• From the first tracks at Uluwatu, to jungle tripping in Grajagan, east to Sumbawa, and north to Nias, each Indonesian discovery has had one thing in common: it was a Western surfer who rode the first wave. Recently a crew of Indonesian surfers ventured into the wild southern coast of Java to correct this historical anomaly.

    Words by Matt George, photos by Federico Vanno.

    The mere mention of the word Java has been enough to send imaginations soaring throughout history, yet to the modern surfer it holds even more mystery than most imaginations are capable of. With a deadly, rough coast, ship-eating waters, volcanic events that alter the very tectonic plates beneath us and over 1,000 kilometres of exposed coastline, the 13th largest island in the world remains one of our last unexplored surf zones. New discoveries leak out as rumours, then most often become ghosts to those hardy enough to seek them out.

    Recently, photographer Federico Vanno heard such a rumour and launched an expedition with local Balinese surfers Ketut Agus, Tonyo Dharmaputra, and Mustofa Jeksen to the roughest part of the coast in search of what was being called the Sunset Beach of Indonesia. What they found was a gnarly, unpredictable, shifty right on the loneliest stretch of coastline that Java has to offer. Mustofa was first to ride so he named it Itu Mengaum which translates to 'The Roar'.

    The photographer and surfers all came back changed men.

  • Mystery has shrouded the island of Java for centuries. There is both a beauty and a menace that emanates through the souls of your feet, making surfing here less about the waves and more about your spirit.

    Mt. Semeru, with the Brantas river beyond. Even the view from the airplane can fill you with doubt.

  • Tonyo Dharmaputra, eager to throw his hat in the ring after the long, bumpy ride by boat. The thousands of sea stacks that line this coast not only wedge the waves and chop up the seas, but they also lend a very Jurassic vibe to the experience.

  • Itu Mengaum.

    The Roar.

    The first view from the boat, reveals a powerful, unpredictable wave that delivers the surfer into a ferocious rip.

  • Another wave, another unridden challenge.

    Java’s wild coast has seemingly unlimited potential for the tougher travelers among us. Morning surfs here are the go with heavy midday onshore winds as the interior of the island heats up. But whatever the time, horrendous rips are the order of day as can be seen in the foreground. A careful approach is demanded, including a smart exit plan if it all goes wrong.

  • The surfers swap boat for foot track and after a very hot, very wet, two hour hike the dense coastal jungle finally reveals its secret.

  • Another unnamed line-up providing a more manageable respite from the death-defying breaks ahead.

  • A chance glance revealed an endless series of bays resulting in a U-turn that sent the crew tearing into their boardbags.

  • Bigger than originally thought, 'the Left' turned into an all day affair. Looking like a good day at Rocky Point and packing Hawaiian power, Ketut Agus channels his North Shore experience into a classic backside bottom turn.

  • Though smaller than the biggest sets, the first wave at the Roar gave Mustofa Jeksen naming rights. The stand out of the day, Mustofa has always been known as Indonesia’s hardest charger. The wave suited his go-for-broke approach to a tee.   

  • The rare white sand beach in the background belies the menacing reef that the Roar pours over.

    Tonyo Dharmaputra dropped into his first wave late and found himself undergunned and in trouble all the way to the shoulder. Far from the gentler breaks of his native Bali, surfing on Java's wild coast takes a shrewd adaptation. You do not want to be left wanting.

  • Set the controls for the heart of the sun.

    Ketut Agus lays down modern first tracks at a spot they didn’t even name.

  • Javanese lighthouse. A testament to the wildness of this lonely coast.

    Village fisherman here take turns manning the post, with the number and size of the Indonesian flags representing the sea conditions and offering a beacon for home. Javanese surfing will always remain for the adventurous.

Comments

goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot Tuesday, 8 Aug 2017 at 8:16am

Sounds like a good adventure, but pretty underwhelming photos to go with it.
A couple of guys on a 3 ft right and a 4 ft left...

Although the empties look nice

Ahhh Jawa, so much coastline, so few surfers.
So many google earth hours wasted looking for little surprises that keep eluding me

helmet-not-hose's picture
helmet-not-hose's picture
helmet-not-hose Tuesday, 8 Aug 2017 at 8:26am

That's a hard coast to find waves on, I've been into Pacitan and wondered about that stretch but the logistics just seem too unfeasible and the probability of reward seemed low. I reckon the assumption is youre not going to find Desert Point 2.0 but maybe a wave with a single crazy double up section. Pretty much what they did find.

Its great to see the brothers claiming a few scalps for themselves.

crg's picture
crg's picture
crg Tuesday, 8 Aug 2017 at 9:35am

"The photographer and surfers all came back changed men"
Really?

Clam's picture
Clam's picture
Clam Tuesday, 8 Aug 2017 at 1:57pm

One of them all is hidden in plain sight.
Its high performance fun wave

Meris's picture
Meris's picture
Meris Tuesday, 8 Aug 2017 at 6:21pm

Not a great deal of worth on that coast, lots of straight beaches, super strong trades and very average roads...
Way better spots in Indo to hunt surf

indo-dreaming's picture
indo-dreaming's picture
indo-dreaming Tuesday, 8 Aug 2017 at 6:40pm

I agree Meris about 15+ years ago (before google earth) i spent lots of time exploring the coastline of Java, apart from either end its generally pretty average, and yes trade winds generally onshore or cross shore and strong.

Id also be surprised if these waves had never been surfed, i always asked the locals if surfers had been at places and where they had been to try to get an idea of if there was a wave in the next bay or if it was worth walking around that headland etc, and even in super hard spots to get too down crazy goat like tracks, locals always said yes, but did often say not for a long time.

It was fun exploring and nice to know whats there, but to be honest the best waves i found where around Pacitian which at that time was rarely visted by surfers and i always surfed alone.

Clam's picture
Clam's picture
Clam Wednesday, 9 Aug 2017 at 9:27pm

Flying over the blambangan peninsula jawa timur is mind blowing , on the sou east side theres righthanders for miles .

tomway's picture
tomway's picture
tomway Thursday, 10 Aug 2017 at 9:29am

There were a number of comments stating that this coastline has been surfed for years, it's super fickle, the spots are all named, and this sensationalism is just going to screw things up for the locals who really put in the hard yards, over years, without Google maps or the luxury of a support crew... But you've deleted them. Really? Why?

goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot Thursday, 10 Aug 2017 at 9:36am

Hmm where did they go? I read them this morning, don't think they were inappropriate?

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Thursday, 10 Aug 2017 at 9:52am

I deleted them for two reasons. One, the username of one person was abusive. And two, the photos were deliberately moved around and ran counter to the captions so as not to draw attention to any one wave. I didn't want to have to draw attention to that fact, yet now I have to explain it here in the comments. 

tomway's picture
tomway's picture
tomway Thursday, 10 Aug 2017 at 11:16am

You deleted my comment which used my real name and was fully respectful. All you have actually done is deleted all the comments from the people who actually live here, surf here, and have put in the time and effort to trying to work out this complicated coastline.

caml's picture
caml's picture
caml Thursday, 10 Aug 2017 at 10:40am

Where did Clams information about javas population go ?

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Thursday, 10 Aug 2017 at 10:44am

Nothing happened there. Didn't see it.

Clam's picture
Clam's picture
Clam Friday, 11 Aug 2017 at 4:47am

Thought i posted it last night ! ? !
Must have completely failed to send it somehow .

Clam's picture
Clam's picture
Clam Friday, 11 Aug 2017 at 4:49am

Quote :: "Hmm where did they go? I read them this morning, don't think they were inappropriate?"

Username was inappropriate goofy !

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Thursday, 10 Aug 2017 at 10:54am

Well, when someone registers a username 'FuckSwellnet' they ain't gonna get much airplay.

Luke Irwin's picture
Luke Irwin's picture
Luke Irwin Thursday, 10 Aug 2017 at 11:36am

These other comments didn't have abusive usernames and were very polite in the way they address their concerns.
http://imgur.com/a/K31TQ

Why delete them?

goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot Thursday, 10 Aug 2017 at 10:53am

Why does Matt George feel the need to put so much mayo on his stories? When they get called out so quickly by people who obviously know better like some of the commenters on here.
It just makes him come across as a massive wanker.

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Thursday, 10 Aug 2017 at 10:58am

Clam your population post the one caml ref to ..i read it around 9.30pm last night ?

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Thursday, 10 Aug 2017 at 11:03am

I suspect what may have happened is that Clam had replied to 'FuckSwellnet' and when that post got deleted so did the comment.

If that was the case then I apologise for unknowingly deleting it.

Clam's picture
Clam's picture
Clam Friday, 11 Aug 2017 at 4:50am

I wrote a one line reply yes .
But then a few hours later edited it into a huge detailed post .

Clam's picture
Clam's picture
Clam Thursday, 10 Aug 2017 at 11:02am

I swear i read it with my own eyes . Im calling stu deleted it by accident

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Thursday, 10 Aug 2017 at 11:04am

The one liner i read

Clam's picture
Clam's picture
Clam Thursday, 10 Aug 2017 at 11:07am

I didnt reply to #fuckswellnet .just posted it normally .i actually edited the one liner post made that udo probably saw earlier into a long post about javas population densities .

Luke Irwin's picture
Luke Irwin's picture
Luke Irwin Thursday, 10 Aug 2017 at 11:34am

I read you long post about the population yesterday as well. Must have got deleted with all the posts that expressed any negativity about swellnet ruining secret spots for cash.
Here's a link to some deleted posts if you like (sorry I didn't manage to save yours before it got deleted)
http://imgur.com/a/K31TQ

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Thursday, 10 Aug 2017 at 11:39am

Swellnet ruining secret spots for cash ?....Aw get fucked !

boxright's picture
boxright's picture
boxright Thursday, 10 Aug 2017 at 11:39am

For a story with underwhelming photos, as was commented upon in the comments and wouldve diverted people away, you guys have really set off a flare.

tomway's picture
tomway's picture
tomway Thursday, 10 Aug 2017 at 12:07pm

Yeah, we have considered that boxright. But right now, as we speak, off the back off this article and Insta posts from some of the surfers involved, there is a crew with photogs on the beach trying to get the one still from the one rideable wave of the day. Coming to a magazine soon. Eco-resorts to follow. Great work everyone, now where shall we go next?

Travelfish's picture
Travelfish's picture
Travelfish Thursday, 10 Aug 2017 at 8:30pm

So much for freedom of speech?! ...and bebunking of myths.

ringmaster's picture
ringmaster's picture
ringmaster Thursday, 10 Aug 2017 at 10:16pm

"The era of exposing underground spots and blowing them out of the water with exposure has thankfully passed."

Quote from Stunet from another thread on here a week or so ago.

Unfortunately he was referring to the WSL and not Swellnet which is obviously exempt from the rank and file surfers code of 'keeping things under your lid'......