Nias, Simeulue are the world's 'final frontier' for surfers<\/p>\n
Agence France-Presse, Nias Island<\/p>\n
Isolated, beautiful and with some of the world's mightiest waves,
\nNias and Simeulue -- the islands hit by this week's massive
\nearthquake -- are a haven for intrepid surfers.<\/p>\n
Even the logistical hurdles of getting a surfboard to the out-
\nof the way coral-fringed isles is no deterrent to the hardened
\nbeach bums who consider the destination one of the world's
\nultimate surfing experiences.<\/p>\n
\"It is the final frontier for us,\" Australian Brian Williams,
\n36, who has been traveling to the islands with his surfing
\nbuddies for more than a decade, said by satellite phone from a
\nplane en route to the islands.<\/p>\n
Situated about 125 kilometers off the west coast of northern
\nSumatra island, Nias is fabled among surf-eratti for the Holy
\nGrail of boardsmanship, the \"right-hand surf break\" -- a wave
\nformation that only happens when a specific combination of
\nclimate, geography and tidal movements occur.<\/p>\n
So associated is the island with the wave type that the
\nformation has been named a Nias, according to Hong Kong-based
\nsurfer Mark Caldwell.<\/p>\n
\"The islands are the epitome of what surfers want in a spot --
\nisolation, beautiful palm-fringed beaches and fantastic surf,\"
\nthe 44-year old South African corporate editorial writer told
\nAFP.<\/p>\n
Nias has held a fascination for Western tourists since the
\n19th century when European anthropologists were drawn by tales of
\nheadhunters and human sacrifice among its primitive population.<\/p>\n
The largest of the group of islands that are home to the
\nMentawai people, it is etched in volcanic rock, the product of
\nthe violent tectonic activity that has marked its geographical
\nhistory.<\/p>\n
The remnants of its ancient cultures remain dotted around the
\nisland in the form of huge ritualistic standing stones.<\/p>\n
Since the 1970s, however, surfers have provided the lion's
\nshare of the tourist income.<\/p>\n
According to the Lonely Planet guide, some 90 percent of all
\ntravellers arrive armed with surfboards. Most head for Lagundri
\nBay, where the famous ocean rollers crash into the pristine white
\nbay.<\/p>\n
\"It is very undeveloped commercially and the surfers are all
\nthat you will see apart from local people,\" said Williams, who
\nruns a surf resort on Simeulue, north of Nias.<\/p>\n
According to surfer legend, three Australian devotees first
\ndiscovered it in 1975 and kept it secret until a spate of films,
\none of them The Forgotten Island of Santosha, alerted wave riders
\nto its presence.<\/p>\n
Monday night's quake caused major damage on Nias and killed an
\nestimated 1,000 people, just as it was pulling itself back
\ntogether after December's tsunami which claimed some 300 people
\nthere.<\/p>\n
Surfing charity Surfaid was instrumental in getting relief aid
\nto some of the more isolated isles of the nearby Mentawai
\nislands. Surfers have even been credited with saving lives in
\nNias during the tsunami.<\/p>\n
Williams' resort on Simeulue was spared the ferocity of the
\nDecember waves but was not so lucky on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"We came through the tsunami relatively unscathed but this has
\nbeen terrible,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nias-simeulue-are-the-worlds-final-frontier-for-surfers-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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