🇮🇩 MENTAWAI ISLANDS, INDONESIA
Lance's Left
The perfect left — machine-like consistency in the Mentawais
FAIR
Live Conditions
Conditions Summary
4ft waves — with solid 13s groundswell — from a workable direction — Clean 7mph offshore winds grooming the surface
LOW CONFIDENCEModel-only forecast, no buoy nearby
Why it's FAIR
Swell Direction
Primary swell is 192° — close to but not perfectly aligned with ideal 225°. Spot will work but not at its best.
Swell Period
13s — strong, long-period groundswell. Maximum wave power and quality.
Wind
7mph offshore — clean, grooming the wave face
Season
September is peak season for this spot
Data Confidence
Model-only forecast, no buoy nearby
At the Break
4.4ft
LOW CONFIDENCE
Model-only forecast, no buoy nearby
Period
13s
✓ Groundswell
Wind
7mph
SE
OFFSHORE
Water
85°F
Boardshorts
Swell Direction
70%
Wind Direction
100%
Primary Swell
5.2ft @ 11.1s
SSW 192°
Secondary Swell
1.2ft @ 21.1s
SW 221°
10 Day Outlook
5.8ft
TODAY
Sep 11
(17s)
7.2ft
TMRW
Sep 12
(21s)
7.3ft
SUN
Sep 13
(18s)
6.5ft
MON
Sep 14
(16s)
6.3ft
TUE
Sep 15
(15s)
6.2ft
WED
Sep 16
(14s)
6.4ft
THU
Sep 17
(16s)
5.8ft
FRI
Sep 18
(16s)
6.8ft
SAT
Sep 19
(18s)
7.3ft
SUN
Sep 20
(16s)
Best this week: SUN Sep 13 — 7.3ft
Best next week: SAT Sep 19 — 6.8ft
Incoming Swell Events
Today
moderate
Swell building to 5.8ft @ 17s
Model Breakdown
ECMWF (45%)3.0ft
ICON (35%)5.5ft
GFS (20%)5.8ft
Model confidence25%
Updated every 30 mins · Open-Meteo ECMWF + ICON + GFS
About
Lance's Left (HT's) is the companion wave to Lance's Right and widely considered one of the top five waves in the world. A long, mechanical left-hander that produces perfect tubes from takeoff through multiple sections. The Mentawais deliver swell more consistently than almost anywhere else on Earth.
The Break
HT's left — the main peak, machine-like lefts that barrel through multiple sections.
Ideal Conditions
4-8ft SW groundswell, SE trades, incoming tide
Best Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Best months highlighted · Current: Sep
Trip Planner
Mentawai Surf Trip
Weekend · 3 Days
Day 1
Fly into Padang (PDG). Overnight charter or fast boat to the Mentawais.
Day 2
Full day surfing Lance's Left and nearby waves.
Day 3
Evening boat back to Padang. Fly home.
Mentawai Boat Charter
Full Week · 7 Days
Day 1
Arrive Padang, board charter boat, sail to the islands.
Day 2
Lance's Left all day — case study in perfection.
Day 3
Explore nearby waves — Rifles, Lances Right, Macaronis.
Day 4
North through the islands to Macaronis if swell is right direction.
Day 5
Back to the main zone, afternoon surf at E-Bay.
Day 6
Last full day — hit whatever is best on the forecast.
Day 7
Sail back to Padang, fly home.
Local Knowledge
01
Boat charter is the best way — gives you flexibility to chase the best waves by location.
02
The Mentawais have so many world-class waves that even during a busy swell there's always somewhere uncrowded.
03
April to October is peak season — SW groundswells from the Indian Ocean.
04
Water is warm year-round — boardshorts and rash vest only.
05
Respect the locals and the islands — this is their home, not a surf theme park.
Best Window
Day 3 · Sep 13
7.3ft @ 18s
FIRING
Trip Cost Estimate
Flights from NYC~$1100
Hotel per night~$120
Weekend est.~$1460
5 day est.~$1700
Week est.~$1940