Gibbo & Shed 9 – Indo 2010

JOHN GIBSON & TEAM SHED 9 – INDO TRIP 2010  (words by John Gibson)

All of Gibbo’s pics by – Willbrodus Christian Willsouw (thanks willy)

I jumped on my flight to Indonesia 4 days early and I am so glad I did. I ended up scoring 4 – 6 foot Padang Padang on the first surf. In the meantime, Eddie (Shed 9 founder) was scoring somewhere near Krui with a few other mates. We finally met up in Kuta 5 days later when the swell had dropped. Kuta is a fun and crazy place. We had a few big nights and on one in particular I got into a bit of a scuffle; leaving me with a black eye and a split forehead to take with me to G-Land.

We scored a few waves at Uluwatu in between the Kuta madness. Later on we hooked up with 2 more DK rippers. Phil Eastburn from Manly (NSW) and fellow Gold Coaster, (QLD) Rueben Terry. We were all stoked and excited when we boarded the speed boat to G-Land. It was a rough trip as the swell was up and about 2 hours into the trip a few people starting getting sea sick. We all had a giggle once we realized we were on the boat with Mick Lowe (pro surfer) and it was his crew of mates with their heads over the side.

As we pulled into the bay the hooting starting…..IT WAS PUMPING!!!! So it was a quick check-in where we were staying then we got out there. For the next few days it was nothing but surf, surf and more surf. I was absolutely buggered. By the third day the swell had started to drop, but we had scored some really sick waves.

I still had a weeks accommodation paid for at G-Land so I thought I might save it for the next big swell. With still over a month left of time in Indo, I decided I would head back to Kuta. Eddie was going to stay in G-land with his future wife Claire, but the rest of us would be leaving the next morning. So with no waves and nothing to do in the jungle but wait for the boat trip back in the morning, we all hit the Bintangs. Once again, me being me, I over indulged in the tasty liquid and ended up having a bit of a wrestle with Eddie. Good times.

 Not long after I ended up in an argument with Mick Lowe and his crew. They started dribbling on about the usual surfer/bodyboarder crap and I spoke up as I was sick of hearing it. Unfortunately they didn’t seem to keen on this and had security escort me back to my room for the night…hahaha…

As it always turns out, the next day I ended up on the return boat trip with them. They where cool about it all once they realized who we were. The were mostly good guys and we had a good laugh about it followed by a few ‘hair of the dog’ Bintangs on the boat back to Kuta. More good waves and good times followed once again.

For the next few weeks we just hung around in Bali surfing Uluwatu, Kramis and Chungu. When the next big swell arrived I went back to G-Land for a week with Phil and Rueben while Eddie hit up Desert Point with a couple of other Shed 9 stand-up surfers. We all scored again. Stories where flowing with every one of them getting the wave of their dreams at some point during the trip.

 After so many good waves we headed back to Kuta for my birthday. We started at Alley Cats Bar and then onto Skygarden. We all had plenty to drink but at least everyone managed to stay out of trouble this time, including myself. Eddie and Claire planned to leave in a few days but not before scoring a few more waves at Kuta reef and Uluwatu.

 

 It was nearing the end of my trip and I think my boss/sponsors at Functional Finance became a bit jealous. They decided to come over for the last week. Unfortunately I think the swell heard that they were coming and decided to go into hiding. Gotta hate that. One of the boys that came with them is also the guitarist out of Sunk Lotto, so we ended up hanging out at the metal/tattoo bar a lot. One of the flat days my boss and I decided to get some piercings, my boss getting a nose ring and myself getting a lip ring. It was pretty crazy. Of course in true Indo style and quality they both fell out a week later……

All in all a big thanks to Shed 9 and Functional Finance for helping me out on an awesome surf trip. I had a blast. I hope we can all do it again next year.

John Gibson