Never leave a mate behind!

All words and photos by Uncle Lip.

It’s that time of year again when Gordy and the boys fire up their annual summer season trip on the mighty Mango. After a few years since the last trip due to the pandemic the froth level was high and we were ready to set sail and enjoy everything the West Sumatra archipelago has to offer…..until……

I had woken to messages that Andy a guest due to arrive in Padang the day of departure day had left his passport on the plane from Syndey to Jakarta, and he was currently in immigration detention due to not being able to illegally enter Indonesia. The next question - was Andy even going to make the trip?

A few phone calls and negotiations, and Andy had his passport and would arrive a day late. So an extra night in Padang because you “never leave a mate behind”.

Andy arrived in one piece, very happy, very hungry and it was bit of a trip that he was aboard with us and ready to head out to do what we love - “Mangalui Ndulu” translated in local Nias dialect “searching for waves”.

Conditions/Forcast

A stella start with the weather and a 3 - 4 ft clean swell had us focus on a few guaranteed fun-for-everyone right handers. With the clean conditions we were able to hunt down a few novelty lefts as well and it was a perfect start to the trip. On the back end of the trip winds and storms from the north settled in so we headed south to stay dry and continue surfing offshore waves. Due to weather patterns it was definitely a trip for the regular footers and we surfed our brains out everyday.

….. Nealo pure froth

….. Andy making the most of every minute fresh out of the immigration cells

….. definitely a trip for the natural footers

….. Kyle enjoying his first taste of the Ments

….. Kyle on another bomb that day

….. when you get back to the boat and turn around and see these sets rolling through you regret coming in

….. when the A-grade spots turn on and there’s no-one around

….. one day

….. more empty rights

….. more summer season gold

….. Nealo getting his forehand fix

….. Big Ian washing off the hangover

Standout Sessions

Everyone would have a different opinion on this but one day as there was a break in the weather we were able to load up our trusted “Foxy Lady” and go from break to break which covered everyone’s bases from lefts to rights to barrels to turns. That’s the beauty of having a fully equipped speed boat ready for any strike mission.

….. the best surfer in the water is the one having the most fun

Wave of the trip

Wave of the trip would have to go to “Gordy’s” reverse drop knee well overhead barrel.

Gordy casually paddled into the bomb of the day without realizing the bottom was about to drop out. Survival instincts engaged quickly and he went for his signature late take off and in result he scored himself wave of the trip. Unfortunately, this wasn’t captured on camera but I saw it from poll position and a few of the other lads also. Laughing to pure stoke. Sometimes I truly believe seeing a mate get barreled in front of you is just as good as getting one yourself.

Later in the trip I was able to capture a local grom get a few on the notorious surgeon table. Every wave he pulled off on was full of laughter and yahoos. So on film he gets my vote for wave of the trip.

Personalitys

Non-stop laughter when these lads are aboard. Plenty of pranks, plenty of beers, outfits and mischief for the seasonal regulars from Central Coast NSW.

Neil always frothing for surf and a good time, Ian and Vinnie the brothers in law that keep everyone laughing from dusk till dawn. Andy our jailbird that treated every day like it was his first day out of prison and brining only positivity to the table. Kieran rejoining the group as our quiet assassin. Gordo with his salt and pepper everyday and Wayno and Kyle father / son duo filling in some spots as a great new addition. It’s these return guest trips when you feel like you’re catching up with mates again.

A brotherhood was formed “The Stone Masons”. Don’t ask what it means but Andy and Wayno joined together as sparing partners and shared a lot sessions together and if one was tired and going to give it a miss the other was there for motivation to get him fired up and surfing.

And let’s not forget Vinnie taking out the WSL (World Sleeping League) spending most time on the couch. We believe there was only one movie left on the fully loaded hard drive he missed out on.

With a bit of bark off and no other choice to get back on the saddle for the next session the quote would come out -

“If it was anyone else
they would be in intensive care” Gordo.

this was enough motivation to forget about the damage and do what you came to do - surf.

Food

As always chefs Situ and Putra were on their game and serving up a wide variety of food and turning the fish we were catching (most days fresh Mackerel) into epic beer snacks on sunset or main course dinner delights.

….. fresh cut

….. from the ocean to the plate

….. ceviche!!!!

….. more more more fresh fish please

Fish On

“Macky Corner” is what we call it and it didn’t let us down. As some went surfing for the evening The Foxy headed out to catch us some fresh fish. A loaded esky, some good music and the excitement of those lines going off was a great way to spend the last hours of the day.

….. Kyle with catch of the trip

….. Nealo and Kyle cleaning up on Macky Corner

….. Kyle with second best catch of the trip

Special Thanks:

As always, the Mangalui crew who work forever around the clock. Gordo for rounding up the motley crew and Pak Salam (Qantas Jakarta) for looking after our prisoner and facilitating him joining us on yet another all-time trip.

Yours truly Uncle Lip