We are attempting to break 2 world records on the Bono River, in Sumatra, Indonesia between 9 – 12 March 2016:
1) The longest wave surfed of 12.23 km
2) The longest team wave surfed
“The Bono” is not a typical wave. It is a tidal bore, as only found in a few rivers around the global. Located in the river Kampar, Sumatra, Indonesia, whilst only discovered in recent years by surfers, this wave has been secretly ridden by locals on their canoes for centuries.
Although quite used to the phenomenon, local inhabitants are mostly scared when the Bono appears, which they believe are spirits of the Seven Ghosts. Many boats have sunk in this river when caught in the bore.
Deep in the jungle of Sumatra, 80 kilometres away from the sea, “The Bono” is one of the best tidal bores in the world and is easily accessible by land or sea either, via Pekanbaru (short flight from Kuala Lumpur) or via Singapore.
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“The Bono” is situated along one of the last remaining peat swamp forests in Indonesia. Its surfing potential was first discovered by World Stormrider Guide’s mastermind Antony Colas together with a group of French bore riders, in September 2010.
After realizing he only hit a smaller version of “The Bono” (due to unequal diurnal tides), Antony came back in December 2010 with another group of friends to witness the Big Bono with wave faces of more than 3-4 metres and waves breaking for a total distance of 50 kilometres.
The tidal bores is known locally as “The Bono”, and rushes in with loud roaring sound at a speed of 40 kilometres per hour. The surf on the river can rise as high as 4 to 6 meters, at times creating barrels.
So the potential is there, to smash the 12km world record, as well as the team record, particularly given we have planned our attempt at the time of the year when the tidal bore is expected to be at its greatest.
