Hi all,

The awesome crew from Ocean Dancer sent this through a little while ago. We like the Ocean Dancer not only because it embodies  everything you’d  imagine a luxury boat charter to the Maldives to be but it doesn’t sacrifice good ole charm and friendliness. The word luxury conjures up a slight pretense of cold, clinical fluorescence as if warmth and friendliness should be left at the doorway and servitude and detached respect should replace them. Not so on the The Ocean Dancer, no way. It’s like a warm hug their philosophy of “Come as a guest leave as a friend” rings true when on board. Guests feel like a member of the floating family, albeit a rich, opulent, tasteful  family. The price point is impressive too Luxury with warmth.

Anyway enjoy the latest Surf Report

Cheers

WS

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

XXL ride of the year finalists -David Scard on the far right.

At a lavish awards ceremony in LA, David Scard who heads the World Surfaris, Stealth Travel Club was awarded 2nd best ride in 2010 for his incredible Cloudbreak barrell. He was just pipped at the post by Danilo Couto of Brazil for his macking Jaws bomb ! Congratulations Scardy now get back to work

Scardy joking around with the other big wave loonies.  Nice tassel Jacket Mark Healey

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

Scardy will find out tomorrow morning AEST (1900 LA time) if he’s won the first prize of us$50k !!  Regardless of whether he wins it’s been the longest ride of his life!

Click on the image to see the Vimeo webepisode.

Ride of his life !

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

SurfAid Completes First Phase of Emergency Response Padang 4pm Thursday 11 November 2010 SurfAid today completed the first phase of our Emergency Response for the Mentawai Islands which has concentrated on assessing the immediate needs of the affected communities and distributing food and non-food assistance. We now move into two new phases of Recovery programs which will last until the end of October 2011. The 7.7M earthquake, which triggered a tsunami that has been recorded as being up to six metres (20 feet) high in some villages, struck 17 days ago at 9.41pm on Monday night 25 October. The latest report from the Indonesian Government says that 447 people have been killed, 57 are missing, and 173 are seriously injured. More than 15,000 people have been displaced from their homes and are living in temporary shelters, many on the hills above their villages as they fear another tsunami. More than 15,000 people have been displaced by the tsunami and are living in temporary shelters. Photo: The Barrenjoey Within 24 hours of the disaster, SurfAid had dispatched the Barrenjoey surf charter boat from Padang to make a rapid assessment of the damage in South Sipora Island and to deliver some initial assistance with tarpaulins and other shelter. SurfAid Emergency Response (ER) Director Dr Alan Rogerson said that Captain John McGroder and his crew immediately wanted to get involved in the emergency and the surfers on board gave up their holidays to help. “The Barrenjoey crew has now donated their time and skills to help SurfAid in four major disasters – the Boxing Day tsunami in December 2004, the March 2005 Nias earthquake; the 2007 Mentawai earthquakes; and now this disaster. It’s an extraordinary and humbling contribution,” Dr Rogerson said. Heading out on the Barrenjoey with emergency supplies. The surfers on board gave up their holiday to help SurfAid. Photo: The Barrenjoey BJ skipper John McGroder has posted incredible accounts of their work for SurfAid here sumatransurfcharters.com.au Our own speedboat, Sibex, also went into action on the first morning after the tsunami, making assessments of North and South Pagai Islands, and then providing distribution support for the charter boat fleet. From 27 October to 7 November, SurfAid dispatched another seven boats to the stricken islands – Huey, Mangalui, Pono Indah, Indies Trader III and IV, Saranya and Kaimana. Villagers gratefully receive emergency supplies. Photo: The Barrenjoey As of today, SurfAid has made 96 visits to the communities. Our initial delivery of assistance focused on shelter, building and hygiene kits, and some kitchen and cooking kits. After a few days of distribution of non-food items, it became clear that communities were in danger of running short of food, so subsequent deliveries focused more on delivering food items – mainly rice, noodles and cooking oil. We have dispatched the following to the Mentawai Islands: 3,100 shelter kits; 3,150 hygiene kits; 1,884 building kits; 661 cooking kits; 2,076 tarpaulins; 610 blankets; 380 mats; 405 lanterns; 170 bales of rope; 6,025kg of rice; 56,400 packets of noodles; 2,500kg of cooking oil; and 15,002 cans of fish.        CLICK HERE to read more … “We have been active in the Mentawai for the past 10 years, and we plan to continue to work in the Mentawai over the long-term with our programs related to community health and wellbeing and disaster risk reduction.” - SurfAid ER Director Alan Rogerson SurfAid is featured on Getaway, Channel 9 Australia. Filming was completed 5 days before the earthquake and tsunami struck the Mentawai islands. Thank you to everyone who has supported SurfAid during this disaster – we still need to raise $500,000 and appreciate all your help. CLICK HERE to watch   CLICK HERE for more detailed SurfAid Tsunami Response activities. You can donate via THE SURF AID website surfaidinternational.org From Australia you can also call 1 800 257 957

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

        Relief efforts continue in the Mentawais but are heavily hindered by storms. Whole villages have been wiped of the maps and more help is needed. Surf Aid international is providing much needed support to the people affected by the disaster and you can make a difference. The below clip was just posted on the Surf Aid international site and details the level of destruction that the Tsunami caused. Please click here for the full post 

World Surfaris are proud to be affiliated with Surf Aid international and all their good work. We have managed to pledge a contribution alongside all the guys who attended the Kirra Surf night and of course the legendary Kieth Anderson.

Please help

visit http://www.surfaidinternational.org/you-can-help/donate.html or click here

Thanks for your support

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

                 Following in the wake of Monday’s Tsunami ‘Surf Aid international’ is asking for donations to assist in helping the affected communities after the destruction. Local villages are distraught.  This iconic surf region needs your support desperately. 

Surf aid international is currently delivering much needed emergency relief and assessing the needs of the people. 

Please make a donation by clicking here so they can keep up their amazing work

Thank you

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

Pic: Andrew Shiled

Hi all,

          David Scard, World Surfaris consultant, all round good guy and big wave champion, is still basking in the glories of his epic Cloud break session. After tracking a swell to Fiji Scardy put out a stealth alert to forewarn the keen , the brave and possibly the down right suicidal.  A few nights onboard our Fiji charter the ‘Stellar’ and the small specialised group were ready and in place to chase the adrenaline charged behemoths. Scardy’s 15 footer + saw him barrelled for 9 seconds and ride into a Billabong XXL big wave nomination an ASL poster and other glories besides. The folks at ASL have pieced together two webisodes and since we are all about getting behind Scardy it would be remiss of us if we didn’t share the journey with you. So enjoy and all the best.

Fiji – Webisode 1 from Surfing Life on Vimeo.

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,

       Whilst Scardy was scoring 15ft + Cloudbreak on the weekend of the other weekend, New Cal was playing host to some of the finest surfers from Melanesia. The below comes courtesy of Seb our friend and operator from New Caledonia, which World Surfarfis had the extreme pleasure of visiting recently ( More later). The competition took place at Ouano break and we think you’ll agree it put on quite a show.

Need to get here? Enquire today  

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More surf stoke from Richard and Amy Kotch……not a sterling report but a whole lot less fickle than the local.

Want to visit Hudhuranfushi 2011 for less? – Get In Early and Save – Click Here

19^th September – 3^rd October.

Report and Photo’s by World Surfaris Guides, Richard and Amy Kotch from Hudhuran Fushi in the Maldives.

I guess it had to end sooner or later…

The amazing run of waves we’d been having is now but a beautiful memory. A memory we cling to as we try to make the most of a tiny S-SE swell while dodging crazy W-SW squalls.

No matter how bad it’s been, most guests have still managed to surf every day. I’m not trying to gloss it over, it has been the worst run I’ve ever seen, in fact the local surf guides are calling it the worst they’ve ever seen. I suppose that in a strange way it all evens out– in a season that has been so epic, in which we witnessed so many back to back swells, including one of the best swells ever seen out here, we’re now experiencing one of the worst periods ever known! However, we are still riding waves!

Most days mid to high tide Lohi’s has been the best bet – sure it’s been windy and uninviting, but there’s been hardly anyone out and the odd nugget amongst the chop. 

Sultans and Jails have been crowded with desperados but still rideable … especially to those with the foresight to pack short, fat, voluminous craft. Cokes had a couple days that, well, it wasn’t Cokes as we know and love, but it was surfable…..Kinda. Unfortunately it was pretty crowded with crew who wouldn’t want a bar of it if it was the real deal…but we moved over to Chickens and got a couple of windy ones.

I must say that the guests have been incredible about it. We have had a lot of repeat guests who have been here for the same two weeks the past few years and like them, I have always really enjoyed this time of the year – September and October are usually great fun – not big, but perfect with light winds and sunny skies… anyway, it is what it is and there’s nothing we can do about it so we just make the most of what we get, after all it is still a magical tropical island surrounded by some of the nicest water in the world. The food is great, the beer’s flowing free, and the Spa’s a bargain!!

Anyway, that’s it from me for now, I’m going surfing – Lohi’s is 2-3ft, junky but fun and there’s no one out.

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.

What a year 2010 has been, the Indian Ocean delivered consistently throughout the season and the Pacific shot back to back swells onto south facing reefs as if in contest with its western oceanic counterpart. Surfers being stung by local frustrations were granted uncrowded relief as they landed on the shores of tropical paradises the world over and we were proud to put them there.

The following has come in from our long favourite budget Mentawais vessel the ever worthy ‘Santa Lusia’ and her skipper/guide Ryan. Check the pics out and if you feel the tugging of an international surf adventure calling then start planning for 2011. Visit our Get In Early page to see the specials. 

An important note on Mentawais 2011…… By now you may have heard of the Indo flagging issue, meaning that charter’s opearting in Indo waters now need to be Indo flagged those without the cloth sailing legally in the wind will have to pay hefty fees to operate. What does this mean for you?

- Basically it means that a lot of opeartors are bugging out, setting the sails and fading into the distance and the past, leaving Indo waters for less expensive seas.  So between now and when a horde of local fisherman catch on there’s going to be a lot less boats floating up and down the Mentawais. The crowds that arrived eager and willing from all corners of the globe to surf the hundreds of world class reefs that litter the region will be culled. Leaving even less crowds!  2011 and perhaps 2012 will be the years to get into the water for some truely epic sessions with no-one else around. Visit http://www.worldsurfaris.com/getinearly/ and get onto it today for a lot less!!!

……..So getting  back to Santa Lusia, this is from Ryan, thanks all enjoy

Another Epic season on Santalucia has come to an end. As usual we scored twice the waves for half the price:0, All jokes aside The season was a banger! Lots of tubes to go around I am not sure what the other boats did but the majority of the time We scored Uncrowded Barrels! I have a good feeling the next season will be very similar. Here are a few photos of some satisfied customers, and me hard at work.

 

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