cammo was first with two spews, and I was straight after him. I’m feeling tired, dry mouthed and I have the sweats. I spewed everything up that was in my stomach, and then I felt great! We anchored up at an island and surfed a wave that I named Huis left after the Island. I was the first person to surf this wave. We then steamed further North for 3 hours and anchored here for the night.

SUNDAY 24^TH – DAY THREE. Woke up early, wind was still blowing strong. Steamed another 3 hours till we reached the very end of the North Eastern point. Boat was super rocky. We anchored the boat up at a nice bay and went on the search for some waves. Really sketchy bombies everywhere and wind was too strong. Bit of a lay day, spent 3 hours steaming up and down the coast.  Heading further back down tomorrow… Sitting down on the boat reading and watching surf movies we are all itching to get some great waves and the forecast looks promising. When we arrived at all new anchorages Glen will take tender over to local village and ask for permission to surf and anchor the boat. The crew catch another two massive Spanish Mackerel!MONDAY 25^TH – DAY FOUR. Steamed early back down to Huis Left. Cammo had a sore hip and Darty was still down and out from his infection from all his reef cuts. I had a bite to eat and got our boards sorted and jumped in the tender to have a look. Got out there and it was just Trucker and I in the line up, 3 foot offshore. We took it wave for wave. Peely didn’t come out because he thought it was too small. After Trucker and I got a couple, BANG! Out comes Peely ready to shoot. We caught some fun waves then came in after 2 hours. We shot across the channel over to another un-surfed right hander. Trucker and I had about 4 waves each and we decided to head back to the big boat for lunch. After lunch we laid low for about an hour and then we were straight back out to Huis Left. We had another couple of fun waves while Peely shot. The boys are loving Flight of The Concords!

TUESDAY 26^TH – DAY FIVE. Went looking for a wave early but did not have much luck. We ended up surfing Huis Left, which was 2 foot and pretty fun. While we were surfing the pet bird (Occy) went for a swim off the side of the boat. Glen the main deck hand crew member (local guy, and master of all trades) found the bird face down in the water. He jumped straight in and sucked all the water out of the bird’s lungs! (AKA mouth to mouth) and Occy came to life! It’s crazy how some of the local guys are with the ocean, fish, boats and animals. They have such raw knowledge, which they are taught from such a young age. The PNG Explorer was running out of water so we went into the Navy Base and filled her up – for free! This is where World War 2 ended, in the bay where we had just been and was named Hawaii Island by the American solidiers. 6 Local men came for a meeting tonight at our boat to discuss surfing on their reef. All was good!  We’re steaming early in the morning further south, hopefully more waves. Went fishing this afternoon… no fish! Spewing!! Watched a couple of Californication episodes.

WEDNESDAY 27^TH – DAY SIX. The Skipper steamed early to a left hander called Airstrips. Trucker and I had a couple of fun waves and we pulled anchor and headed for what was regarded as the best bunch of waves called Ronnbotso! What an amazing set up. We had lunch and we all sat around and I taught everyone how to play the card game Shithead, they all picked it up pretty quickly and we had a laugh playing about 5 or 6 rounds, with everyone being the Shithead at least once. After Peely and Andrew came back from shooting line-ups, they spotted this right hander breaking, which from the boat looked about 1 foot. We ended up having a fun surf, couple of barrels with the odd 3 foot set. This was definitely the best wave so far. Amazing sunset, crazy bright ¾ moon, and we all sat on the top deck and had a roast dinner! Jude’s cooking is just outstanding… It’s crazy you can be out in the middle of nowhere and get such an amazing Westernized meal. Couple of land owners came up to the boat  wanting to either sell or trade their goods for money, rice or petrol. Another great day, best bunch of blokes. Hopefully the swell will stick around and we can get this right hander called the Slab firing… We’ll see..

THURSDAY 28^TH – DAY SEVEN. Surfed a really fun right hander, just the Skipper and I out. Funnest session so far. 3-4 foot grinding little right hander, super fun for turns and trying airs. Went back to the boat for breakfast. pulled the pick and steamed down towards Kavieng. Reading and watching Rocky with the boys took up most of the steaming time. Heading to the last chain of islands where there is a great bunch of different waves, really fun long left and right hander, and a big solid slabbing right hander.

FRIDAY 29^TH – DAY EIGHT. We woke this morning super early after doing an overnight steam. We got rocked around a little bit, and everyone woke up a bit stiff and sore. Had a quick bite to eat and headed straight to the slab with all the boys. With the swell around the 3 foot mark, this wave looked identical to the Box in W.A.. Really sucky, super fast, heavy, shallow right hand barrel. Chilled out and watched Rocky for most of the day, waiting for the afternoon glass-off. We surfed for about two and a half hours this morning and for about three in the afternoon. The afternoon session was one that i will always remember. There was just Darty and I out, five guys in the boat, as we went wave for wave. The boys would cheer us into waves as the sets poured through from out the back and pounded onto the reef. Wave after wave, barrel after barrel it was amazing we both had some great rides and thought we had scored big time. Dinner time, then straight to bed as we were all really tired and surfed out. Roasted chicken baked dinner. Looking on the charts the prediction for the swell is supposed to pick up, hopefully we get a cracking session in the morning. Peely had a quick look at the photos and said there is some keepers.

SATURDAY 1^ST – DAY NINE. Wow! Best day of my life! Up at 5AM still in the dark, we had a quick bite to eat and then motored straight to the slab. It was 6-8 and barrelling off it’s tits! The meanest waves I have seen for a long time Had 2 killer sessions just Darty and I out, going wave for wave again. Standing in these thick throwing cabins! Everyone was frothing as they sat in the boat watching from the channel. Screaming and throwing their arms up as the sets came through, and as we were paddling into the waves and again when we get spat out into the channel, right next to the boat. Then we did the bolt to Center Pass for the afternoon session, but it was to lower tide, so we decided to keep steaming to our final destination at Kavieng. Surfed Nusa lefts for 45 minutes before dark, just the four of us out. 4-5 foot standing up and peeling perfectly down the reef, what a way to end an amazing day. Peely caught a dolphin fish during the day and we ate it for dinner (YUM!) Peely was really excited and pretty stoked with what we had got for the trip, and it was time to celebrate, so they cracked open the top of a coupla’ tins, and talked about the day’s events. Peely is starting to get a little pissy, as is everyone, so they took it to the island resort to catch up with friends. We all played a couple of games of ping-pong. Until it got to about ten o’clock and everyone was keen for bed. Darty and I had surfed 4 times that day. Amazing day, best barrels. Will always remember!

SUNDAY 31^ST – DAY TEN. Slept in till 8, had a surf out Nusa lefts, just the five of us out. Cammo and Trucker were dominating the session. As they were both ripping. Had a fry up for breakfast, with fresh bacon and poached eggs, with a banana smoothie to wash it down. Surfed a left around the corner as Darty, Andrew and I sat on the boat, and watched Trucker and Cammo go head to head in a Man on Man heat for the last surf of the trip. Trucker dominates in the late stages with heavy back footed turns throwing buckets. I noticed the standard of surfing definitely rose throughout the trip, especially with Trucker and Cammo.

Levo and a couple of the boys from the resort came over to the boat and had a grand tour of the Refurbished PNG Explorer. We sat and ate fresh mud crabs and ribs for dinner and the crew put on a traditional Sing Sing as a farewell song to all of us. Couldn’t of asked for a better bunch of people and crew, Peely is the funniest man alive… Had the best trip of my life. Yew!

Cheers to Andy, Jude, Darty and the awesome local crew onboard the legendary PNG Explorer and Shaun at World Surfaris.  If you are looking for a unique adventure then this trip guarantees that.  Check it out at www.worldsurfaris.com

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

I could write a poem or something dramatic about this giant swell but I will just leave it to Ted Grambeau.

Here is a quick run on February 10^th, 2010, the biggest surf in Pohnpei in recent history.

The swell hit a little later then forecasted overnight. The morning of the 10^th had big and messy 15 ft swell at Palikir.

The channel at Palikir was a mess with white whash all over the place and trades gusting at 25 mph.

I got the ski and headed toward Palang pass on the west side. A friend of my, Fred Mendiola, the best surfer to ever come out of Pohnpei and now living in Guam told me about surfing that pass on a giant typhoon swell years ago.I had also checked that pass during two of the last big swells.

The two boats with guests followed me a few miles behind. Around 8:00am I was calling them from Palang. The surf was 5 to 6 feet and as perfect as it gets. Beautiful set up. Not a soul in sight. Straight off shores, sunny skies, blue water and some really nice rights.

One nice fact about surfing these other passes in Pohnpei. This is wave number 18 we have surfed in Pohnpei under perfect conditions and the only people I have seen in any wave but Palikir were the ones that came with us or the ones I told about the wave. Besides that 99% of the time we are on our own….

Around 11:00am four surfers wanted a taste of the size and power at Palikir but that was not what most guests wanted so most stayed at Palang and a few headed back to Palikir.

Around 12:00pm a third boat delivered teriyaki chicken, tuna and the afternoon beer to the guests at Palang. At the same time four surfers stated to ride with confidence the biggest waves ever surfed in Pohnpei and probably in Micronesia.

It was still really windy but that magic corner of Palikir did its thing. The inside was straight off shore and 12 ft Hawaiian size!

There was not a soul around but Laurie, Stephen, Jay Bottle and Heath in the water and a few shooting the pictures on the boat. No one showed up until we left an empty line up behind us.

So many good surfers have been chasing this swell for years and when the day came, there was hardly anyone around. A few canceled right before the trip because of the forecasted winds but in the end it paid off for those who took the chances…

All pictures here by Ian Powell.

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

Monday 1^st till Sunday 7^th January

Monday.  High tide @ 8:30am.  Today was pumping! With light offshores on the north coast and a cranking swell the Sa’Moana guides had the crew into some epic double overhead waves at a rarely surfed wave! Hollow spitting left and right hand barrels and not another soul in the lineup made for an awesome session!

 Tuesday.  High tide @ 9:30am A fun trip out on the boat today, the light winds and crystal clear waters at chest high Coconuts had everyone amped, before we pulled anchor and headed to Special K for some head high rippable waves.

Wednesday.  High tide @ 10:30am. As we dropped into Tiavea Bay we could see the sets rolling in. The crew were straight onto it with a super fun session at The River Mouth. Peaky barreling take-offs followed by a fast rippable wall was great fun in the warm sunny weather.

Thursday.  High Tide @ 11:30am. An awesome expedition today to a rarely surfed north coast break! Out of the jungle the Sa’Moana crew scored pumping overhead lefts and rights! The lefts were lining up and the long fast rippable walls had plenty of power! The sunny conditions and the remote village was an amazing experience.

Friday.  High Tide @ 12:45pm. Out on the boat the guys got some super fun wedges at sunny Pebbles! The overhead sets were rippable right through the outside section before exploding on the inside bowl! Both surfers and body boarders were stoked!

 Saturday.  High Tide @ 1:50pm. Today the call was for the fast racing right hand barrels at Missions!  The surf was shoulder high with super fun grinding barrels getting everyone pitted! Sitting in the secluded corner, with coral and fish life underneath, jungle dropping straight into the water and an amazingly clear ocean was amazing.

 Sunday. High Tide @ 2:50pm. After chilling out around the resort for the morning, another trip to Pebbles saw overhead sets pumping through the inside bowl and rippable waves through the outside section. The firm offshore winds and sucking barrels were solid, with plenty of deep pits being ridden, especially by the body boarders, everyone was happy!

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