Kandooma Late July 2021. The Dorian Swell
“The waves were incredible! No one out. I would say it’s like Jeffreys Bay, only probably better. It barrells all the way from top to bottom.” – Jackson Dorian.
Words by Ben Horvath.
All photos and videos by Andy Potts.
“You know what it looks like? It’s like Honolua Bay, but uncrowded” – Shane Dorian.
Pumping
View this post on Instagram
Shane Dorian and family have now hosted 3 annual Kandooma trips with Perfect Wave Travel.
Shane, complete with knee brace, still absolutely putting it on rail
Back in July 2020, Shane and family were super keen to still go to Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma at the height of the Coronavirus pandemic, back when the world was still really reeling, but due to government travel restrictions at the time, and obvious safety concerns they and their guests understandably had to postpone.
Jackson setting his line through a beautiful inside section tunnel at Kandooma
So it comes as no surprise that come March this year, Shane (despite his serious knee injury) was on the phone frothing, “Hey Ben, what is the situation in the Maldives right now? We are super keen to go this year. We would like to do 10 days on Central Atolls Charter and a good week to 10 days or so at Kandooma in July.”
Yeeow… the whole Kandooma 2021 Kandooma Dorian crew
I’m like, “Sure Shane, we’d be stoked, honoured to have you and the family and your friends back on deck, I mean to be honest the Maldives, particularly out on a charter and also at Holiday Inn Kandooma Resort on that epic little island, are probably up there with the safest places to travel to in the world right now.”
I assured Shane Perfect Wave and Holiday Inn Kandooma Resort had strict protocols in place to safeguard all guests and so all we needed was swell, Shane, family and friends go for it attitude and it would be on.
Kandooma and the Maldives in general would have to be one of the safest places to go surfing right now
Of course, as can clearly be evidenced in the accompanying video and photo drop, it sure turned out to be a super special trip… as the swell gods aligned with a solid 4-6ft SE swell, sunshine and offshore W-NW winds, meaning Kandooma and surrounds were transformed into grommet froth central! Oh, and did I mention no crowds?
In 2019 Shane and Jackson introduced us to female grom sensation Erin Brooks and a couple other kids going ham amongst their posse of shredding groms, this year Chase Burnes, Joe Zucchero, Dash Pinegar and Ryder Prouty joined the Dorian family for the trip, and wow did the crew get shacked.
Jackson Dorian slotted in grom froth heaven with a wall way longer than anything Trump promised to build
Dash Pinegar perfectly poised in the pit
Chase piped
Chase Burnes locked in on the inside bowl at Kandooma, late July 2021
Joe Zucchero neatly slotted on the inside bowl
From L to R Parker, Kai, Dash and Ryder and Shane Dorian… king of the groms
Last year’s grom tribe
Jackson is already frothing to return next year
More Like This
Kandooma Resort in the Maldives offers the best surf holiday in the world hands down, and right now we are offering 30% off all bookings.
Kandooma Surf Resort in the Maldives offers the best surf holiday in the world hands down.