Surfing Playgrounds (North)

Left Reef · Best Apr-Oct · 4-10 ft · Crowd 3/5

SW swell, SE-E wind

Kandui Left is a very fast left barrel on the Karangmajat reef in the north Mentawais. It runs for hundreds of metres, and you have to pump hard just to stay in the barrel.

Even the best surfers in the world rate it as one of the hardest barrels to make from start to finish. Most rides end partway through, and those are still very good waves.

It needs 4-8ft of SW swell, SE-E winds and enough tide to cover the coral. The takeoff zone is small and the resort and charter crowd is very good, so the rotation moves quickly. Bring booties and spare boards. It's the reason many boats come to this part of the islands.

Right Reef · Best Apr-Oct · 4-10 ft · Crowd 3/5

SW swell, S-SE wind

Rifles is a right on the Karangmajat reef, across from Kandui Left. On its day it's one of the best rights in Indonesia, with barrel sections one after another all the way down the reef.

The waves crack down the line fast, and rides can be very long when a clean SW swell comes in with S/SE winds and the right tide. It's slightly easier than Kandui and holds size well, so every regular-footer in the area heads here when the forecast is right.

Sit at the top peak, watch a couple of sets first and don't go for every wave. Resort boats and charters take turns, so the lineup is busy but well organised.

Left Reef · Best Apr-Oct · 3-8 ft · Crowd 3/5

SW swell, N-NE wind

E-Bay is a hollow left off the reef at Nyang Nyang island in the north Mentawais. It barrels from the peak, opens into a wall for turns and then barrels again on the inside, over reef with enough water.

It's one of the most consistent waves in the area. It works in N-NE winds that ruin the other spots, picks up smaller swells and goes from 3ft to 8ft. Charter crews count on it when nothing else is working.

It's the place where advanced surfers get Mentawai barrels without the speed of Kandui. Boats anchor in the channel close to the wave. Everyday shortboard, step-up when the swell is bigger.

Left Reef · Best Apr-Oct · 3-8 ft · Crowd 2/5

SW swell, SE wind

Hideaways is a hollow left in the Playgrounds area of the Mentawai Islands. It comes out of deep water, hits a shallow section of reef and throws a barrel towards the channel.

It's one of the few waves here that handles south winds, so it works when other spots are blown out. At low tide it gets very shallow, so mid tide is safer. It's for intermediate surfers and above who are comfortable on reef.

Charters and resorts in Playgrounds reach it by small boat. Take a step-up when the swell is big.

Right Reef · Best Apr-Oct · 4-10 ft · Crowd 2/5

SW swell, S-SE wind

Bank Vaults is a thick right over a shallow shelf in the north Mentawais that handles big swells. When the forecast shows 8-10ft and the lighter waves close out, this reef starts to work.

The peak is steep and moves around, and the barrel throws wide and lands hard on the shelf. Even at double overhead it can be ridden, but only by surfers used to big waves and with a strong paddle.

South in the swell helps it bend in, and S-SE winds clean it up. Keep an eye on the tide. Charters anchor wide and take surfers to the takeoff by dinghy. Take a proper step-up, 6'6" or longer for most people.

Left Reef · Best Apr-Oct · 3-6 ft · Crowd 2/5

SW swell, SE wind

Beng Bengs is a left in the Playgrounds area with rampy, forgiving walls over reef that isn't too shallow. It's a wave for turns and airs rather than barrels.

After a morning at Kandui or Bank Vaults, many crews come here to relax. It works at 3-6ft with soft shoulders, and it's often working on smaller swells when the heavier waves are too small.

It's where intermediate and advanced surfers on a charter get to surf a proper Mentawai wave instead of watching from the boat. It handles NE winds as well. Take the shortboard you turn best on.

Right Reef · Best Apr-Oct · 3-6 ft · Crowd 2/5

SW swell, S wind

Nipussi is a short right next to Bank Vaults. It's about 50 metres of wave: a wedging peak that jumps up suddenly, one pump and an end bowl for a big turn or a quick barrel.

Small swells of 3-4ft that barely move the bigger reefs arrive here with some power, so it's a good option on small days or between sessions. Rides are short, but you catch a lot of waves.

The takeoff is tight, so sit off the visible boil and take your turn. The inside is shallower than it looks. It likes south winds and works on most tides. Standard shortboard.

Right Reef · Best Apr-Oct · 3-6 ft · Crowd 2/5

SW swell, SE-S wind

Pitstops is a right across the channel from E-Bay. Charters used to stop here between the better-known waves, and plenty of crews end up staying.

It has clean walls in sections and gets hollow at lower tides: a drop at the peak, a middle section for turns and an inside that barrels. At 3-6ft on SE-S winds it's reliable, with consistent takeoffs and enough water over the reef.

With E-Bay two minutes away, you have a left and a right from the same anchorage. Mornings are glassy, and it handles afternoon wind better than the passes. Everyday shortboard.