Less than 24 hours after winning what is widely believed to be the world’s most iconic surfing event, ‘The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational’ champion Luke Shepardson was back at his day job, saving lives.
One of the reasons we love surfing is because it breeds people like this. Humble, stoked, committed, respectful of community, just living to be the ocean.
Great interview by KHON2 News
This vídeo is a combination of the best waves that I had in 2022. It shows a little bit of how was my first trip to Indonésia and some heavy sessions I had in Praia do Norte. Pedro Calado
Editi: Guilherme Delarue
Is there anything better than a surf charter in the Maldives with your mates?
Surf, snorkel and island hop your way around the atolls onboard Island Hop Maldives newly refit 90’ Handhu. For a fraction of the cost of a surf resort package, there is no better way to see and experience the real Maldives than onboard a boat. Island Hop Maldives is the latest venture by Shaun Levings; one of the pioneers of Maldives surf tourism: “Our crew have vast surf charter experience and will go that extra mile to ensure you wake up at the best surf spots to suit your group needs.”
Read on for full information on this surf trip to paradise …
The Boat
The 90’ Handhu motor cruiser has been refit inside and out and caters for groups of up to 12 guests in absolute comfort with 6 private cabins, spacious relaxation areas and massive deck space. Brand new 450hp engine fit in 2022 with cruising speed of 10 knots.
Surf Spots
You can choose to surf the Male’ atolls which offer a dozen breaks within 3 hours of the international airport or venture future to the Central Atolls to experience remote reef breaks in 4 different atolls with a variety of lefts and rights from long peelers to mechanical barrels.
The Maldives surf is highly regarded as the most user friendly on the planet with something for everyone. Deep water takeoffs at most places without the fear of scraping yourself off dry reef. Expect biggest swells during May-Aug period, mid range swells in April & Sept and smaller swells in Feb, Mar, Oct and Nov.
Accommodation and Food
Enjoy a vast selection of dishes catering to all tastes and dietary requirements. The onboard chef ‘Gopal’ has a knack for sourcing the freshest produce available and will even offer a cooking class during the trip. If you catch a big fish then Gopal will be down on the aft deck in no time and fresh sashimi will be served soon after.
Being a bespoke custom trip, expect your favourite drinks (beer, wine, spirits, non-alcoholic etc.), to be stocked in advance, to suit your group needs. Plus nightly dinner parties with your favourite people.
Who this is best suited for?
In the prime time season from Apr-Sep, it is advised that you should be a high intermediate or above in your surfing capabilities due to the larger swells. Although some smaller protected options can be found if the swell size is too big for the group surf level.
For early and late season, Feb-Mar & Oct-Nov low level surfers will find some really fun conditions, ideal for longboarders and family trips.
Booking:
Flights to Male’ operate from most UK and EU capital cities using Emirates, Qatar and other airlines.
The Handhu can be chartered for any duration from 5 to 30 days depending on your needs and budget.
Operating as a private group charters only, with exclusive use of Handhu for groups of any size to maximum 12 guests in 6 x double/twin cabins.
Click here for prices, deals and to book your surf trip in paradise.
Created by brothers Sky Shaw and Travis Shaw. A short stint back home found Travis and Sky putting their heads together to bring you ‘Sithech’. They spent three months surfing and filming in the north east of England and The Scottish highlands.
With Sky being in Australia for the past two and a half years through the pandemic the duo were reunited late 2022.
Pat charging Wiamea in the 50s, heavy gun, no leash… Imagine…
Pat Curren , one of surfings most enigmatic characters has passed away. He was 90.
Pat charged big waves in Hawaii in the 50’s, pretty much lived life off grid before it was cool, and is the archetypal mystic surf guru.
He is the father of Tom and Joe Curren and grand father to a bunch of charging grandchildren such as Lee Ann Curren.
In the 60s his big-wave boards were considered the best in the world. In 2021 one he had shaped sold for $26,000 + commission!
Proper surfing legend.
Thoughts are with his family.
A playground to a very select few, the Banzai Pipeline can take you from hero, to zero in a split second. Not much beats backlit Pipe, hit the link for all the drone action from the North Shore.
