Totally different from the season we had in 2015, where the predominance of South wind and almost no rain marked the year, 2016 was of extreme weather from beginning to end. The constant influence of the North wind that brings along with it a lot of rain under extreme conditions, demanded a great know-how from Surf Guides and Captains to deal with all security issues that involves a boat trip and still ensure the guests get the best waves the archipelago has to offer.
Regardless, the surfing level in the islands was a pleasant surprise. Some rare high-performance waves became very consistent throughout the year. Greenbush, Riffles, HT’s, between others that work nicely with the North wind. Our clients went back home super stoked and feeling like their trip was worth every penny spent.
We saw clients having the best surf sessions of their life at some gnarly Greenbush solid days that could easily be mistaken by Teahuppo. Kadu Maia (Owner/ Surf Guide of Mentawai Surf Charters), had his barrel from HT’s on the Top 5 selected waves for the O’Neill Wave of the Winter Southern Hemi Contest – video below.
Bruno Veiga, (Owner/ Photographer/ Surf Guide of Mentawai Surf Charters) arrived with his clients on the first day of the trip at an epic Riffles, and pulled them all into the water after catching that barrel (1st photo in the gallery below). Things like that make it worth working hard all year to ensure our guests have the trip of their lives.
The global economic instability apparently reduced the number of visitors coming to the islands resorts and boats, however those who have decided to spend some of the savings did not regret it and found empty lineups or with very few people to share waves with.
We have been watching a constancy of swell in every late season, and at this time (November 8th) Star Koat is out there with a group of kids aboard our third Future Legends Trip of the year, scoring one of those solids swells that we all wished to be getting!
Our boats are ready and we are excited for the next season and all it will bring for us.
See you onboard Star Koat or Moon Palikir in 2017!
Report by Kadu Maia / Gabriela Spinola