It was the right time to reflect on the warmer seasons of the previous year as the 2022 season is drawing to an end. Without worrying about travel restrictions, lockdowns, and quarantines, we were able to get back to what we love, providing elite-level surfing coaching in secluded lineups.
Check out the following for 5 of our most memorable moments this year…
BOMBIE / SECRET SLAB IN MEEMU ATOLL
We’d seen this wave many times before, but we hadn’t been able to see it in person until 2022. Although we’d heard of a slab in the vicinity, it looked nothing like the one in the picture. We were fortunate enough to shelter from a powerful storm in July. After the storm passed, everyone began to long for the ocean and saw the slab turning on and grinding its way down the reef. Although some sick barrels and skin were on the reef, it was amazing to see the myth come alive finally.
In August, we saw a completely different side to the break as the outer bombie transformed into an outer bombie that could withstand any size of the Indian Ocean. Dale broke his favorite board while the crew took on some chunky walls. However, that didn’t stop Dale from smiling for the rest of his life!
6-FOOT AND EMPTY AT MALDIVES’ BEST LEFT
It is one of the most unpredictable waves in The Maldives, making it even more rewarding to score when it finally turns off.
This wave was a chance to gamble, so we pulled up late one afternoon to see it. It was as good as it had ever been, and there were no other people around. This wave is among the most powerful, heavy, and shallowest in the Maldives. However, it can also be the ‘best wave I have ever seen.’
MICK FANNING, 3X WORLD CHAMP, SURFING
It is always a fantastic experience to be in a lineup with the best sailors worldwide, but it was indeed a unique experience to do so with them and our boat.
Mick was back filming for STAB’s Electric Acid Surfboard Test in July. We seemed to be on the same schedule as him, sometimes rocking up to new waves with him alone in the water.
There was an awkwardness when a surfer from the elite ranks paddled into our group for the first time. The awkwardness quickly subsided when Tom paddled in and shouted, “Mickey Boyyyyy!” It’s going well, mate! Mick yelled “?” at the tops of his lungs in his thick Welsh accent before Mick set off to paddle and create “Mickey’s peak,” a wave that is now on our radar.
They were reunited days later when Mick first checked if Tom was okay after their first encounter with the reef. It was unforgettable!
GLASS FOR EARLY SEASONS
Although the Maldives’ peak season is June-September, waves can be found all year. This was evident in the first trip of our season back in March, when we had non-stop, mid-sized waves and absolutely no wind.
These conditions were a delight for our intermediate coaching trip and a Dutch private group. They also enjoyed some tough water time, from dawn to dusk.
ADDING A NEW WAVE TO OUR ‘BLACK BOOK’
Every surfer hopes to find a wave far off the beaten path. We surf at the Maldives’ most well-known waves but always look for new spots. It’s part of our DNA. The Maldives is home to over 1200 islands, which means there’s a lot of potentials.
We were able to witness this on a private coaching trip in August. While en route from Thaa atoll to another spot, the conditions were perfect for making a quick detour to visit a reef pass we had been watching for quite some time. This was a beautiful spot for snorkeling, but the rare swell made it a perfect right/left combo without seeing a soul.
