Watch: Sumbawa

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Reels

Let's play hypotheticals:

Say there was a magical island, in fact magical islands, plural, that existed beyond the horizon somewhere. 

And say we knew about them but we couldn't reach them for whatever reason - maybe a large ogre halted our passage to said islands.

Would viewing images of these magical lands benefit our mental wellbeing, allow us to close our eyes and escape, providing a salve for dark times, or would it be better to forget that such a paradise even existed, 'cos being reminded is tantamount to torture?

Just thinking out loud.

No reason I ask the question just now.

 

 

Comments

gingeryeti's picture
gingeryeti's picture
gingeryeti Friday, 31 Jul 2020 at 10:12am

I'm supposed to be in Sumbawa now. Cheers COVID.

Bnkref's picture
Bnkref's picture
Bnkref Friday, 31 Jul 2020 at 10:47am

Ouch. I would have been getting to that area this Sunday after already having had a week or two in Indo. Then G-land after Sumbawa for a week.

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Friday, 31 Jul 2020 at 10:55am

So fun looking. The local guys must be pinching themselves.

Having never been to Indo, I'd imagine on a clear day in the distance there, that mountain range would make quite a stunning backdrop.

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Friday, 31 Jul 2020 at 11:04am

Mountains?

You're looking at mountains?

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Friday, 31 Jul 2020 at 11:37am

I'm easily dist...

Look! That dog has a puffy tail!

Island Bay's picture
Island Bay's picture
Island Bay Friday, 31 Jul 2020 at 1:32pm

You just want to chase it for handwarmer material.

Remigogo's picture
Remigogo's picture
Remigogo Friday, 31 Jul 2020 at 9:35pm

Nah.. zenagain has an idea or x2 on how to fill in down time when the yacht is docked alongside the the fishing boats...

mikehunt207's picture
mikehunt207's picture
mikehunt207 Friday, 31 Jul 2020 at 11:04am

Wow, empty lineup! less surfers than when I went there in 1990. Still a couple whiteys in the mix though?, trustfunded Ruskis no doubt, looked like the local lads were having a ball, enjoy the serenity fellas.

Bnkref's picture
Bnkref's picture
Bnkref Friday, 31 Jul 2020 at 11:05am

Yep. I'm happy to see / know that all the locals would be getting their fill without hoards of travellers crowding out spots.

donweather's picture
donweather's picture
donweather Friday, 31 Jul 2020 at 11:07am

Apart from the fact local communities rely on tourism in these locations for income.

Bnkref's picture
Bnkref's picture
Bnkref Friday, 31 Jul 2020 at 11:22am

That's right...

donweather's picture
donweather's picture
donweather Friday, 31 Jul 2020 at 11:05am

Wow. So perfect and just repeatable setup. Every wave is the same. Would be a nightmare take off spot when there’s a crew on it.

radiationrules's picture
radiationrules's picture
radiationrules Friday, 31 Jul 2020 at 11:31am

i left a section of my nose on that reef in 1989. the right at low tide with a bit more swell on it can be willing

ringmaster's picture
ringmaster's picture
ringmaster Friday, 31 Jul 2020 at 12:02pm

Spent the month of May there in 90,91 & 92. The peak and other waves within in walking distance were like that often with low numbers and no fucking 'judges tower' ruining a beautiful seascape.

Used to cost 10,000rp per day at Antons which included 3 big feeds. No local surfers back then either.

memlasurf's picture
memlasurf's picture
memlasurf Friday, 31 Jul 2020 at 3:02pm

Your a sadist Stu.

Thegrowingtrend.com's picture
Thegrowingtrend.com's picture
Thegrowingtrend.com Friday, 31 Jul 2020 at 5:06pm

yep dreamy setup.

gsco's picture
gsco's picture
gsco Friday, 31 Jul 2020 at 5:24pm

Not good for one's mental health health right now I reckon.

But the vibe in the water reminds me of when I was going there in the early to mid 90s.

I remember one year, 95 I believe, scoring perfect, flawless and very big scar reef with only my brother. The rest of the Jelenga Beach surf camp went to supersuck for the day and there was a couple of boats in the channel who just sat there and watched. Still could never work out why to this day.

Anyway, that's my claim to fame of getting empty indo perfection and helps me stay sane watching all this covid footage surfacing...

mickseq's picture
mickseq's picture
mickseq Friday, 31 Jul 2020 at 5:41pm

Been there 5 times and mostly low crowds except once in a March session, periscopes is good and often has no one

tango's picture
tango's picture
tango Friday, 31 Jul 2020 at 10:04pm

Got to say I'm loving all this pro-free raw footage of decent surfers and normal people having a good time. Makes you feel almost there, and wanting to be there.

ringmaster's picture
ringmaster's picture
ringmaster Friday, 31 Jul 2020 at 11:22pm

x 2

clark.andrews88's picture
clark.andrews88's picture
clark.andrews88 Sunday, 2 Aug 2020 at 7:30pm

x3

rooftop's picture
rooftop's picture
rooftop Sunday, 2 Aug 2020 at 8:54pm

x4

OzintheArctic's picture
OzintheArctic's picture
OzintheArctic Saturday, 1 Aug 2020 at 5:25am

How nice to hear the waves as a soundtrack. Why haven’t we thought of that before?
That was the most enjoyable surfvid I’ve seen in about 25years!

batfink's picture
batfink's picture
batfink Saturday, 1 Aug 2020 at 12:30pm

Same Oz. What soundtrack is better than the breeze, water and waves. Had my earphones in and had to take them off thinking the builder next door was watering something down. Sweet, sweet sounds.

Spuddups's picture
Spuddups's picture
Spuddups Saturday, 1 Aug 2020 at 6:58am

Yeah, this guy is on point with his vids.

Island Bay's picture
Island Bay's picture
Island Bay Saturday, 1 Aug 2020 at 7:41am

Surfers of Bali youtube channel is similar.
Here's some nice big Ulus footage. Check Bruno Santos' paddle-in at 1:56.

wax-on-danielson's picture
wax-on-danielson's picture
wax-on-danielson Saturday, 1 Aug 2020 at 8:53am

The authorities said, come home now due to Covid or risk getting stranded where you are. Surfers in Indo were thinking, hmm... stranded sounds good.

lostdoggy's picture
lostdoggy's picture
lostdoggy Saturday, 1 Aug 2020 at 9:04am

Definitely harder to watch for your average swellnetter, me included, than 8ft + nokandui.

batfink's picture
batfink's picture
batfink Saturday, 1 Aug 2020 at 12:31pm

I believe it is good for your mental health Stu. Gives you something to aim for, something to look forward to.

Joshy Moore's picture
Joshy Moore's picture
Joshy Moore Saturday, 1 Aug 2020 at 8:51pm

After months and months (maybe years) of scoring perfect waves to themselves, are we going to expect a greater amount of animosity from locals in these areas when we can finally go back, or will they accept our tourist dollars with open arms? It's going to be an interesting few years in surf travel.

ringmaster's picture
ringmaster's picture
ringmaster Saturday, 1 Aug 2020 at 9:27pm

Pretty sure they'll be happy to take the $$$ for waves again when normal service resumes.

Most Indo surfers only do it in their (relative) youth and have got bigger things to deal with in life once they get to a certain age.

H2O's picture
H2O's picture
H2O Sunday, 2 Aug 2020 at 12:10pm

Def benefit + brings back good memories. Had cobblestones all to myself one morning and same trip stood on the reef at low tide one evening and watched Parko and Andy Irons put on a tube riding masterclass at the Peak

Island Bay's picture
Island Bay's picture
Island Bay Sunday, 2 Aug 2020 at 12:55pm

I miss Lakeys. Pre-dawn walks; big lefts on draining arvo tides; sneaky Peak sessions.

goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot Sunday, 2 Aug 2020 at 2:18pm

Went there once for a couple of weeks and the crowd was that bad I’ve never had the slightest interest in going again.

Island Bay's picture
Island Bay's picture
Island Bay Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 11:41am

Sorry to hear it, GF.

I've spent a lot of time there, and have my little routines: times and places to avoid, etc. Always have a good time.

views from the cockpit's picture
views from the cockpit's picture
views from the ... Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 6:55am

Saw about 15 boards snapped in 3 days there including mine around Feb one year.
Early 90's.
Swell was raw and nothing like this.
Beautiful island but noisy dogs.

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 8:39am

Did they have puffy tails?

Bnkref's picture
Bnkref's picture
Bnkref Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 11:41am

Those dogs can get a bit feral. They were okay most of the time but I got circled by a pack when I was walking back up the beach from surfing LP. All going nuts for some reason. Happened to a few other crew too.

Spuddups's picture
Spuddups's picture
Spuddups Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 12:44pm

Do you guys remember, mid 90’s, the local guy with the dodgy old motorbike and the leather jacket + shades? Called himself “Mr. Fuck”. Only in Indo aye.
Did a heap of trips there in the 90’s. would love to go back some time. Off-season 95-96 was good. Uncrowded with good winds.

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 1:13pm

Short guy, dark hair, brown eyes?

Any relation to Mr. Plow?

goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 1:30pm

Brother of Mr You I think

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 1:37pm

Chinese?

Spuddups's picture
Spuddups's picture
Spuddups Monday, 3 Aug 2020 at 3:03pm

I have a photo of the guy somewhere. I think he was from Dompu, so a local. Quite a character aye.