Barrel Fest Continues
We have had the most insane run of surf this past week, all at Teahupoo. Andy and I have been doing two sessions a day, with the surf being 3-4 foot with well overhead sets. Sheet glass, no wind, just perfect barrels reeling down the reef. And, get this, NO ONE ELSE OUT. Teahupoo has developed a weird anomaly: On the really big days, predicted well in advance, there will be a few crews of chargers out. But as soon as the swell drops these guys disappear. Teahupoo does hot have a dedicated daily local crew like on many of the "easier" waves further down. Also, as with most of the waves, you need a tinny to get out there or face a fairly long endurance paddle out to the pass. And as we have come to realize this past week, small to medium Teahupoo is a world class wave. Crisp barrels, whackable sections and it only gets too shallow right at the end of the wave. Even the really small shoulder high one's are fully surfable, we surfed it the whole week, even today, with absolutely no swell on the charts, there are some fun head high waves with no-one on it. Another factor with the crowds is that there are just so many other waves in the area, immediately north and south of Teahupoo. Not only on the reef passes, but also on sections of the fringing reef which has a few interesting corners, especially when the swell is small. Teahupoo also has such a "heavy" reputation that it does not really attract your joe-average traveling surfer... So its perceived to be too heavy for travelers, it has almost no local crew, and it only gets crowded on the really big days.... That leaves 100's of smaller days with no-one. STOKED!
We have shimmi anchored at 17deg51.571S and 149deg15.093W. Its basically at the back of the Teahupoo reef pass, in the lagoon behind the judges tower. From the back of shimmi we have a nice front-on binocs view of Teahupoo, its kiff cause we can constantly monitor the crowd and be on it when it thins out. The area here is just mind-blowingly beautiful: emerald green mountains in the shape of giant pyramids, streams full of lillys, crystal clear water, the tranquility of these endless blue lagoons, the white surf crashing out on the coral reef. At the back of the Teahupoo basin is a little perfect A-frame beach break, Josh has caught about a 1000 of these waves, i push him in on Chantal's mini mal. In the late afternoon we go for a stroll along the waterfront, there is a small headland where all the homes have massive green lawns and trees rolling down to the lagoon, Indie finally gets a chance to stretch his legs and RUN INDIE RUN!!!!!
Finally, yesterday Chantal paddled out at Teahupoo and caught a hand full of waves!!! Yes, you read right, Chantal charged Teahupoo.
This weekend a massive swell is supposed to hit, it may be a tow situation. Will keep you posted,
Au revoir
G
