{"id":114171,"date":"2025-02-11T06:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-10T19:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tracksmag.com.au\/?p=114171"},"modified":"2025-02-10T14:37:31","modified_gmt":"2025-02-10T03:37:31","slug":"postcard-hidden-bay-mentawai-islands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tracksmag.com.au\/postcard-hidden-bay-mentawai-islands","title":{"rendered":"Postcard: Hidden Bay, Mentawai Islands"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s 5:30 am when I descend the stairs of my lofted cabin. A bright, half-moon still hangs from the sky, but the faint glow of the creeping dawn is already stealing the lustre of the stars. Ambling along a sand track, neatly bound by parallel lines of coconut husks, I pass the roughly made shacks of the local families. Here on Masokut Island in the Mentawai chain, they make a living; fishing, processing cloves for Gudang cigarettes and trading coconuts. Of course, since the early 2000\u2019s surfing has become an important player in the local economy.     <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I squint towards the waves rumbling across the reefs on the lagoon\u2019s outer edge. It\u2019s too early to really see what the swell is doing, and I wonder what hollow treasures the day will bring.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The track leads to the main \u2018Uma\u2019 (Indonesian house), which serves as the epicentre of activity at Hidden Bay, Resort.<\/a> \u00a0This super-sized version of the UMA is three stories high and features sturdy, log pillars, smooth wooden floorboards that feel the contours of your feet, and a traditional thatch-weave in the roof. It\u2019s grand designs Indonesian style. \u00a0\u201cI built it from scratch,\u201d Alex, the resort\u2019s owner had boasted with a proud smile peeling across his sun-bronzed face.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Grand Designs, Indo style at the Hidden Bay’s central Uma. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When I reach the Uma\u2019s main deck, the resort is already rumbling to life in anticipation of the forecasted waves. Alex strikes the large gong hanging from a rafter to signal it\u2019s time to mobilise. Nine of the guests are prodigious grommets competing in a barrel riding event. A tube duel in the tropics where the best, hollow ride wins.\u00a0As Alex whacks the gong with wide-grinning pleasure, the wave warriors scramble to get ready, appearing on the deck with a favoured ride under the arm and a pair of boardshorts in the other.\u00a0

Scott, the bearded, spartan trainer leads us through a ten-minute warm-up routine before we snatch at fruit, coffee and crackers and load our gear onto the surf boats. Breakfast can wait when the waves are on. Soon the bow of our narrow, wooden boat is spearing through the cross-chop; the whirring acoustics of the engine delivering a familiar soundtrack to the daily wave hunting ritual. Anticipation runs high on the smell of diesel.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A daily stretch and mobility session helps you get the most out of your surfing when you are spending hours in the water. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Fifteen minutes later we arrive in the channel at No-Kandui. A single, roping swell grips the top of the reef, before funnelling down the shelf at unfathomable speed. The curling wave bends and breathes as it sprints across the shallows, challenging any contender to try and keep up. Our crew are more than willing, leaping overboard to beat the crowds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A side-long glance at Kandui doing its thing. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Walsh is the first to stroke into one. He chases down a gleaming blue wall like a shark pursuing a fish, every part of his movement is purposeful, refined and predatory. A Go Pro camera is gripped between his teeth as he slides into the tube. He\u2019s built a career around being a hollow wave specialist who invites viewers to explore the inner-most limits with his POV, camera trickery. A day ago, he\u2019d told me he\u2019d been inspired by George Greenough\u2019s groundbreaking inside-the-barrel footage from Crystal Voyager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n