Rifles
Mentawais, Indonesia
Reef breakExpert
Fast and mechanical as its name suggests, a short, intense left-hand barrel in the northern Mentawais that fires like a shotgun and punishes anything less than perfect positioning.
Typical Conditions
The Surf Window
Swell Window
OptimalW (270°)
WindowSSW–NNW (210°–330°)
Size4-8ft
Wind
SE
Offshore
Tide
Mid to high
LowMidHigh
Season
May–September
JFMAMJJASOND
The Wave
Type
Left
Bottom
Shallow, sharp reef
Shape
Fast, hollow barrel, short but intensely powerful
Length
75–125m
Skill Level
- •Who it's for: Expert
- •Why: The take-off is steep, the barrel is fast, and the reef is extremely shallow, precision required.
Hazards
- •Very shallow reef
- •Fast, narrow barrel with no room for error
- •Strong current on bigger swells
- •Remote, boat-based access only
Local Tips
- •Rifles fires on a slightly different swell angle (NW) than most Mentawai breaks, it can be firing when nearby waves are smaller.
- •A narrow, fast shortboard works better here than a wider step-up, speed is everything.
Location
-1.8500, 99.6333