One of the greatest things one can have on a surf trip is a willingness to change plans at the last minute. It’s necessary sometimes, although it can be easy to be paralyzed by indecision when picking between pumping Padang or pumping Desert Point. But Koa Rothman was not paralyzed by that decision. He chose the latter. It’s nice to have options, right?
Also at Desert Point were Clay Marzo and Italo Ferreira, who — I assume, anyway — were in the area for the upcoming Rip Curl Padang Padang event. Desert Point is not only one of the best waves in the world, but also one of the most sought after. That means that, especially when some of the best tube-riders on the planet are there, the lineup will be a bit full.
“The crowd was pretty intense up top at the main part of the wave,” Rothman wrote.
But if you’ve got the chops and that clogged lineup is clogged with friends, you’re going to get waves. Really, really good waves.
“Deserts is just the longest, easiest, most perfect barreling left on the planet,” Koa said. “It’s almost too easy that it gets way too crowded.”
That crowd was on full display on one of Koa’s first waves, when he “shared” one with a surfer who didn’t end up making the section. Koa, however, just continued on his merry way.