How much you’re frothing after reading the following feature could determine how willing you are to risk it for a biscuit. One thing’s for certain – no prisoners were taken on the epic Unifoil team trip to Bali. Read on
I’ve been hunting waves around the globe for 30 years. I’m no stranger to a good, feral surf trip in pursuit of perfect rides. Given this context, there was something magical about our first Unifoil team trip to Bali. From the logistics, to the surf, to the crew, it was the best and most gratifying travel experience I’ve ever had. And it wasn’t just the waves, a large part I credit to my new teammates and their massive good vibes.
The only real hiccup I experienced were the flights from Florida to Bali. My first connection was canceled and it set off a chain reaction of flight rebookings that had me crisscrossing the globe, consuming two full days of travel and a delayed board bag. But from there on, everything went mint.
Even with the delays, I still managed to arrive a day ahead of my fellow team riders and catch a warmup session with the Unifoil General Manager, Toby Atkins. We previously only knew each other through Zoom, so what better way to get acquainted than a jet lagged session at Oka Point, Sanur, in well overhead waves. I instantly knew Toby and I would get along great when I watched him lay down a deep power turn on a 6ft wave, fueled by tree-trunk-legs, a Ragnar Lothbrok ponytail, and matching viking beard; his past life as a professional surfer was immediately apparent. Toby rips and was referred to as Lars The Viking throughout the rest of the trip.
The following day big wave Aussie legends and foil lords Josh Ku and Alex Hayes arrived to our home base at the Abian Harmony Hotel, alongside Dominic DiMaggio, Unifoil’s Global Sales Manager, and Paul Burnett, ex professional surfer from the early days and Unifoil’s talented graphic artist and designer. Also joining us was Ben Taylor, exceptional drone pilot, kind soul, and hilarious bloke. The same can be said for our photographer, Matt Power, another legend from England. The two could be brothers.
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