NEWSLETTER

Hi there everyone,

Nev's Report

Well it's 2008 already and here at Freeline we're looking forward to a great Indo season and heaps of choice waves. Bookings are strong overall so if you want specific dates get onto Stu or Sue now.

Personally I'm looking forward to an end of the dramas I've had over the last couple of years with foot ulcers etc which has kept me out of the water for long periods and forced me to leave Indo in May for medical attention in OZ. It's been a longer stay than we had planned but I should get back to life in Bali again this month (Jan) Can't wait! It hasn't been all bad though, I had the chance to catch up with a few mates and news of surf, babies and new board designs.

I was in Mona Vale hospital in June and from my choice location on the 5th floor right next to the window I got to check the huge swells that hit the coast at that time. Luckily the hospital driver was a surfer so the couple of times I had to go for tests he stopped at Nth Narrabeen and we checked a couple of classic sessions of overhead barrels. Perfection plus! It was good to see but watching from the shore with my foot in bandages was a bit hard to take.

Just have to say, if you have to spend time, in a hospital in OZ, (I was there 10 weeks), Mona Vale is the go. Apart from the excellent staff, (quite a few are surfers or married to surfers),and the attention they give you, the view is awesome overlooking the golf course and Mona Vale beach, very good for the healing. Thanks to you all!

Freeline had a pretty good season overall in 2007, mainly with land based tours, with most boat operators reporting a bit of an up and down season. In the main most crew scored real good waves and went home happy from either their land or boat trip.

Something some guys have to remember is that though Freeline always try to make sure your holiday is memorable for all the right reasons and plenty of waves, we are in Indo, and occasionally the plan doesn't always go to plan and we have to work on a plan B. We don't have much control on wave or weather action either, that depends on a bigger organiser than us!

Also if you travel anywhere new you have to be prepared to explore and check out the area for different spots and conditions. If you choose a budget tour you have no surf guide or local info, except what you can get from other guys in the same position, then exploration is the go. The rewards are good and you'll find adventure and usually good waves. Happens in OZ too, I drove around Tassie for a couple of weeks to find out that where I didn't look it'd been cranking.

Looks like this year Indo is making a bit of a comeback, the last couple of years it's been a bit off the radar though crew who traveled didn't have so many crowds to worry about. Still Indo is a big place with heaps of waves and Freeline can get you to most of them.

I'm always proud to be a surfer when I see crew taking no notice of non surfing, suit wearing politicians or alarmists giving warnings etc because they want to cover their arses. When politicians say they have "reliable intelligence" it sounds like a joke, a retarded rabbit could claim the same. Trouble can come at any time in any country, not just one with great surf like Indo. When people stay away it's only the little people who suffer and surfers are helping to feed locals in remote areas.

We have real strong early bookings this year for both land and boat tours, with Mentawai operators reporting plenty of interest and east of Bali too the outlook is way stronger than the last 2 years so I'd suggest if you have a preference of dates etc get in early to claim your times.

Well that's it from me for now, don't forget if you're in Bali, call into the Freeline shop just off Poppies 2 behind the Bagus Pub. (0361 753394) for any gear you might have forgotten or just to say G'day. We can also help with guides, transport, tours and accommodation if needed.

OK, all the Freeline crew hope you all had a good Christmas and we wish you all a happy, safe, healthy and wave filled 2008. Looking forward to seeing a bunch of you In Indo...Nev

Stu's Report
A Happy 2008 to everyone and also a big thanks to everyone who came away with us in 2007. It was a steady season, not the best we've had business wise, but certainly a great season surf-wise. As Nev has mentioned there seems to be a renewed interest in Indonesia. We've been speculating on what's behind it.

After that epic swell in May, which peaked on the 18th, the surf mags have been have been publishing lots of photo spreads on the region, not to mention all the "surf pro's and their mates" boat trip stories with DVD giveaways. The stories have been positive without hardly a mention of the tramua and security issues over the past few years. There was a plane crash in Yogya in January where 5 Australians were killed, but there were no drug busts and more importantly no bombs.

Once again it's all about the waves, the beautiful tropical locations and all the other experiences that are uniquely Indonesian. And so crew who may have bypassed Indonesia over the past few years are returning again, or coming for the first time, rather than going the other Pacific or Indian ocean options. Everyone know's that you can't beat Indonesia for consistency, so if you are thinking of getting some sick waves get onto it quickly as some boats are almost full!

To help with the extra workload (and to look after the shop while I'm away) we have a new team member to introduce, Sue Custer. Sue has many year experience as a travel agent, and along with her husband, Dave (the Messiah), who has surfed extensively throughout Indonesia, we look forward to continuing to provide a high level or service and hopefully maintain our position as 'The Indo Specialists'.

New Options for 2008

We have increased our range of options with a couple more boats to the Mentawais (Irish Mist, Nusa Dewata) and will also be representing the original land camp in the region, WavePark. And to continue the tradition with 'hardcore' land based adventures, I'll be doing a 'development trip' to Aceh around May-June, which hopefully will result in another tour option. I'm not sure exactly how hardcore it will be given all the aid work going on up there since the tusumai, but it will be remote, uncrowded and an experience. So if any of you are interested in being coming along, let me know. We've also got a couple of Roti-Sumba boat trips on Sri Noa Noa in September-early October, and there's a couple of spots available, so let me know if your interested.

Backwash Questionnaire
As our customers would know, we always try to get feedback on the service we provide by sending everyone a 'Backwash Questionnaire'. In 2007 we to a big step forward by putting the questionnaire on the website and asking for responses by email. This seems to have worked well as we got around the usual return rate, and more importantly, a very high rate of customers who 'would recommend us to a friend'. As a reward for their efforts, everyone who responds gets a quality Freeline Bottle Opener, and goes in the draw for a free surfboard! We will be drawing this in February.

Long time Freeline customer and good friend Tom Curnow was the lucky winner in 2007 and there's a not so pretty pic on me, Tom, Nev and new board in Sumatra in May (we're not getting any younger!).

That's about it for the moment. Thanks to everyone who sent us pic's throughout 2007 - there's some beauties amongst them. We'll be in touch again very soon with more news, pic's and info on the 2008 season.

Until then,

Nev & Stu

Awesome lineup shot taken late 2006 (Pic: Stu)

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