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It’s the stretch of coast that originally launched a thousand surfing dreams. The Bukit Peninsular was the enchanting visual gateway to Indonesia and its myriad of mysteries. For many, the first exposure came via the pages of Tracks and the subsequent release of ‘Morning of the Earth’ by two of Tracks’ co-founders, David Elfick and Alby Falzon. Released in 1972, MOTE features Steve Cooney’s and Rusty Miller’s first encounters with Uluwatu and the Bukit’s powerful magic. (Around the corner from this shot). A year after MOTE’s release, Australian surfer and shaper, Richard Harvey, followed a hunch and rock-hopped down to Padang Padang where he surfed sparkling, lime-lit barrels all by himself. Soon after the likes of Peter McCabe and Rory Russell were plundering Padang’s hollow treasures. Although first seen in Hoole/McCoy’s 1975 classic ‘Tubular Swells’, Padang was also showcased in the 1977 release of Bill Delaney’s big screen epic, ‘Free Ride’, which has been given major landscape in our latest mag, Issue 593. (Tracks is touring ‘Free Ride’ this month- click here for tickets).
While hundreds of other versions of ‘the perfect wave’ have been discovered in Indonesia since Padang was first ridden 50 years ago, it remains one of the archipelago’s most remarkable spectacles; captured here (featured image) drenched in golden light as the pack jostles for a nugget before sunset. This shot is available for purchase in the Tracks Print Store. Click here to hang ‘Golden Beer Hour’ on your wall.
