Sumatran Score: Aussie Stylists Take On The Telos Islands

As an aging freelance surf creative, seeing out the creeping shadows of my post-mag-making career, I’ve been lucky to connect with a great crew out in Sumatra’s Telo Islands who are putting together a deluxe little resort – help ’em out with their branding, comms and what have you. The logistics of such a build in a far flung region are always interesting, and it’s been wild to see the place really start to come together.

One of the key aspects of any Indo setup is the marine ops, and so when Tanah Mympi took delivery of its first surf transfer vessel – a 38-foot, 650 horsepower magic carpet – we thought we’d get few surfers over from Oz and put the craft through its paces. Perhaps not the most cost-efficient initiative in the history of surf travel, but bugger it, sometimes you just have to go surfing with mates.

Tanah Mympi’s little blue boat delivered the crew to 17 spots in ten days. What follows is the team’s recollection of the trip’s most memorable session, a mercurial and elusive gem that need not be named.

Lungi Slabb: Epic Tube Wizard Fella

Staying on that island, jumping on that boat and surfing multiple waves was just incredible. I’d never actually been in a boat like that before, you’re pretty much on a house. If I had to describe the waves in three words, I’d have to say to say Playful, Perfect, and just Crystal Clear Blue. A hundred percent I’d go back and take that any day of the week.

Coco Cairns: Spirited Hi-Perf Free-Surf  Lass

It was one of those times when you turn up, see the first empty set, and everyone goes into mad panic mode: wax, sunscreen, anchor… we were all out the back within five minutes.They were the most perfect barrels I’ve ever seen with no one out. Lungi got the first wave and I thought it was the wave of the day, but they just kept coming! Because it was so long, you’d be paddling back out and keep turning for empty waves. Once you had your line, they were almost impossible not to make.I remember seeing Luca paddling over one of the waves I was in, and us just laughing at each other. It was so sick to watch my best friends get perfect barrels.

Micah Margieson: Laid-Back Power Fella

That session was up there for the best waves I’ve had in the last few years for sure. Be stoked to get back there one day and score it again, but I know it’s pretty rare. Though it was barrels, for turns it was fun to play around with all the speed you get on the wave. It’s funny, I couldn’t tell you how long we surfed for, but that’s not a bad thing right? Losing track of time’s always a good feeling.

Luca Doble: Notable Noosa Longboard Lass

It’s something I’ll never forget. Waves can’t really get any better. Coco and I just looked at each other and be like, “How is this real?” My backhand tube riding evolved a bit through that session. I got rolled a few times, but that’s part of it, you just have to laugh at yourself. It was fun to get outside of my comfort zone. The mid-length was sick. I’d gotten way too comfortable on my log so it was unreal to get the feel for something different on waves like that. It was sick to watch everyone get barrel after barrel. I saw one of Coco on the inside that was genuinely crazy. Lungi was getting so deep you couldn’t even see him half the time. A surreal day.

Kyron Rathbone: Freediving Artisanal Charger Fella

I spent a month out in the Telos recently, working on an eagle carving for Tanah Mympi. It’s a big bugger, almost a five-meter wingspan, and it was sick to work on it while the real things circled overhead. I’d been there for a few weeks, getting waves, diving, fishing and foiling the island left. When Shieldsy came over with the crew, the surfing ramped up. 

This session was some of the most flawless waves I’ve ever laid eyes on … I remember paddling back out and seeing Sheldon get one of the deepest barrels of the day. He rode over the shockwave three times, stayed shacked behind the foamball the whole way. It was just wizardry.

Everyone was getting barrelled, but Luca stole the show in the most unexpected way. She was threading her mid-length, pig-dogging with both hands and slipping through these silky little tubes. It was pure style – grace meeting guts.

The vibe in the water was electric, joyful, completely wide-eyed. Everyone was just trying to take it all in. I love Fiji, but scoring proper barrels there takes serious luck and hustle. Out here, though … you could’ve surfed blindfolded and still come out grinning.

Sheldon Simkus: Snapper Royalty Fella

Getting to surf this spot – a wave I’ve wanted to get on for so many years – was the cherry on top of an epic trip. A great group of humans, taking turns getting long barrels over reef. I won’t forget that session any time soon. Eleven out of ten from me. I’ve been right into shooting POV lately. It’s rewarding to get feedback from people trying to get more barrelled, and nice to hear from people who wish they could get themselves into those scenarios. It’s cool to share that feeling.