🇮🇩 MENTAWAI ISLANDS, INDONESIA
Lance's Left
The perfect left — machine-like consistency in the Mentawais
FAIR
Live Conditions
Conditions Summary
4ft waves — with 11s mixed swell — from a workable direction — Clean 3mph offshore winds grooming the surface — Note: this is outside the peak season for this spot
LOW CONFIDENCEModel-only forecast, no buoy nearby
Why it's FAIR
Swell Direction
Primary swell is 186° — close to but not perfectly aligned with ideal 225°. Spot will work but not at its best.
Swell Period
11s — solid groundswell. Waves will have real energy and organization.
Wind
3mph offshore — clean, grooming the wave face
Season
October is shoulder season — spot can still work but swells are less consistent
Data Confidence
Model-only forecast, no buoy nearby
At the Break
3.9ft
LOW CONFIDENCE
Model-only forecast, no buoy nearby
Period
11s
✓ Groundswell
Wind
3mph
E
OFFSHORE
Water
85°F
Boardshorts
Swell Direction
70%
Wind Direction
100%
Primary Swell
5.2ft @ 9.4s
S 186°
Secondary Swell
0.3ft @ 6.7s
WNW 290°
10 Day Outlook
5.4ft
TODAY
Oct 26
(14s)
5.0ft
TMRW
Oct 27
(13s)
4.6ft
WED
Oct 28
(11s)
3.9ft
THU
Oct 29
(11s)
3.4ft
FRI
Oct 30
(16s)
3.6ft
SAT
Oct 31
(15s)
3.5ft
SUN
Nov 1
(13s)
4.4ft
MON
Nov 2
(12s)
4.5ft
TUE
Nov 3
(15s)
4.4ft
WED
Nov 4
(20s)
Best this week: today — 5.4ft
Best next week: WED Nov 4 — 4.4ft
Incoming Swell Events
Today
moderate
Swell building to 5.4ft @ 14s
Model Breakdown
ECMWF (45%)2.6ft
ICON (35%)5.2ft
GFS (20%)4.9ft
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: Oct
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 1 · Oct 26
5.4ft @ 14s
GOOD
Trip Cost Estimate
Flights from NYC~$1100
Hotel per night~$120
Weekend est.~$1460
5 day est.~$1700
Week est.~$1940