> Fabio Pagen in the dream room > Purchase Image

The Mentawai Islands are a surfer’s paradise. Sitting about 80 nautical miles west of Sumatra, the Ments are home to some of the most consistent and varied surf on the planet. The water is wee warm and the Bintangs are icy cold – a gold spot to maintain with your mates.

	> Green Dream > Purchase Image

	> Pitstop Hill boss, Paul Clarke on a bomb > Purchase Image

The most common way to do the Mentawais is on a charter boat but there is an increasing number of buffed-out, land-based surf camps that are strategically located to maximise your water time.

	> Solid left a stones throw from the Hill > Purchase Image

The boys at Pitstop Hill have a great land setup. The beautifully finished guest house, complete with bar and banging stereo, overlooks a super fun righthander and is only a short paddle from a full throttle lefthander which gave us a real taste of Mentawai gold during our stay.

	> Paul Clarke in the eye of the beast > Purchase Image

	> Grinding Pit > Purchase Image

	> The epic Pitstop Hill setup > Purchase Image

	> Puja with a solid catch > Purchase Image

	> Out the front of Pitstop Hill > Purchase Image

We surfed heaps of other fun waves in the Playground area, often with no one around.

	> Macking Bankvaults > Purchase Image

	> Banking off the bottom of a solid one > Purchase Image

The Mentawais really tunes up your surfing. Smashing out 3 or 4 surfs per day in a variety of waves…yew!

	> Not a drop out of place > Purchase Image

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