NEWSLETTER

Hi, and welcome to the first newsletter for 2004. 
     As usual we are a couple of months late getting it published, but at least we are consistent!  Things have picked up on last year and early season customers going to Mentawais, Timor and Lombok-Sumbawa have all reported scoring good waves.  Nev left for Indo late March and been busy sorting out operations on the ground, as well as cranking out plenty of boards in the new factory in Bali.  See his update further down the page.  Stu has just come back from a trip and has an update below also.

'Rubber Time 2' Competition
     But before we get into it we are happy to finally announce that the 'Rubber Time 2' video is now out and all feedback so far has been very positive.  Mick Waters did a fantastic job as editor and the soundtrack is awesome.  Many thanks to everyone who contributed to its release.  Last issue we ran a competition to give away 5 copies of 'Rubber Time 2' to readers who correctly answered the following  questions:
Q1. What's the well known big wave spot between Ujung Genteng and Cimaja?
Q2. Ombak Indah losmen is located in what province of Sumatra?
Q3. In Bahasa Indonesian, how do you say: "Where are the best waves"?
Q4. What's the name of the strait between Java & Sumatra?
Q5. What is the name of this break?

We had 4 correct entries sent in from Tom 'The Colonel' Curnow, Mark 'Telstra' Charlton, Mick Westcott and Yasha Hetzel.  Well done guys, please send us your current mailing addresses and we'll post you out a copy.  By the way, the answers are: Q1. Ombak Tujuh Q2. Lampung Barat Q3. Dimana ombak yang terbaik? (or similar) Q4. Sunda Strait Q5. Way Jambu (video cover shot by Anders). Click here if you want to buy a copy.  Also available on DVD from July.  If you would like to win a copy, plus a Surf Aids 8ft tubular leg rope, we've go a new photo comp happening.  See below for details.

 

Indo News
     There's a couple of recent events worth mentioning.  Firstly, as many of you may already know, Indonesia's visa requirements changed from 1st Feb 2004.  The standard free 60 day tourist visa has been replaced with a 30 day visa, which you get when you pay $US25 at immigration upon arrival into Indo.  We have been getting plenty of inquiries about how to get a longer visa, which requires a visit to your local consulate before departure and a payment of AU$125, so drop us a line if you need more info.  
    

Next is the Indonesian election, the second since the fall of the Soeharto regime in 1998.  As usual the media was beating up the possibility of trouble leading up to the parliamentary election in April, and as usual, it went off without a problem.  In fact, all international election observers present were full of praise for how smoothly it went.  Every Indonesian we have spoken to has been happy with the result, which saw Soeharto's old party, Golkar, sneak in by a nose from Megawati's PDI.  But it's not over.  In July there is the Presidential election, where for the first time the public will choose their president, and all reports indicate that an ex-army but well regarded newcomer, SBY (short for Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono) will romp it in.  Everyone is sick of Megawati sitting on her arse doing nothing.  SBY needs a 50% majority, otherwise they have a re-run in September.  As always in Indo, things are never simple and take time.
    

Finally, security in Indonesia.  The recent travel warning put out by the Australian Government has set off alarm bells again.  We think it is important to clarify that the revision was due to reported death threats received by senior staff of a large multinational zinc mine in Sulawesi.  We can report that the situation on the ground at locations we visit remain unchanged: locals still friendly; long hold downs on big days still a threat.         

 

Nev's Update
     Well I've been in Indo now for 2 months and although I've seen several good swells and some great days I haven't had a wave yet.  A frustrating situation brought about by a syndrome known as Bell's Palsy in which the nerves on one side of the face take a break and nothing on that side works.
    

After several attempts and some bullshit by doctors who should've known better, I finally discovered what was up after a visit to the Bali International Medical Centre in Kuta, where I got full info and advice etc.  The point of telling you about my bad luck is to spread the word about where professional medical help is available in Bali.  I was given the run around and it wasn't until I went there (BIMC) that I got real treatment.  They have a wide range of western & skilled Indo doctors available and the facilities, standards and service are pretty much what you'd expect at home.  Since the Bali bombings the Aust govt has put some cash into the facility and it's the place to go if you're unlucky and  get sick or injured.   You can claim it on your travel insurance.  OK, why can't I surf? My bloody eye wont close properly and water just rushes in causing pain and loss of balance.  I just have to be patient. 
    

I got to Indo at the end of March and had 3 weeks in Bali shaping boards at Online surfboards.  I was doing boards for them and also for Freeline tour customers for pick up in Bali or Jakarta.  Online are probably the best factory in Bali,  the boards are all made with Australian materials, Australian shapers and Australian trained glassers and sanders etc.  So all our boards, Freeline & Naga, are the same quality you'd expect in OZ as are the Online range.   We're getting more guys taking advantage of our service of new boards to pick up when they get here. 
    

From Bali we went up to the Ombak Indah losmen in Sumatra to help get things
going for the start of the new season. The early crew there scored some great days.  Apart from 3 days of onshores most days were clean all day.   Several of the other breaks in the area also turned on for the boys.  Crew were mainly Aussies & Kiwi's with a few Japanese and a couple of seppos.  Freeline's new Japanese agent Norio made a name for himself, not only by getting into some hot barrels but by saving the life of one of his countrymen who got whacked on the head by his board and swallowed enough
water to make everyone think the tide was going out.  Nice save Norio, I'm sure your happy and bright personality, and lifesaving skills, will make you a good asset for Freeline.
    

In the meantime Stu was up in the Mentawais with Moose on the "Kuda Laut", (Sea Horse) getting into some hot ones there on his new 6'9" Naga board. Check his report later in this newsletter.  After 3 1/2  weeks it was back to Bali and back in the pit.  I've got a heap of shaping to do but I'm really looking forward to getting back to Ombak Indah as well as the Batu Besar losmen in West Java, also Cimaja and Pangandaran.
     There are a few more crew around than last year but there's still plenty of waves for everyone.  The most I saw out at Ombak Indah was 8 guys out at one time.  
   

I've heard of new travel warnings but nothing seems to have changed over here.  The people still smile and say "selamat datang" (welcome) and I honestly believe that it's as safe here in Indo as it is in Sydney with all the talk about how OZ is now a terror target.  Who wants to miss some epic surf sessions just because some misguided brain-dead idiot threatens to do something?  The fanatics are just that, a bunch of dickheads not enjoying life.  Screw them, I'm going surfing!  Anyway, the traffic is more dangerous here, just ride a motorbike to Denpasar in the rush hour or meet a truck or bus on a blind corner on the highway and the threat of terrorism seems small.
   

We're getting into the middle part of the season and I'll be getting round to a few more spots so I'll get back to you in a couple of months.  Until then, good surfing, get out of the cold and I'll see you over here.  The people and the waves are still waiting.  Oh yeah, don't forget the new visa rules.  Check before you leave.  A few guys have been screwed around because they thought it'd be just like normal.  Take it easy...Nev   

 

Mentawais
     Back to Stu here.  I returned mid-May after visiting Bali, West Java, South Sumatra and the Mentawais.  Had a great trip since there was plenty of swell, not many people in the water, plus it was great to catch up with all our friends again.  I managed to get a few wins over Andi on the pool table, which is always a bonus as he gets better every year.  Any pool sharks out there going through Jakarta and wanting a challenge, Andi's your man, but I advise against playing him for money!

     I'd been planning for a while to get up to the Mentawais to do a test run with Moose and the Kuda Laut, and was lucky get onboard early May along with Freeline customers Brian Fisk and Jake Jacobsen, plus 3 of Moose's friends, including global wanderer surf legend Larry Dawson.  I'd heard a lot about Moose from various sources...he's one of the original crew to do charters in the area and I'm pleased to say he runs a good operation, specifically catering for those seeking uncrowded waves with budget style travel.  
     We had a fantastic trip that had a bit of everything: surf every day ranging from 3 - 8ft, everyone got barrelled at least once, got a big storm that had us take shelter for a day and a half, empty perfect waves, crowded perfect waves and everything in between, plenty of good food and drink, plenty of great stories and new friendships all round.  Definitely the best value Mentawai trip on offer. 
Photo Competition
     This competition is open to Freeline customers and goes like this.  We will give away 5 prizes (i.e. 'Rubber Time 2' DVD plus a Surf Aids Tubular Legrope) to the 5 best pics sent in.  Pics must have been taken on a Freeline trip, can be either prints sent by mail or digital images emailed, and only one prize per customer, but you can send in more than one pic to increase your chances.  Competition will be open till the end of this season, and we will post all entries on the web site.

 

Next Issue
     We'll update you again around August-September.   Stu's doing a 'development' trip down off Timor some time soon, so we'll have some pics from that, plus other news.  If you get a chance drop us a line, we'd love to hear from you, what you think of the newsletter, suggestions etc. 

 

Ok, that's it for now.

Safe surfing....... Stu and I don't want to have to surf alone this year, we need a bit of company!

See you in Indo....
                            cheers...Nev and Stuart