Here are some pics from a recent trip to the Maldives with Mark from ESS and a good mate, Todd. There were a variety of SUP boards, including Naish (8"4 & 8"10), Jimmy Lewis (9"0 & 9"4) and a couple of "blow up" stand ups for the wives and kids to use. (bloody amazing, blow up SUP's are great for the kids to use and learn to paddle)

We scored big time with the swell, surfed 5-7 hours each day & alone most of the time. Thought I should share some of the moments, and recommend the Maldives to SUPers searching for some great waves.

Big thumbs ups for my Naish 8"4, snapped two legropes and my new stick ended up rock hopping, with little damage...just a few scratches. This board rips....

Spent most of the time on a boat cruising the islands, then 4 days down South at Kandooma Resort.

Great waves, great company plus very cold corona's.

Now sitting at my desk.... day dreaming....!!

Those waves look unreal in your pics!
Who is ESS?

Do they provide the boards there?

G'day Garethg
Nice waves just pumping for a SUP session lucky buggers I'm envios. I'm going to try & get to the Maldives in 2011 hope to stay for a 28 day trip.
DW

Great shot nice Left Looks so good for SUP.
Rob

LUCKY YOU! I went to the Maldives last May and had a sh** time...small, windy, cross-shore waves, crowded...and I got cellulitis from taking a small scratch off the reef...had to be put on the plain in a wheelchair and had to have two lots of antibiotics to recover. Really killed the travel bug for me. Still paying off the trip.
:-(

SwellSC said...

Those waves look unreal in your pics!
Who is ESS?

Do they provide the boards there?

ESS Board stores are a chain of retails shops in NSW, Australia supplying SUP's, snowboard, kite boarding gear etc....

Dont think anyone would supply SUP boards in the Maldives, have to take your own, and a couple of spare leg ropes. (as I found out)

goatman said...

Hi Gareth - that looks sooooo nice! Me and my 15yo son are going in August - hope we get swell like that!!

Which part of the Maldives were you cruising on the boat? We are doing 7 days in the Male Atolls.

Did you get many barrels on the SUP? The narrowness of the 8'4" would have helped I would have thought. I bet it's hard being back in pommy land

I am sure you will Goaty, August is a good time of year to go and normally has more consistant swell. I reckon one good tip is to out between 8.30 -10.30am and 12.00 -2.00pm each day, (plus other times of course). This is when the other surfers go in for breaky and lunch.

Pulled into a couple of barrels at Sultans and Colas, ( didnt get wet the waves were so hollow)

Take plenty on suncreen, and zinc.... and plenty of photos. Special going with your son....Shoot me through an email if you have any questions.

Looks like a great trip, stoked for you guys!

Anyone else keen to do a trip there later in the season??
I was about to book a trip a couple months ago but put it on hold. Now I'm keen again!

Hey Garethg,

How many days did you do on the boat? Which boat? Who'd you book through?

Cheers

Is the Maldives any good in September? As I'd like to go there after my Fiji stint July/August in 2011
DW