News

Amazing Swell hits Mentawai

Thursday May 17 & Friday May 18 has seen an amazing 20-25 feet plus swell hit the Mentawai Island chain. For those lucky enough to be part of it, some of the prime locations in the region were massive and perfect.

HTs is regarded by many surfers as among the top 5 waves in the world, but at 20-25 feet it certainly wasnt for the faint-hearted. A number of surfers ventured out and scored some of the most epic barrels of their lives.

One observer at HTs said "The whole chain was pumping, but you should have seen HTs. On Thursday, there was a set of at least 9 waves that were maxing 20 feet but absolutely perfect. I was out in the channel and saw some of the best barrels of my life. Phil Macdonald and Ozzie Wright were being towed in to some of the most amazing waves Ive ever seen. They were every bit of 25 feet. Just wish I had a camera! "

Not everyone was so lucky though. The local villagers of Katiet were swamped by the swell which combined with a seasonal Monsoonal King Tide and has left their village under 0.5 metres of water. Using a translator, local village elder Pak Pausto stated "this is the first time we have had so much water in the village. Normally we get a little but spend our time watching the surfers in the big waves. This time, we were too busy to watch as we were bailing out the water. "

The 5-star resort, Katiet Villas @ HTs sits right in front of the surf break at HTs. Resort owner, Adam Bray was amazed at the size of the swell. "Ive never seen anything like this first hand. The surf was massive, but so perfect. Way too big for me out there, but for those few that were out there, Im sure theyve got memories that will last them for quite some time. "He said.

"Monsoon high tides have delivered Katiet Villas an extra 1metre of sand on our beachfront so we have a bit of cleaning up to, but its business as usual for the resort."He added

About Mentawai Resorts

Mentawai Resorts has recently opened the 5-star surf resort known as Katiet Villas, right out the front of HTs. Those that have visited have happily called it one of the best surf resorts in the world.

With 4 luxury villas, each with their own private plunge pool and 120 metres paddle to HTs one of the worlds best waves, its no surprise that Katiet Villas booking schedule is rapidly filling. Particularly as you can now fly to the Mentawais 3 days a week from Padang in only 30 minutes.

For more information visit

Australian Jim Beam Surf Tag Final

For immediate Release:

"North Narrabeen Names take out first place and are smiling all the way to HTs"!!

Last Saturdays Final of the 2007 Jim Beam Surf Tag event saw some awesome surfing by the final 4 teams, but it was the team with the "big names" on paper which reined supreme in the low tide beach break @ Sydneys Curl Curl beach.

North Narrabeen (NN) final winning team of Chris Davidson, Nathan Hedge, Nathan Webster, Christo Hall and Ben Short celebrated in typical NN style as they swamped the winners podium to collect A$8000 in cash and the much talked about coveted prize donated by Mentawai Resorts www.mentawairesorts.com which will see all 5 North Narrabeen team members "getting 5 star shacked" this season at the newly opened Katiet Villas @ HTs.

The boys will enjoy 7 nights accommodation, all meals, and use of the awesome fleet of resort brand new speedboats to surf world famous HTs (Lances Right) plus Lances Left, Macaronis and all the incredible breaks in the Mentawai Islands. A total prize value of A$16,500.

To maximize the time in the water for all Mentawai Resort guests we are proud to announce the launch of Mentawai Air which provides direct flights from Singapore with a 20 minute visa/immigration stop in Padang before arriving at the newly refurbished Mentawai "Rokot" Airport. From there its a quick 35 minute speedboat transfer and youre pulling in @ HTs. Mentawai Air also operates 3 flights each & every week between Padang (West Sumatra) and Mentawai (Rokot) Airport.

Imagine leaving Singapore in the morning and surfing 3 hours later! The days of nightmare 8-12 hour sea crossings are gonecheckout Mentawai Air on the transportation section on our website

As North Narrabeen club President Brett Bannister announced last Saturday "the NN team really wanted to win this years Surf Tag once we heard that a trip to HTs was up for grabs". With this spirit in mind Mentawai Resorts would like to extend the privilege to surf our amazing home break by offering "Exclusive Resort packages" for all clubs who completed in the 2007 Jim Beam Surf Tag.

Simply contact Melissa@mentawairesorts.com for details on how your board riders club can get 5 star shacked this season.

Winning Team - Win trip to Katiet Villas @ HT's

Mentawai Air Schedule Flights to the Mentawai Islands for 2007

MENTAWAI AIR SCHEDULE FLIGHTS

TO THE MENTAWAI ISLANDS FOR 2007

Mentawai Resorts is proud to announce the introduction of Mentawai Air Yes thats right you can now fly into the Mentawai Islands commencing from the start of the 2007 season in February.

If you have been to the Mentawai Islands then no doubt youve had to deal with the painful journey to the Islands on either a 12-hour charter boat ride or via their local Ferry to Tuapejat neither of these options are known to offer comfort or reliability. This is now a thing of the past as Mentawai Air have scheduled their aircrafts to fly twice weekly covering Padang-Mentawai return.

A blessing from the gods above!

Mentawai Air is a western managed Air Charter Company that will be operating a modern fleet of Cessna Caravan aircraft. These will fly you from Padang Mentawai return twice weekly on a 45-minute flight each way. Cameras are a must aboard the aircraft as the views are spectacular.

The aircraft are all under 3 years old and are maintained in Singapore and flown by western flight crew. Capacity is 9 surfers each with ample room for 9 standard triple board bags. Not bad if youre in a group and get your own private aircraft!

Mentawai Resorts have just released our packages for 2007 along with costs for private charter and schedules for either 10 or 11 night trips please see below for detailed breakdown:

MENTAWAI RESORTS - PACKAGES AND SCHEDULES FOR 2007

Packages & Prices- CLICK HERE

Mentawai Resorts opens for business

Announcing the opening of Mentawai Resorts brand new property

"Katiet Villas @ HTs"

Mentawai surfing moves to a whole new level

Surfing and surfers are continually looking for a new, better surfing experience. While surfboard design and surfing has constantly progressed, for many years surf travel experiences - especially in the Mentawai Islands - have stayed pretty much the same for the last two decades.

Mentawai Resorts are looking to change that.

Opening July 1 2006, Mentawai Resorts will be offering a brand new surf travel product for the surfer who has probably traveled more than most and is looking for something different that focuses on the total holiday experience.

Mentawai Resorts will be providing surfers (and all travelers) a 5 star surfing experience. Starting with overcoming what is probably a surfers greatest enemy, the time taken to travel there.

Currently it consists of a commercial flight into Padang, uneventful time spent there before a long and sometimes unsuccessful (if not uncomfortable) trip across to the islands themselves. Precious time, spent out of the surf.

Mentawai Resorts with be providing direct private charter flights in a 12-seater modern aircraft from Singapore to a Mentawai Island air strip, where you will be picked up by the Mentawai Resorts 12 metre transfer launch and delivered directly to Katiet Villas @ HTs. That will be from Singapore airport to HTs in approximately 3 hours. In all but the most extreme weather conditions, you will be guaranteed to be in the water that same day.

The completely new level of surfing experience does not stop once you arrive at HTs. Mentawai Resorts have completed construction of 4 luxury villas all with direct and uninterrupted views of HTs (that is of course if you consider your own plunge pool, private outdoor bar, King sized bedrooms and an onsite masseuse luxury!).

Katiet Villas @ HTs will also provide:

• Accommodation for up to 4 people in each villa
• Speed boat transfers to other nearby breaks with local surf guides
• Onsite medical facilities, satellite phone and internet facility
• All inclusive room rate
• Guided eco and local culture tours
• High quality international food and service standards

Anyone that has had the pleasure of spending some quality time in the Mentawai Islands ends up being captivated by its beauty, friendly people and above all, perfect surf.

As a result, most people leave the region with the strong belief that this area should be protected from unscrupulous development and tourism operators who dont care for, or appreciate, the need to create ongoing harmony between the people, the environment and economic benefits.

Mentawai Resorts have been working in close consultation and co-operation with the people of Katiet (the local Mentawai village at HTs) for the last 3 years. Mentawai Resorts has and will continue to provide the local people with much needed sustainable tourism benefits, such as employment, training, health care facilities, environmental protection and access to improved communications and technology.

Packages of 1 week at the Villas will be priced comparatively to high quality boat charters. But surfers will have the benefit of more time in the water, less time in transit, room to move and a unique land based Mentawai experience that has remained undiscovered up to now.

For more information on Mentawai Resorts, the resort and other holiday features, please go to www.mentwairesorts.com or contact Steve Kelly at steve@mentawairesorts.com