June 10th 2025: Our final Mentawai stanza

The last few days of a Mentawai boat trip seem to always come around with a thud. I spend the first week gloriously present and soaking up every golden ray of light. Then the final week becomes a blur of incredible waves, hot days, sunrises, sunsets, laughter, great food and good times. Then, bam! We're counting down the final days like we're about to be evicted from paradise. 

This trip was extra special for me having my son Keo along for his first Mentawai experience. There were definitely a few anxious moments as he threw himself over the ledge of some seriously scary and remote waves. I was proud of how he handled himself at each spot and with how quickly he built relationships with the crew and the rest of our party. 

A big learning curve for Keo was made easier thanks to the prowess of the Roberts' brothers, George and Frank, and Reuben Lyons. All four of the young guns would hustle and push each other in a super positive way that was so cool to see. George is chasing the World Qualifying Series and has become one of the very top surfers in New Zealand, though he chooses to base himself in Australia. To have him on our trip added a whole new level to it all. 

The rest of the surfers aboard were all friends, too, and most of them legends in their fields and in their approach to surfing. At 63, Phil Isaac, was the eldest. He's been surf exploring since the 1980s – he adventured during the heyday of early Nias and Uluwatu experiences. And he still manages his way around big lineups with a steezy calm approach.

One of the best surfers on the boat was our guide – 50-year-old Chris Scurrah. We call him Scuzz. He takes the most flowing lines and surfs each wave like he's sharing a moment with a long lost mate. He's been exploring these parts for more than 28 years now. Watching the young surfers learn how he approached each wave was heart-warming – it's the complete opposite to a frenetic 15-minute contest heat approach. Over time I could see all the groms take on a little Scuzz-style and I reckon it will stand them in good stead in the contests. 

It's always nice to return home (even if there is snow on the hills), but every trip I do to the Mentawai Islands draws me closer to that place. Especially when the final stanza of our adventure saw a big new swell fill up some of the most picturesque spots on earth. 

See you at the beach, Derek

PS Want to be a part of our 2027 Box of Light Mentawai surf exploration trip? We have limited spots available so quickly register your interest by replying to this email with your name, email address and phone number. We'll allocate the 10 spots on a first-in-first-served basis ...