I'll be heading to the Maldives the 1st week in Oct and was trying to figure out what boards to bring (especially should I bring a step up) Has anyone been there that time of year? Are there things I should know that aren't necessarily posted online? or any other helpful tips would be appreciated.
I was there in late sept two years ago. Didn't really get over waist to chest high, but I didnt leave the resort area I was at. Place I was at had rentals (did the research before) - rode a firewire quad fish and an aloha thruster (6'0 maybe). Dont know if you are on a boat trip or on a surf reosrt or other resort, but some of the main resorts do charge daily for access -- cant just paddle out. if you need more info id be glad to share.
Thanks man. I'm on a boat. (the Manta) Everything I've read online pretty much says that there are a variety of waves and such and make it seem like most spots there are pretty soft but I'm assuming they say this to not scare people into thinking the waves will be to much for the average surfer. Not that I'm a pro but if presented with the opportunity to score some plus size waves I want to make sure I have the right gear, but if it's not needed I would rather not risk bringing an extra board I won't need.
First off, IM INSANELY JEALOUS!!! Now that we have that out of the way, I think NJSurfer42 has been to the maldives before so he can probably offer some insight. I did the mentawais 2 years ago around the same time: late september into early october. the swell window is similar, but i think the mentawais gets a little bigger. for the most part i ended up just riding a round tail shortboard. I did bring a step up with me and used that for almost two full days at two different points along the trip when it got to be over 8' or so and felt like i needed the extra volume. I brought a total of 3 boards - 2 shortboards and one stepup. Gonna be the best trip of your life. I still think about it all the time.
That's pretty much what I thought, I'm definitely bringing my 6'2 CI semi pro and my 6'2 mini driver quad what I'm not sure of is to bring a groveler or a step up I'm sure the forecast a couple days before will make that decision more clear. I was more just kind of wondering if there are spots there that have the potential to require a step up.
Mentawais are generally alot heavier and meatier than what you will find in Maldives, especially in the dry season. How is October in the Maldives? If it's not their peak season I would leave the stepup at home.
I think you need to also ask yourself if you really want to be throwing yourself over the ledge on a bigger shallow fast breaking reef break as well. It takes alot of skill and committment, no matter what board you are on. You might want to go find those "variety waves" depending on what you encounter on some days.
Agreed. I have surfed some pretty heavy reef breaks in PR and Barbados before and have no problem admitting I was definitely a little scared but my biggest fear would be to travel half way around the world roll up on a spot that is firing and realize that my 6'2 isn't going to cut it, so I was just wondering if there are spots there that hold and would require a step up.
from what i understand, oct. isn't really prime time for surf in the maldives. sjerz is correct, i've been there before, but that was in mid-august. it gets good, really good there...the weeks preceding my trip saw 2 of the largest swells ever recorded there & a guy got off the boat i was getting onto w/ an empty boardbag...he'd broken all 4 boards he'd brought w/ him. when i was there, it never really dipped below head high or so & didn't get bigger than DOH, but it was VERY user friendly. i wouldn't necessarily call it soft, but it wasn't hollow, dredging death pits, either. i took 2 standard shorties & a step-up. i rode all 3, but my back up only saw water time on the last day when i put my elbow through the rail of my go-to board at chicken's (pretty much my favorite wave, EVER) & i only rode my step-up once, at sultan's early in the trip. it's very possible to do this trip w/ just 2 standard hpsbs. like i said, never been in oct, but i have been. pm if you've got any other ?'s. i'm terribly jealous...i'd love to go back there if i could afford it.
Great advise. Thanks for sharing. Thinking about the trip is the only thing keeping me sane through the seemingly endless flat spell we've had this summer.
Was there this past May. Agreed with pretty much all above... it's probably a good idea to bring a step up, but there's nowhere that gets really super heavy shallow or anything. Most of the reefs there are flat with no gnarly coral head sticking up or anything too. Had a couple head high plus days there but no massive swell for my trip. Sultan's is insane. You are gonna have a blast.
