Waves

1. Out the Front (Awera Right)

Right out the front of Awera Resort, this is the first spot we check in the morning and our main reference point. It breaks almost every day during the surf season, and is arguably one of the best waves in the area, starting to work at around 1-2ft and breaking all the way up to 6-8ft.

It’s a super-fun wave, offering up the odd barrel on the first section and a good section for practising turns on the inside. At size it’s a different story, transforming into a much longer and hollower wave.

2. Out the Front (Beginners)

A perfect spot for those looking to take their first steps on their surfing journey. The wave always breaks in the same place, giving beginners an easy and surprise-free route out to the line-up, and in terms of size and power it’s an easy wave to learn on, while still providing a sufficiently long and fun ride. What’s more, it breaks into a safe area with deep water and a channel just to the side, letting surfers return to the peak without difficulty.

3. Out the Front (Awera Left)

Like Awera Right, this wave is to be found just in front of the resort, although it needs a medium-sized west swell to start working. Sometimes it’s fast and barrelling; really shallow, usually only recommended for agresive goofy foot surfers.

4. Ombak Tidur

This is a break that only needs a little swell to start working, and is usually surfed in smaller conditions since the reef is only vaguely defined, meaning the wave can lack shape. It’s one of the most consistent right-handers in the region and works on all tides, keeping surfers entertained with a few different peaks — we tend to have a lot of fun out here whenever we surf it.

5. Iceland

This spot picks up more swell than anywhere else, and alongside Ombak Tidur is the most consistent wave in the area. When the swell is small, there are fun lefts and rights suitable for all abilities and working on all tides.

When the swell reaches 4ft and upwards, however, Iceland turns into a barrelling left-hander with several sections. Depending on the direction, it can handle swells of up to 10ft and provide the setting for some spectacular sessions.

6. Hookers

Located on the other side of the island, this long left-hander guarantees a good time for surfers of all levels. Due to its position to the north of the island, it needs a powerful swell to start breaking.

7. Tikus

This left-hander is bags of fun — one of the funniest waves in the Mentawai, in fact. After a barrel section on the outside there are some great opportunities for manoeuvres; intermediates can practise their turns, while more experienced surfers can take advantage of the numerous ramps on offer all along the wave. 

8. Tugis

This left-hander, which requires a fair bit of swell to start breaking, serves up a barrel on the take-off immediately followed by a turn section — you’ll need to be on your game in order to really make the most of it. Best at mid-tide, it can work practically the whole way through the tide depending on the swell.

9. Suicides

Its name is a reference to the shallow and dangerous reef to which prospective surfers risk exposing themselves — hundreds of yards of razor-sharp live coral, along which an extremely fast and deep barrel breaks into inches of water. Conditions are rarely optimum for this spot, but when the wind and swell directions cooperate you might luck into one of the best sessions of your life here.

10. Telescopes

For many surfers, Telescopes is one of the best waves in the world, hence its widely acknowledged status as one of the jewels in the Mentawai crown. It doesn’t take much swell for it to start breaking, generating a long, peeling wave that extends for over 100 metres and can happily accommodate most ability levels.

The flat and even bottom makes it a relatively safe surf break. When the swell exceeds 3ft, barrels alternate with less hollow sections, allowing you to get several turns in; on smaller swells, it’s just a supremely fun wave.

11. Scarecrows

This wave, located in front of an island called Pittojat, is the longest in the area, offering surfers rides of up to 300m in length. It’s perhaps not the most perfect wave in the Mentawai, but it’s still one of the best spots to lay into some turns and tuck into a few barrels.

12. Seven Palms

A perfect little left-hander for those days with slightly less swell. A playful sort of wave, sometimes it serves up cheeky barrels, sometimes it's all about the turns — it all depends on the swell direction. Offshore in southeasterly winds, it’s a great option to keep in mind whenever conditions are favourable.