My last day at Telos didn't really deliver on the waves front, so it was a day of snorkelling, walking deserted beaches, and checking out the local Telos Village on the next island. We sat at the local, really just a few plastic chairs and a fridge full of Bintangs on the only narrow street. There are no cars at all, just an endless very pleasant parade of bikes, trikes, and Yikes! What was that?

Like the guy delivering plastic 44 gallon drums of diesel on a pushy with a platform on the side. Like the usual Asian whole-family-on-a-scooter, and the kids with bodgied-up taxis you pay 20 or 30 cents for. A few of us got lost and the kids pedalled us on forever in the wrong direction for hilarious half an hour. We were so far off track that one of our guys Alistair had to replace the kids tired legs with his own. I had three kids peddling and pushing at one stage. It was a cool way to see the real life of the happy peaceful Christian/Muslim mixed village, but the endless 'hullos' and waving wore out my 'Royal Wave'.

A great farewell dinner with 1400 shots of the week's surfing to entertain us, and I crashed to the soft slap of the lagoon under our bungalow.                                   

This morning Dave Simons ran me for two-and-a-half hours at twenty-plus knots in a pitching sea, with an added storm to make it unforgettable, up to Nias Harbour on the south, with famous Lagundri Bay just a headland away. But no time - There the Telos guys had a cab waiting which ran me to where I'm typing this, the Gunungsitoli Airport on the north end of Nias. It was a wild trip over the sea, and then the land. The whole population lives on the only road, following the beautiful coast, just like most developing islands. The taxi guy never faltered once in doing 80 clicks with little two year olds and flocks of school kids meandering along, missing 100% by inches. Scary. Then we hit a couple of markets, and nobody gets the concept of through traffic. They just get off their scooter in front of the cab and walk away! Huh? But the road was spectacular, like Kamehameha Highway on Oahu 80 years ago.

But the average punter doesn't get that pummeling. The Telos resort guests fly out the way we came in, via an incredible chartered flight to Medan. I just had to cut short my trip to get back for the Deus night on Friday, and the journey I took today is Daves one-person exit from surf paradise. Pretty cool service I reckon.

Dave explained that the resort is pretty much fully booked till the end of the year, so think about getting on to Perfect Wave about a booking for next February. I'm certainly thinking hard about doing it again then. Where else so much surf with so little people???

Bob

Yesterday was undoubtedly one of the most memorable days of surf in my whole sixty years of waves! Early morn showed the swell had jumped overnight, and as we were munching breakfast, Tony Rae (a former Novocastrian and best surfer in our group) paddled out the front of the lodge. He blasted across a few serious waves as we loaded the boat. Our trusty surf guide Dane Pioli had us aimed for his favourite wave in the island group called GT's, after Grant Thomas, the great long boarder from the Sunshine Coast. He apparently ripped the place some years back.

A ten minute high-speed blast propelled by the twin Suzuki 150's dropped us into an idyllic sheltered cove with the sweetest wrapping barrel wheeling into the perfect sand beach. A small village hid behind the coconuts along the shore. The jungle smothered the couple of hundred foot peak forming the backdrop.

GT's is a non-intimidating very hollow wave. Tony got shacked first wave (of course!) and the rest of us had varying degrees of success doing the same. Tony and I went ashore to look around, guided by the lone Aussie living there, Luke from Lake Macquarie. Life in the jungle like Gonad man!

We headed back to the Lodge, and before we motored into the lagoon, Tony, Matthew Furguson (the hilarious wit from the Eastern Suburbs) and I jumped overboard to crack a few on the local Lodge break. Man! The first set put the wind up us, as it drew off the reef and jacked! A warning shot. The Equatorial heat blasted down as we negotiated into a few bombs. The sheer midday glass on six foot chunky barrels will remain indelibly imprinted. I got an eight wave set on the head, but it was early Sunset beach training that gave me the calm to ride it out. Matt got a screaming arc along the base up into the shelter at the top as I was being dragged. Good on him! He surfs hard, and very well.

Chilli prawns for lunch, then off to another new break for us crew. Le Ba is named after the Lennox Ballina board riders who loved the joint. It is a macking bowl sweeping down the side of a remote island - Fantastic!

Dinner of local fresh lobster AND local mud crab! Incredible day all round. 

Telos is fantastic! A huge variety of waves just a short boat ride away, or else hit the power right out front! It's a surf-blokes paradise, and so far, completely uncrowded. Get in touch with Perfect Wave and book in next February while there are still spaces. Just 8 surfers at any time, and the next 12 months are pretty full up already! Stoked!   

Bob

Looking for a deal? We've got a limited number of boards on clearance in a bid to clear some post-summer stock and make way for some fresh stuff thats coming out of the factory every day! All of these boards are brand new and come with all fins required. Click here to see the full line-up.

BW

This year our shop will be open throughout the Christmas/New Year break, with the exceptions of the public holidays, details below;

Saturday Dec 22nd - 10am - 4pm

Sunday Dec 23rd - 10am - 2pm

Monday Dec 24th - 9am - 5pm

Tuesday Dec 25th - CLOSED 

Wednesday Dec 26th - CLOSED

Thursday Dec 27th - 9am - 5pm

Friday Dec 28th - 9am - 5pm

Saturday Dec 29th - 10am - 4pm

Sunday Dec 30th - 10am - 2pm

Monday Dec 31st - 9am - 3pm

Tuesday Jan 1st - CLOSED

Business as usual from 2nd Jan onward

With 2013 fast approaching we're coming up on the final opportunity to book your spot on Bob's Telo Island trip. Details below;

BW

Matt Chojnacki is parting with this beautiful '66 Valiant Safari to make way for a new project, so if you're keen on picking up one of Australia's neatest wagons check out more photos and details here, or call him direct on 0404 902 089.

BW

Today and tomorrow (Wed 19th) are Australia Posts last 2 days of shipping to guarantee a pre-xmas delivery, so if you're looking for that last minute gift don't delay as anything shipped Thursday or Friday may not make it to you in time. Check out what's available in our online store.

BW

Now taking bookings - click here to send an enquiry to The Perfect Wave and secure your spot - only 8 available. 

BW

You may remember our Win a Weekend competition we ran during July. Entrants had to tell us in 100 words why they would like a weekend in Byron Bay with accommodation at the Beach Suites and two custom made McTavish boards, hand-shaped by Bob.

We had an overwhelming response with over 7000 entries. It took me 2 days to read them all and I had a great time reading poems, laughing at jokes and generally feeling overwhelmed by the response we'd had. 

After giving the short list to our panel of judges we came up with our winners - Wayne and Haley Williams. They just got married last weekend and decided to use the trip as part of their honeymoon. They spent 3 days in Byron, hanging out with Bob, trying different boards and researching their dream boards that we are going to custom make for them. 

Their view from their penthouse apartment, complete with their own private rooftop pool at the Beach Suites. A really big thank-you to the Beach Suites for helping out with their accommodation. The room, ocean views and service was spectacular.

Wayne talking to Bob about which boards to demo for the morning surf session

Wayne and Haley at Wategos testing driving some new prototypes in the works. Wayne have a 10'0" Watego’s Cruiser prototype and Haley surfed the latest Impact Epoxy prototype. 

W

Wayne surfing with the dolphins in the background. 

Wayne decided on a 8'4" Carver and watched Bob plane out the beginning of his hand shaped board. Haley decided on a classic 9'1" Fireball Squaretail with a triple stringer and a timber tail block. Its gong to be one classic sweet ride!

On the last day of the trip, Hayley announced that she was pregnant. After 12 months of trying to fall pregnant, they had almost given up hope. What a perfect start to their marriage. 

We would like to thank everyone involved in making this competition a reality. Russell Mills from Northern Rivers Tourism, Beach Suites and Tourism Australia. 

To Wayne & Hayley...everyone at McTavish loved having you here. We wish you all the best for your marriage and future addition to the family. 

Ben H