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Hello friends,
It
was the time of year for my annual kitesurfing getaway to Lakey
Sumbawa. This year I decided to bring along my SUP.
At
the airport few eyebrows were raised when surfers and kiters
alike noticed my huge board bag. Fortunately, I had a 9 footer
Starboard prototype to test and there were no problems with the
Airline.
Merpati Nusantara Airlines known as Merpati is quite fair as
they charged 10.000 rupiah per kilo (around 1 US$ at current
exchange rate) so the excess for the SUP was only 15 US$....
During the months of September and October, Lakey is famous for
the strong winds that usually start around 10 am which lasts
till sun down. Early morning glassy conditions prevail to test
the 9 ft Starboard proto.
When we got there, the swell produced overhead conditions which
caused me to head to Nungas. A long uncrowded left hander with a
deep channel to bail out into in case of trouble.
This spot is magic for SUPS, the wave is very long with few
sections, and I was only surfing the last two for a ride of
about 100 meters. I’m pretty sure that a better rider could take
off a lot deeper and be able to make the sections all the way to
the end of the wave. That would make a super long ride.
After three days, the swell dropped off and I decided to try my
luck at Pipe which is named because it resembles Pipeline in
Hawaii. It is a hollow wave which breaks on shallow reef. I was
a little concerned in the beginning but the waves were only
about head high so I gave it a go.
Wow
what a radical take off…. You see the wave approaching and the
water rushing up off the reef that looks shallower and shallower
in the crystal clear water of Lakey. Then you get on the wave
and everything just happens in a rush, super scary drop and a
very fast ride to the close channel… This is the right wave for
getting barrelled if you dare but all too soon, the short ride
is over. Not too many surfer here too if the waves are not too
big.
I
then decided to paddle to the famous Lakey Peak but there were
way too many surfers in the line up, more then 20 and everyone
giving me nasty looks!!
I
was just able to sneak in couple of shoulders before I decided
to give up. Wave looks scary but actually is quite easy so I
promised myself to give it another go some time soon.
The
next morning I woke up at 5am and paddled out to the Peak in the
dark. I could see few surfers getting ready to go but I was the
first one to arrive. Sweet I had a few waves to myself while the
sun was coming up over the hills.
The
Peak is an amazing wave; powerful even at shoulder height. It is
a mechanical wave which is easy to line up. All you need is a
few strokes of the paddle and you’re on it.
With the swell as it was, the left seemed better to me than the
right and it does tube nicely. The ride is about 50 meters long
and there is a big channel to get out again.
By
sunrise there were twelve surfers out to enjoy the sunrise glass
of Lakey Peak. As I was the first out and the only SUPPER there,
they adopted me and allowed me to catch some more waves. I was
also calling them into waves as I could see the sets approach
from my vantage point. Some even congratulated me on my riding
skills.
To
me, my trip was a total success. SUPing glass in the mornings
and kitesurfing as soon as the wind kicked in. I even got
covered up on a small barreling left at the Peak.
I
was hoping to be the first one to SUP in Lakey but I heard that
Robby Naish was there in August and got to ride for few days at
the Pipe. I am still first out at Nungas and the Peak…..
The
Starboard 9 foot is a great board, very fast and reactive. Can’t
tell you much as it is a prototype but be sure to try it as is
really amazing!
Lakey Peak is a great place to visit and with the option to
Stand Up Paddle Surfing, I saw action everyday. I felt a bit
lonely but I’m sure that by next year there will be more
brothers in the water….. Rachel the French man who owns the
Lakey Beach Inn (great food) as already asked me for a board and
lessons when he next visits Bali.
That’s it for now, till the next trip.
Bye
Jankie
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