LINES 20 by LINES Magazine

a thousand words

Stuck in a time warp in a faraway corner of Indonesia is a land where modernity forgot and outside resources are limited. But with waves on hand you still have to figure out how to ride them like this local grom here. Photo: Masters

YES

#20-‘13

the doubters have doubted and the naysayers nayed but Lines has continued past the point of no return and that is right where we want to be in our fifth year. Publish or perish, sink or swim, well we’d rather surf if that’s OK, and that is exactly what Lines is all about. Lines has grown through 20 issues and hundreds of thousands of view from around the world and still rising steadily while surfing when the waves are good, because we get our feature stories straight from the source. And what makes that so significant? It’s about a love for surfing Indonesia, something that started as a hobby that became a passion and then a lifestyle, and now in its latest avatar as the publication you are reading. I’m not talking about myself; I’m talking about all the surfers who appear in Lines and even way more behind the scenes that don’t, because they are all representative of what surfing here is about: pure stoke enjoying waves in the ultimate surf-drenched island nation in the world: Indonesia. The pictures in Lines show this and you don’t have to speak a language to know that the surfers in these pages are having the time of their lives riding Indonesian waves. Just like the kid in the photo to the left, surfing his backyard somewhere remote, naked on a wooden plank. If that is not pure stoke surfing Indonesia, then I don’t know what is. Welcome to Lines 2013. -- Lorca

THE LINEUP

contact Lines media@isctour.com

Brian Blank Andrew Buckley Jason Childs Mick Curley Mikala Jones

Everton Luis Brad Masters Lance Slabbert Jessica Smart

linesmagazine-bali

COvEr SHOt by ANDrEW “SHOrty” bUCKLEy

Indonesian champion surfer LEE WILSON takes a classic grab-rail bottom turn on a beast at PIPELINE, HAWAII during a past visit there. Although well known for his aerial surfing and tail-loose turns, Lee is also very comfortable in heavy situations like these.

COCONUT WIRELESS

USMAN TRIOKO

ISLAND ESCAPE

ME, MYSELF, MJ

A THOUSAND WORDS This Spread Sitting in a little hut on an empty beach with a view of the perfect surf. you really donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need much to be happy surfing Indonesia. Photo: Everton Luis

APRIL

BALI TIDES 6

Mon

0.5

0.8

1.2

1.7

2.2

2.5

2.5*

2.3

1.9

1.3

0.8

0.4

Tue

0.7

0.6*

0.7

1.0

1.4

1.9

2.2

2.4*

2.3

2.1

1.6

1.1

0.7

Wed

0.9

0.8

0.7*

0.9

1.2

1.6

1.9

2.1

2.2

2.1

1.8

1.5

1.1

Thu

1.2

1.0

0.9*

0.9

1.1

1.3

1.6

1.8

2.0

2.0*

1.9

1.7

1.4

Fri

1.4

1.3

1.2

1.1

1.1*

1.1

1.3

1.5

1.7

1.8

1.8*

1.7

1.6

Sat

1.6

1.4

1.3

1.2

1.1

1.1*

1.2

1.3

1.5

1.6

1.7

1.7*

Sun

1.7

1.8*

1.7

1.6

1.4

1.2

1.1

1.0*

1.0

1.1

1.3

1.5

1.6

Mon

1.6

1.9

1.9*

1.9

1.7

1.4

1.1

0.9

0.8*

0.8

0.9

1.2

1.4

Tue

1.5

1.8

2.1

2.1*

2.0

1.7

1.4

1.0

0.7

0.5*

0.6

0.8

1.2

Wed

1.3

1.7

2.1

2.3*

2.3

2.1

1.7

1.2

0.7

0.4

0.3*

0.5

0.8

Thu

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.3

2.5*

2.4

2.0

1.5

0.9

0.5

0.2*

0.2

0.5

Fri

0.7

1.2

1.8

2.2

2.5

2.6*

2.3

1.8

1.2

0.7

0.2

0.4*

0.2

Sat

0.6

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

2.6*

2.5

2.1

1.6

0.9

0.4

0.1

0.1*

Sun

0.5

0.7

1.2

1.8

2.3

2.6

2.6*

2.4

1.9

1.3

0.7

0.3

0.1*

Mon

0.5

0.6

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.4

2.6*

2.5

2.2

1.6

1.0

0.5

0.2

Tue

0.6

0.9

1.3

1.7

2.1

2.5

2.6

2.4

2.1

1.6

1.0

0.5

0.2

Wed

0.3

0.7

1.1

1.6

2.0

2.1*

1.9

1.6

1.2

0.7

0.5

0.4*

0.7

Date

Day

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri

0.1 1.4 1.8 1.9 2.0 1.9 1.7 1.5 1.3 1.1 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.7* 0.8* 1.0 1.2 1.5 1.8 2.0* 2.1 2.0 1.8 1.5 1.1 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.7* 1.0 1.4

0.9* 1.2 1.6 1.9 2.1* 2.1 2.1 1.9 1.8 1.5 1.3 1.1 1.0 0.9 0.9 0.9* 1.1 1.3 1.6 1.9 2.2* 2.3* 2.2 2.0 1.7 1.3 1.0 0.7 0.7 0.9* 1.1

0.9 1.0* 1.4 1.8 2.0 2.2* 2.3* 2.3 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.1 1.0 1.0* 1.3 1.4 1.8 2.1 2.3 2.5* 2.4 2.2 1.9 1.5 1.1 0.9 0.9 1.0*

1.0 1.0 1.2 1.5 1.8 2.1 2.3 2.4* 2.4* 2.4 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.1 1.1* 1.3 1.5 1.8 2.2 2.4 2.6* 2.6 2.4 2.0 1.6 1.3 1.0 1.0

1.3 1.1 1.1* 1.3 1.6 1.8 2.1 2.3 2.4 2.5* 2.4* 2.3 2.2 2.0 1.7 1.5 1.3 1.1 1.1* 1.3 1.5 1.8 2.2 2.5 2.7* 2.6* 2.4 2.1 1.7 1.3 1.1

1.6 1.3 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.5 1.7 2.0 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.4* 2.4* 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.5 1.3 1.1 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.7 2.1 2.4 2.6 2.6* 2.4 2.1 1.7 1.3

2.1* 1.7 1.3 1.0 0.8* 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.7 1.9 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.0 1.9* 1.6 1.3 0.9 0.7* 0.6 0.7 1.0 1.4 1.8 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.1* 1.8

2.1 1.9* 1.5 1.1 0.8 0.7* 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.9 1.1 1.4 1.6 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.7 1.4 1.1 0.7 0.5* 0.4 0.5 0.8 1.1 1.6 1.9 2.1 2.1 1.9*

1.9 1.9 1.7* 1.3 1.0 0.7 0.5* 0.4* 0.4 0.5 0.7 0.9 1.1 1.4 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.8* 1.6 1.3 0.9 0.6 0.3* 0.2* 0.3 0.5 0.9 1.4 1.7 1.9 1.9

1.6 1.8 1.7 1.5 1.2 0.9 0.6 0.5 0.3* 0.3* 0.3 0.5 0.7 0.9 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.7 1.7* 1.5 1.2 0.8 0.5 0.2 0.1* 0.1 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.5 1.7

1.3 1.6 1.7 1.7* 1.5 1.2 0.9 0.7 0.5 0.3 0.2* 0.3* 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.3 1.5 1.7 1.7* 1.5 1.2 0.8 0.4 0.1 0.0* 0.1 0.4 0.7 1.1 1.4

0.9 1.3 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.5 1.3 1.1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.3 0.3* 0.4* 0.5 0.7 1.0 1.3 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.3 0.9 0.5 0.2 0.0* 0.1 0.4 0.7 1.1

MAY

Date Day

12 1.9 1.5 1.1 1.0* 1.0 1.1 1.3 1.5 1.7 2.0 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.3* 2.2* 2.0* 1.7 1.4 1.1 0.9* 0.9 1.0 1.2 1.6 2.0 2.3 2.5 2.5* 2.3* 2.0 1.6

INDO DVD BY SEAN GILHOOLEY SOLD AT CORE INDO SURF SHOPS

plan a

GIrLS GONE WILD PLAN A StyLE

PLAN A KNOWS HOW TO PARTY - info@planabali.com

Party planning just got a whole lot easier with Plan A. Offering a range of bachelor/bachelorette parties, birthdays, weddings, corporate events and kids parties, no two events are the same and they even have their own pro costume store for dress up Pub Crawls and individually themed parties. Plan A also does outer island adventure and boat trips to Lombok and Nusa Lembongan. The best in Bali are using Plan A, you have to see it to believe it. Check their website at www.planabali.com

I have to say that INDO is the most impressive surf movie to cover Indonesian surfing in a very long time. Featuring only lokal Indonesians surfing their top home country breaks going off on pumping swells in perfect conditions there is as much froth generated watching the vid as surfing in real life. Well that’s an exaggeration but the truth is that INDO will make you froth hard for perfect Indonesian waves. Filmed over two years Sean G had ample time to gather clips and splice them together into perfection. the catchy soundtrack doesn’t get boring either. Even the sponsors intro section featuring the Indonesian A-team surfers is as original as can be. Every seasoned surfer should own a copy of INDO. It’s almost as good as being there.

WATCH LIVE STREAMING ASP WORLD TOUR SURFING EVENTS IN BALI

Indonesian internet can be as slow and annoying as bad traffic on the bypass especially when the World tour surfing events are on. but fear not as 66 Corner in Legian Kaja has broadband biznet internet, fresh juices and tasty international cuisine, making it the spot to watch the World tour live webcast in bali. Just one block from Double 6 beach on Jl. Werkudara #23 you can jump out for a quick surf after psyching out watching the world’s best rip it up live. Call them at +62-361 730 403 for their schedule. If you are in Kuta then pop into the new Quiksilver Boardriders Cafe on Jl. Legian #362 that is also broadcasting all ASP pro surfing events with a fresh menu set for you to indulge in all kinds of meals with Kuta beach a short walk around the corner. Come June the Oakley Pro Bali will be coming to town but if you can’t make your way to Keramas to watch it in person, then post up at one of these two venues to watch the action via live stream. For more info check their Facebook pages.

KELLy SLAtEr AbOUt tO bUrN JOEL PArKINSON At SNAPPEr. PHOtO: ASP WOrLD tOUr

EMPTY KUTA BEACH ON NYEPI DAY

PHOtO: KAI

Nyepi is bali’s annual Day of Silence when nobody is allowed outside in respect of this balinese ceremony that is comparable to New year. the night before is filled with loud activity during the famed Ogoh-Ogoh procession that takes place in every balinese village. then comes the silence. Nobody is allowed to go out of their house, to do any activity, or make any noise. Using lights is forbidden too. village patrol teams enforce these rules. Even the airport is closed. Hotels are the exception and allowed to run as normal but guests are still not allowed out of the hotel. Everyone has their own limits as to what they do and don’t do on Nyepi but one thing remains true for all - Nyepi is the most peaceful and pollutionfree day on bali with only the sounds of nature prevailing. On clear Nyepi nights the stars become extremely visible with the absence of ambient light. Most places in the world have Earth Hour but Nyepi is bali’s version of an Earth Day with around 3 million+ people in a peaceful 24 hours at home. It would be interesting to see how much less pollution is created by doing this for one day in bali. Until that figure comes out, check out this photo of an unusually empty Kuta Beach during the 2013 Nyepi day shot by a neighborhood patrol.

KUTA INSTALLS SOLAR POWER STREET LIGHTS

Spotted up on Jl. raya Kuta outside of the famous G Land office right next to Kuta’s Bemo Corner is a row of solar powered street lights that are leading a “bright” path to the future. It’s very nice seeing more steps like these being made by the government to a greener and cleaner Bali for everyone.

SWICH SANDWICH RECYCLED TAKE-AWAY BAGS

besides serving up the yummiest sandwiches and smoothies on bali, Swich is also helping to reduce, reuse and recycle by making their own recycled paper take-away bags out of newspaper, magazines and other paper. Just another righteous way local businesses like Swich are helping to keep Bali green. Swich is on Jl. Werkudara #538 a block back from Double 6 beach in Legian Kaja. Call +62-361-212 0028 for delivery and more info.

SAVE INDONESIAN DOLPHINS JAAN (Jakarta Animal Aid Network) along with ric O’barry of the Earth Island Institute have started the first dolphin rehabilitation sea pen in Karimun Java to bring dolphins back to health and then release them back into the sea. The US$200,000 rehab center is fully operational and the most advanced of its kind, but without any active help from the government there has not been one dolphin admitted there. two restaurants in bali, Akame in benoa and the Melka Excelsior Hotel in Lovina offer dolphins as attractions. There is also a traveling dolphin circus operating in Indonesia.

these three businesses are the last of their kind in the world and also what JAAN and Earth Island Institute are trying to address. Minister of Forestry Mr. Zulkifli Hasan was apparently unaware of the dolphin attractions and upon finding out has vowed to “If necessary (I will) go there myself and dissolve them.” But the battle is far from won yet. Minister Hasan did sign a Memorandum of Understanding to end dolphin captivity shortly after he traveled to bali and witnessed the Akame restaurant dolphin pool where he ordered the two dolphins, Wayan and Made, to be released and sent to the JAAN Karimun Java rehab

Photo: Mick Curley

station. Strangely enough right before transporting them there, the dolphins disappeared into thin air. News reports have called the dolphins kidnapped, but sources say they have been shipped back to their Central Java holding pool where they were initially bought or rented from. The situation is a touchy one and still being resolved. Advice to stop this industry is to simply not support it by not going to dolphin shows and restaurants. Public opinion and movement are strong and with enough solidarity they can change the course of such businesses. Other peaceful alternatives we can do are to support tours that bring people on boats to watch dolphins in the sea. These kind of eco tours are really what people want to see – dolphins in their natural environment – not shackled in a swimming pool. you can also help by supporting JAAN, and ric O’barry’s Earth Island Institute. This story is still developing so stay tuned for more info on one of the most intelligent creatures on earth, the dolphins. For more info or to sign the petition go to: http://dolphinproject.org/ http://jakartaanimalaid.com/blog/programs/aid-for-dolphin/

MENTAWAI REEF BOMBING NOT COOL

Sign the petition against Mentawai Reef Bombing: https://www.change.org/petitions/stop-bombing-the-mentawai-reefs Watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_81OhkhFXUc

An eerie undercover video posted January 28th on youtube that shows coral reefs being illegally bombed for catching fish off the Mentawai island of Siberut has sparked a massive movement that has led to important Indonesian government support on the issue. this reef bombing, also known as blast Fishing, is against the law in Indonesia and around the world and can cause irrepairable damage to reef ecosystems. The video created enormous chatter and an online petition through www.change.org was launched with the video that quickly reached 4,500 signatures. Surfing champion Kelly Slater and business mogul richard branson were amongst the supporters of the cause within 48 hours of the video posting. this petition was then presented to Mr. Syahril Abdurrahman, head of Security for Marine Fisheries. two days later the groups were sitting together under one roof and ended agreeing on several positive programs: the Director General of Security for Marine Fisheries pledged to not just end the Fish blasting but to also turn the waters off the southwestern side of Siberut Island, where the bombing took place, into a government-funded and patrolled Marine Park and Sanctuary by yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s end. Until this Marine Park is created the group agreed to allocate more resources such as boats and petrol to the cause. They will also track down and stop the illegal supply of ammonium nitrate used for bombs and also stores selling fish from Fish blasting.

2013 ASC TOUR NO EVENT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Mentawai Pro Presented by Rip Curl Quiksilver Open Cimaja 2013 Billabong Lifes Better in Boardshots Quiksilver Open Phuket 2013 Quiksilver Open Cloud 9 2013 Taitung Taiwan Open of Surfing Rip Curl Pro Terengganu

DATE

LOCATION

GRADE

DIVISION

April, 21st - 29th May, 8th - 12th July, 4th - 7th Sept, 4th - 8th Sept, 12th - 15th Nov, 14th - 16th December

Mentawai, West Sumatra Cimaja Beach, West Java Balangan, Bali Phuket, Thailand Cloud 9, Philippine Taitung, Taiwan Batu Burok Beach, Malaysia

Premium 6 Star 6 Star TBA TBA TBA TBA

Specialty Open, Master, Women, Longboard Open, Master, Women, Longboard Open, Master, Women, Longboard Open Open, Women, Longboard Open, Women, Longboard

RIP CURL GROMSEARCH

LOCATION

Series #1 Series #2 Series #3 Series #4 Series #5 Series #6 Series #7 Series #8 Series #9 Series #10 National Final

Sanur, Bali Nusa Dua, Bali Canggu, Bali Kuta, Lombok Pacitan, East Java Lakey Peak, Sumbawa Padang, Sumatra Medewi, Bali Kuta, Bali Padma, Bali TBA/Bali

Feb 17th Feb 24th Mar 10th Mar 31st Apr 14th Apr 21st May 12th May 26th Jun 2nd Jun 9th TBA

asctour

Follow ASC on: www.asiansurfingtour.com, e: info@asiansurfingtour.com

jL.BENESARI POPPIES LANE 2 , KUTA, BALI +62-361-756 772

Naruki Surf Shop offers so much more than just the best ding repair on bali. They also do professional custom airbrushing and surfboard coloring that is hard to match. they are also selling their very own Naruki branded deck grips, leashes and board bags that are all up to international quality at less the price. Their stock of brand new and used surfboards is huge and there is something for everybody. With a quick turnaround time and professional service Naruki is your one-stop-shop for all your surfboard needs. Check out their Facebook page for more info: www.facebook.com/naruki.surfshop

Rukan Darmawangsa Square (021) 727 89073 Soekarno Hatta International Airport terminal E and F

HEY BRO!!!

THAT’S MY

SASHIMI SALAD WItH SEAWEED

DELIvEry: +62-361-731 152 SEMINyAK - SANUr - KUtA - UbUD bANJAr SEMEr - MALL bALI GALErIA

tUNA PANKO rOLLS

ryOSHI has been bali’s most popular Japanese restaurant for many years for many reasons. First off, they get lots of Japanese clientele - a very good sign at any Japanese restaurant. the fish is always fresh and in fact ryoshi stocks many other raw fish markets in Bali. The meals are all quality and the price value is far less than you would pay for the same meal anywhere in the world. The owners come from a family of restaurateurs and take food seriously. Before this they ran the legendary GOA 2001 restaurant in town. At ryOSHI SEMINyAK their Monday, Wednesday and Friday House of Jazz jam sessions feature the top live bands in Bali and are perfect for a fun night of live music. If you need any more convincing all you need to do is go there and try it for yourself.

Mentawai Sikerei (medicine men) enjoy Lines on Siberut Island, Mentawai. Photo: Dede Saraina

GET The best of Indonesian surfing MAILED anywhere in Indonesia. YOU PAY SHIPPING ONLY! 2013 POSTAGE RATES PER EDITION bALI - rP 12,000 bANDUNG - rP 15,000 JAKArtA - rP 15,000

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tO SUbSCrIbE: media@isctour.com +62-361-202 0742

USMAN TRIOKO Usman trioko is not just one of the best rising young surfers in Indonesia - he is arguably one of the best tuberiders in the whole world and he is only 17. this is a bold statement but if you were getting 20 second barrel rides at your home break and outperforming top international pro surfers and still in High School, well you might be able to claim that too. With his recent sponsorship with rip Curl, Usman is traveling the world representing the brand and has already been to Hawaii and California, which not many of his peers or even friends twice his age can say they have done. Usman will be even more famous when he sets the Guiness book of World record for the longest barrel ever ridden. believe us, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coming. PHOtO: JESSICA SMArt

ISLAND ESCAPE When you dream of a tropical island what does it look like? Crystal clear water? yes. Swaying coconut trees and white sand? Check! but let’s not forget perfect waves too. No Problem. With this in mind, check out this island that photographer Mick Curley was lucky enough to spend time at recently and call a “working holiday” that had all the above.

Although the surf was small, there were still very fun waves to be had by any world standard. But this trip was focused more on the lifestyle revolving around the island and “getting away” from it all that made everything so much more special.

All photos by Mick Curley

reading a book. taking photos of trees. Cooling off with a swim. And then having lunch. With no internet or phone signal to be contacted by, you remind yourself that “no news is good news.” Groundhog Day everyday of your stay made different maybe by a passing rain, a different wind or a bigger day of surf. that’s a real getaway. Getting caught up these days with work, traffic, appointments and regular life routines one forgets that such paradise isles even exist so close by. Tourists are paying thousands of dollars to just sample this lifestyle of doing nothing on a small tropical islet that for those living in Indonesia is often overlooked, or forgotten due to being so busy. ALL PHOtOS by MICK CUrLEy

Tropical paradise islands are still there and with more than 17,000 to choose from in Indonesia there are still many that are as remote, undeveloped and lonely as they were centuries ago when spice island traders sailed past. So get out there and find one for yourself today. You can thank us later for the recommendation. PHOtO: MICK CUrLEy

ME, MYSELF, MJ SELF PORTRAITS BY

MIKALA JONES

eing a professional surfer gives Mikala Jones from the North Shore of Hawaii a lot of time at the beach to surf. but besides just surfing in front of the camera all day Mikala has also been spending time getting creative behind it as well. With some thinking outside of the box he has created a magnificient collection of self-portrait surf shots in this feature using two methods, handholding the camera and waterhousing, and surfing with it mounted on his surfboard. Holding the 7D Canon camera and waterhousing by hand weighs an easy 6lbs (3kg) but then you also have to figure out the secret technique to paddling into waves with it and then positioning it for shots once you are up. Like secret F-stop and exposure settings on a camera, this camera-handling part is Mikala’s little trade secret that he says, “takes a lot of practice.” the carbon fiber scorpion tail mount holding his camera on his 8 foot surfboard knocks the weight up to an easy 10 lbs (5kg) on the tail of the board. the wire trigger is shot by hand. It was easier to mount boards with cameras when they were all around 8 feet long in the 1970s but these days that’s a good 2 feet longer than Mikala’s normal surfboard and much heavier too. Neither method is easy but when asked what the most difficult part was Mikala replied, “the hardest part is getting into the tube with all this heavy gear. A Go Pro camera is much easier but up until just recently the quality was not so good. Plus I used a flash with some of these shots which you don’t have with a Go Pro. these days it’s become so much easier to get these kind of shots. Just go buy the Go Pro 3 black Edition. It’ll save you time and money.”

“

The hardest part is getting into A tube with all the heavy gear

”

-- Mikala on surfing an 8’0” board with 10 lb/5 kg camera mount on the tail

Mikala Jones shares some personal tube time with us via his handheld camera.

“

”

-- Mikala on handholding a 7D+waterhousing vs go pro 3

These days it’s become so much easier to get these kind of shots. Just go buy the Go Pro 3 Black Edition - it’ll save you time and money

A good picture tells a thousand words but there is so much more to being a surf photographer than meets the eye. Once you go past the hobby or photography class level and start getting a few shots published, perhaps even getting a little pay for your work, most budding shutterbugs can’t stop. the chances of making it as a professional photographer are pretty slim, and even slimmer in the competitive surfing industry where everyone is trying to outdo each other and even get in each other’s way to poach a shot for their own benefit. “Don’t quit your day job,” legend surf photographer and The Surfers Journal photo editor Jeff Divine once warned about surf photography, and he should know after over 30 years in the business. But beyond the aspect of getting paid there is a whole other reason behind why surf photographers continue doing what they do. In this feature of “a thousand words” we asked several surf photographers about the good and bad, the yin and yang, of what they do since one cannot exist without the other. And we found out that just like surfing they do it for the love of creating an art medium that screams out so much in one look without uttering a single word at all. This Spread Mikala Jones, this time in front of the camera, giving more than a thousand words to talk about. Photo: Masters

BRAD MASTERS being a photographer is a funny thing. Surfing is my passion and I love to be able to work with it but at the same time I don’t want to be just known as a surf photographer. Photography to me is so many other things. Just to be able to capture those special moments that go unseen is what I want. The hardest thing about what I do is all the new kids coming through and undercutting us. they may think it’s cool to get their stuff run, but hey, you can’t live off of product and once you sell yourself cheap you will never be able to raise your price. the most important thing is: don’t poach. respect the photographers that do this for a living. tai buddha Graham blurs speed lines on a Nias canvas. Photo: Masters

I started my passion with the ocean very early. I tried to be a pro surfer but in the back of my mind I knew I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get to the top so I decided to join my two passions, photography and surf, by becoming a surf photographer to be able to be near the sea and the waves.Surf photography gives me the pleasure to be in the water, freezing the best moments of someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wave and that is awesome. Sometimes I think I get a better rush than the actual surfers! All the opportunities I have to travel around the world clicking the best waves and cultures only make me realize I am a very lucky person that is able to live the way he wants. I am always trying to push myself a little

further, going deeper in barrels or longer in the water (last year I made my record of 9 hours straight shooting Padang!) The hard part of photography for me is when someone looks at a shot and doesn’t give it the proper respect it deserves, doesn’t try to see what the photo is really trying to pass on, and also the little reward you get for a shot by the surf brands and companies that also live from the surf. I am not talking about the expensive equipment or my own effort, it’s about appreciation, art. Anyway, I will keep doing what I love, and what I live for, photography. EVERTON LUIS

Dede Suryana at Padang Padang (above) and treasure through the trees (far left) as shot by Everton Luis.

BRIAN BLANK For me the best part about being a surf photographer is traveling to new places and meeting new people. the stoke from shooting a good surf photo is just as much a rush as getting barreled or drawing lines on a open wave face. Shooting here in Indonesia especially Bali has brought me close to the local people and helping them by getting their pics in a magazine or for their sponsors. It really makes me happy to help my friends out. being in the ocean all day and around the beach is what brings joy to me. It is hard being a new guy in the water here when Bali has some of the best surf photographers in the world based out of here, but I am not scared to put in my dues. Now that my first son has been born I have a new outlook on life and I hope that my passion as well as my career will allow me to spend my time both in the water and at home with my wife and son. Life is short and I like to capture moments in time so people can enjoy them for years to come. Dedi Gun pulls into a Wet Season bali pit in front of brian blank that looks more like a section at Snapper rocks in Australia.

Mick Curley photographs Flynn Novak through different stages of what can only be described as a heavy turn.

MICK CURLEY As of going to print Mick Curley was on a boat trip shooting pumping surf with the likes of Tom Carroll with little to no internet or phone signal. He did manage to say this: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love being out here, out at sea in perfect waves documenting the trip, living the life and being paid to do it but the drawback is that I miss every minute that I am away from my wife Diyan and our son Jasper.â&#x20AC;? More from Mick once he gets home.

LANCE SLABBERT the thing I think I love about photography the most is that it is visual, non verbal communication. Instead of words and sentences that must be read or listened to, requiring time for a message or story to be shared or transmitted, photography uses signs, symbols and semiotics (its own visual language and grammar) and has the ability or potential to transmit or communicate this same message instantaneously. In this way, the very best photography transcends time and space. Photography is like quantum physics in a way, as we become certain it is this, it becomes that. It has become both a truth and a lie at the same time. The challenge to the viewer, and often the creator too, is knowing when it is which. these days, the hardest thing about photography is to make a living from it. I think a lot of photographers thought that with photography becoming both more popular and accepted as an art form, it would become more understood, appreciated and respected. but the truth is everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a photograper now, meaning less work paying less money. And the clients, the people buying our work, mostly they have no respect. Maybe theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just responding to market forces, but the audacity and arrogance of offering to swop product or a bar tab for work created is just mind boggling. the confluence of technology, digital photography with the internet, has added further to the challenges of photography today. Before there was an original, something real, something unique, something that could only be in one place at one time. but now, there are infinite originals, or mabe

Koki Hendrawan takes to the bingin sky over Lance Slabbertâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s head and water housing.

Even in crowded Bali there are still moments of solitude at packed breaks like Bingin.

there is no longer an original, just infinite copies of the same thing, appearing simultaneously everywhere. Photography is no longer scarce or easily protected from misuse.We are being swamped by an exponentially swelling river of images flowing before our eyes, a river that has taken the transcendent and diluted it with the average to the extent that our senses are in danger of being overwhelmed by this muddy wallpaper of lookbook image sampling that surrounds us. Could we find this river of averageness bursting our metaphorical banks and washing over us? Might we wake up and find revealed a crisp white page? Might we find a new understanding and appreciation of photography? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m really not sure, but stranger things have happenend.

FINELINES

GUy HAStINGS is a freelance decorative painter, illustrator and pictorial map maker from byron bay, Australia. Guyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Indonesia series are a limited edition print run that features top surfing regions that include Nusa tenggara, G Land, the Mentawai chain and beyond with

sizes ranging from A4 to full wall poster size. Available in bali at the Drifter Surf Shop and Cafe at Jl. Oberoi #50 (jl Kayu Aya) Seminyak, bali. +62-361-733 274. Guy also does custom art work and so much more. His website is www.guyhastings.com

THE LAST LINE Indonesia. 17,000+ islands. bali is just one of them. Epic surf. boats, buses and barrels. trips of a lifetime. If you can’t make it there we’ll bring it to you. Coming up next: the travel Issue. PHOtO: MICK CUrLEy