Endless Reos >> Nathan and Shannon Ducker
It’s always memorable when you get a session where a single wave may allow more reos than you can count on two hands. After driving over 1000km, we arrived just in time to score the tail end of a 4m swell. In my eagerness to get out, I managed to snap a fin on the first run which made for some out of control bottom turns into very snappy reos. It was an afternoon of long, overhead, glassy waves.
Stoked with a fix, we settled into a week of beach and water time. Kiting most days and SUPing, surfing, snorkelling, sand boarding, etc. The wind was good most days and the waves were big enough to allow long workable rides. Although our return day was approaching, we had noticed an interesting change in the forecast for later that week. With a huge swell forecast we made arrangements to stay an extra week to score the biggest day.
When the day arrived, we chilled for a while waiting for the sea breeze to build. The swell was thundering in. While waiting, we surfed waves in what would usually be a calm, protected lagoon. Out on the reef there were sets steaming through at three to four times overhead.
As is often the case, eagerness got the better of me. The sea breeze was slow to build and I found myself going out solo, totally under powered and staring into the face of some monster waves. The pace and chop on the waves was a real test and on a few of the rides it took everything to hold it all together. With the super light wind it was the first time I have ever managed to challenge the drift capabilities of the REOs. Despite pushing them beyond all reasonable limits, the performance of the REOs was faultless in every way.
With a couple of good mates, we had the wave to ourselves throughout the afternoon. It was one of those sessions where energy levels were surpassed by enthusiasm so the carnage, for some, became high at the end. This was an end of season session that had it all, from adrenaline rush freight train rides to pure bliss and seemingly endless reos on long, glassy waves.
Winter has hit here so we’ll look forward to another awesome season.
Good wind and waves to all!
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