VUVUZELAS, WHISKY and a BLOODY GOOD SUP!
As told by Chris, Conn & Greg Bertish & mates.
Pics by Chris, Conn & Greg Bertish & mates.
The Bertish Brothers invited some good mates to join them on an epic Surf & SUP Adventure….. this is their story.
Our crew SUP Crew consisted of a handpicked bunch of 30 & 40 something year olds….
by Greg
Francois “the Pharnasy” Finlay
Local Break: Muizenberg, Glen Beach, the world…..
Natural footer ex Kneelo), avid SUP rider, and new master of double over head waves on his back hand, with a newly learned and brilliantly choreographed grab rail barrel riding technique.
Broken boards: 1 Surfboard/ Coral lacerations to SUP
Injuries: cuts and lacerations to extremities and screech’s of pure fear were seen and heard on one or two of the larger days.
International man of mystery, supreme triathlete, Supplier of daily required anti inflammatory pills and lotions, sleeping tablets and other interesting doping supplements.
Sponsored by Jungle Oats- or at least a great advert for its Energy giving properties. Fran caught more waves than all of us put together and probably spent an average of 8 hrs in the water each day on his SUP and surfboard.
Paul “Ene -ma ” Stafford
Goofy footer
Local Break: Hout Bay corner
Broken boards: None – pure style
Injuries: rib abrasions, lacerated foot
Indo veteran and master of any reeling lefthander. This guy has ridden and charged them all; G Land, dessert Point, Flameballs and more. Missioned thru SE Indo in the late 90, s on his own little Indo boat. Inventor of the neoprene anti chaff band and the DIY self enema.
Greg “Croc” Bertish
Local Break: west is best
Goofy footer
Boards broken : 1 surfboard/ Coral Punctures to SUP
Injuries: lacerations to digits & a back spasm or 3.
Owner/ founder of True Blue Travel. Back in the Mentawai’s after stints in other parts of Indo and Africa. Loved the lefts, got some barrels that counted, and rode a few beasts on the SUP. Loved his Bintangs, the Vuvuzela and the banana pancakes.
Conn “koen” Bertish
Local Break: Outer Undies Reef
Natural footer
Boards broken : 2 surfboards/ No SUP
Injuries: lacerations to digits
Maybe the longest barrel of the trip? 15 to 18 frames of barrel time…… = a solid 7 sec Barrel. Not bad for a dad and stressed ad Guru and artist with international acclaim. Conn got stuck in and went hard. Supplied the Vuvuzelas, blew the vuvuzelas and drank bintangs thru the vuvuzelas.
Chris “Chrispy” Bertish
Local Break: Newly KOM Skom, but seen at Muizenberg more and more
Natural footer
Boards broken : 1 Surfboard/ 1 Shredded SUP
Injuries: Lacerations to lims
Hell charger of note, 2010 Mavericks winner and an inspiration in the water…… deeper , faster and further…Chris was on Fire. Although reports of some serious coral head dancing were reported at times. Supplied the Cigars and worked the Jack Daniels when needed. He will be back for more…. For sure!
Dawnies By Conn
Aah there’s nothing better than the smell of pancakes in the morning. Cookie, our indo cook was up before the sun, before the first paddle out, before the first empty tube whooped down the line. And fresh from the morning surf he would greet you, armed with steaming plate, syrup and know it all smile. Banana pancakes have never tasted so good.
Sups on board by Conn
The sups were a great distraction. After surfing for 6 hours and lounging on the rocking boat for a couple more, the sups were a refreshing alternative surf craft that kept things really interesting. A sharp and shallow coral reef and wayward 6 to 8 ft sets had the adrenalin flowing - getting caught inside was not really something anyone wanted to go through, though some of us did: ripped out fins, ripped up calves, knees and hands were often the result as your 8ft beast dragged you helplessly across the coral shelf. But wave quantity on a sup was insane, almost too easy, perfect wave after wave after wave. We also used them as beach and fishing craft, bailing off the boat to paddle to a uninhabited island or heading off on your own to go fishing or ruminating on the beauty of what was all around us. The sups were a real addition to the trip and gave our boat a kind of Swiss Army knife quality : packed with different alternatives eager and available to experience the wide range of surf spots and conditions. They were a good addition to our bulging quiver of 27 boards.
Island SUPing- By Chris
I believe every place needs the necessary tools for the job.
Sups are a great vehicle for exploring the islands, the coves paddling around on your own steam, and to escape from the confines of the boat and people, to explore and to Ride!
There were many days where the waves were perfect and my arms were too tired to paddle out again after 6 hrs of surfing. So Id hop on my SUP and take the easy way out, and catch 20 perfect waves in an hour.
There are also less know islands and softer waves that don't even get surfed, and we found one. SUP Island by True Blue Travel… it is spectacular! No one for miles, a perfect righthander one side and a left the other. Both with 300 meter rides, and both deposit you on a coconut strewn beach. Insanely beautiful and out there. If you can…. And you all can… make it your lifes ambition to get there or somewhere similar and more budget friendly, like Madagascar. It really is priceless!
SUP and SURF by FrancoisLances left is the perfect playground for the Sup and surfer to try co-exist in a non pure sense and why to take both SUP and surfboard to the Mentawai’s
Lances left has a relatively clearly defined take-off zone with amazing barrel opportunities and an inside section that serves 2-3 foot mini –perfection
The reef has enough punch to stress about getting caught inside but none of the fear factor attached to HT’s and Bankvaults etc. All the broken boards we saw at Lances were a result of bailing boards when caught inside – Marty’s previous nights Stilnox overdose still kicking in
The lack of the ability of the SUP to duck-dive and its general bulkiness means it has no place on the main peak– it can only lead to tears and heated debates – this is where the surfer must dominate and the SUP has no place
Lances consistent inside is SUP perfection without surfers appeal – the logic that played itself out in reality was; why take 1-3 foot inside with a chance of proper getting caught inside and punished when you can have 6 to 8 foot main peak barrelling perfection. The ability of the SUP to see waves from afar and the consistent take-off zone means SUP’ers have plenty of time to vacate the zone – with only Chris taking a 8 wave set SUP beating where I heard him say ” Mommy help me” twice and he got to experience dry land and the bite of the coral.
At one time with only 4 surfers on the main peak and 1 SUPer on the inside the waves count for the SUP’er was 8-1, and the type of waves that you just don’t get in Cape Town on a SUP
The other joy of Lances left is the boats park so close to the waves surfers also get to experience the joy of watching a Sup get punished – Australians seem to have specialised in this past-time and applauded loudly when one of us got beaten.
Vuvus By Conn
We took a few vuvuzelas along to announce our arrival at every new spot. Solid tubes and outside sets were heralded by the baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrp baaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrp of our proudly saffa boat. To be ridiing an empty perfect wave in paradise with your bros blasting the vuvuzela for every tube or gauge was pretty fucking special, so was seeing the irritation on the faces of the few seppos or ozzies seen flapping around the occasional line-up. The Oom would have been proud.
Just do it! By Chris
Clear your schedule, rent out the kids, bribe the wife, quit work if you have to, but this kind of a trip is a once in a lifetime.
Do it, every surfer owes it to themselves to make it happen, it's what makes you a SUPer. Dream it, book it, go, surf, chill, unwind, relax, reflect and you'll never be the same again...Somethings in life you just have to do. This is one of them, believe me, it'll change your world forever, as paradise is only an Ocean away!
Book this Boat, this Skipper for 2012 – It is the BEST SURF CHARTER in The MENTAWAI by far!
2012 Early bird deal – Groups of 8.
The group leader gets a FREE flight
OR How about a similar SUP Holiday to Madagascar – Its closer, easier, less crowded and cheaper!
10 Days from R14900 all in- Book now for 2012
With True Blue: The group leaders get a FREE SAFARI Surfboard valued at R3400
All group get 10% OFF Safari boards, 25% off Hurley Phantom Shorts, 15% off surf accessories at Sport n Surf
Contact greg@truebluetravel.co.za for more info and pics.
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