South Mentawai · Indonesia
Surfing Thunders
A left & right reef in South Mentawai, Indonesia, for advanced surfers.
Thunders is a heavy left on the South Pagai reef. From the boat you can hear the sets break, and on the wave you get long, powerful walls that need a lot of stamina.
It picks up more swell than anywhere else in the south. When other spots are small, Thunders is often still overhead. Sections keep coming, with room for turns and barrels when the tide is right. NE winds clean it up, and it works from 4ft to 10ft.
You can only reach it by boat, so the lineup is usually just the people on your boat and one or two others. Bring a step-up.
When to surf
Thunders
Thunders is at its best from April to October. Conditions it likes: S-SW swell, NE wind.
April to May: Good
Fewer boats and good swell
June to August: Prime
Peak season: maximum swell, maximum boats, book long ahead
September to October: Prime
Still good swell, fewer boats
November to March: Quiet
Small season: playful sizes, big discounts, empty lineups
The year across Mentawai Islands
Waves near Thunders
Greenbush
33 kmSouth Mentawai · Left Reef · Pro
Macaronis
41 kmSouth Mentawai · Left Reef · Intermediate / Advanced / Pro
Lance's Right (HT's)
84 kmSouth Mentawai · Right Reef · Advanced / Pro
Straight-line distances. By road it is usually further.
Getting there
Where to stay: The south splits into two hubs: Katiet under Lance's Right/HT's, and Macaronis' resort-and-anchorage bay on Pagai. All stays are full-board with transfers arranged from Tuapejat's ferry. Cash only south of Tuapejat, bring more rupiah than you think you need. Known places: Hollow Tree's Resort sits on Katiet beach with Lance's Right (HT's) in front and Lance's Left a short walk away, and Macaronis Resort is on the bay at Macaronis on North Pagai.
Transport, costs, where to stay and the rest of the waves in the area are in the South Mentawai guide.
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