Surfing the Mentawai Islands, Indonesia
Photograph by Jason Kenworthy, A-Frame
"I was just hugging the face of the wave waiting for it to barrel," says pro surferBruce Irons, who was willing to give his pal Sam McIntosh's "flare surfing" idea a try off Indonesia's Mentawai Islands.
First the crew tested the idea in the very early morning. "I really didn't know if it was going to work, or if the flare would just burn right through my board," notes Irons. Once they felt confident in the mechanics, they set out at night. "We took a Jet Ski out to where the waves were meant to break," says Irons. "I couldn't see more than 20 feet in front of the ski."
When the wave approached, a friend pulled the flare chord, and Irons jumped. A world-class surfer like Irons makes it look easy, but do not try this at home. "Considering my buddy Peter almost lost his eyesight pulling the flare cord on this night, I would say stick with what you are taught as a kid: Don't play with fire." NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
When the wave approached, a friend pulled the flare chord, and Irons jumped. A world-class surfer like Irons makes it look easy, but do not try this at home. "Considering my buddy Peter almost lost his eyesight pulling the flare cord on this night, I would say stick with what you are taught as a kid: Don't play with fire." NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
