As a surfing parent, it doesn’t get any better than trading tubes with your son/daughter. It’s the type of moments that make everything worth it and leaves memories etched in our surfing brains forever. So when this shot of Dylan Longbottom threading through an Indo drainer, cheered on by his daughter Summa in the channel, dropped into our inbox, we had to hit up Dylan to get the story behind the shot.
“That wave was so special. I’d had three wipeouts so far that session and couldn’t seem to make a wave. That spot is pretty heavy and it’s tricky out there but when this one lined up I was so focused and read it right. Halfway through I could see Summa and it was just me and her, it was a bomb, as I started coming out I could see her claiming it, it doesn’t get any better as a father to share that moment with my daughter.”
The dad and daughter duo are a formidable pairing in the big wave scene and can often be found at waves like Shipsterns and other slabs along Australia’s rugged coastline. Dylan’s year’s of experience surfing waves of consequence is slowly being passed down to Summa who has proven time and again that she’s not afraid of heavy water.
This was the first time either of them had visited Simeulue, an island off the coast of Sumatra which has some heavy water of its own, including the end bowl section of the particular reef they’re pictured surfing above.
“I’ve surfed a lot of waves in my time but that end bowl is one of the most intimidating. It’s pretty much bone dry and there’s hardly any time to kick out. If you don’t make it, you’re on the reef. Me and Summa took a look but it was too dangerous. Jimmy, the guide at Aura, has the place dialed though, it’s incredible to watch.
“I’ve been really impressed with the whole place though. There’s so many different setups, slabs, A-frames, the wave out front of Aura has been super fun. The swell looks good for the rest of the trip too, it never really gets below four foot for the rest of our trip. Once we’re done here, Summa is going to Nias to do the QS comp. It’s the first time she’s done a comp in a while but it looks like there’s a swell hitting there which should be good to watch.”
You can learn more about Dylan and Summa from a feature in our latest edition of the mag. To read, click here.
