COMBO - LAND
IN A TIME OF COVID DISRUPTIONS, LIKE EVERY OTHER SURFRR WITH A PASSPORT AND A SURF ITCH TO SCRATCH, AN INTREPID ZAG CREW STRIKES DOWN THE WEEL-WORN SURFING PATH OF THE MALDIVES-AND MANAGES TO SCORE, BIG TIME!
"THINGS HAVE CHANGED A LOT IN THE MALDIVES SINCE TONY HINDE HUSSEIN SHIPWRECKED HIMSELF AT PASTA POINT IN THE 1970S"
“So, where you from?” asks the middle-aged Israeli guy from under his white Florence Marine hooded rash vest, his face a mask of matching white zinc, his brown eyes two dots of colour. A human igloo.
“Uh… South Africa,” I say, looking up the point as the oncoming set undulates through the crowded lineup, lifting us up and letting us fall together, like rhythmic dominoes. Three or four surfers take off, and pump like dogs to try and catch the heels of the surfer ahead of them and lay claim to the wave. “It’s good waves there?” he asks.
“Very,” I nod.
“So why do you come here?” He looks towards the 60 other pleasure seekers attempting to find their joy in the tropical rush hour.
It’s a question that I struggle to answer succinctly, in that moment. Especially when you consider the vast and relatively untapped surfing riches of our homeland. If the pinnacle of the surfing experience is quality, uncrowded surf, then why do we travel to popular international surf destinations like the Maldives to mix it up with so many other international surf travellers?
It’s complicated.
The last two years have not exactly been a
