Maldives 2022 Surf Season Recap
A look back on a surf season that was: Unrelenting swells, surfing with absolute legends, and lots of memorable sessions.
Images and Words: Stephen Lanfranco
What a season it was!?
April was sunny every day, with perfect little waves to start the season with. It’s usually the best weather of the year; you can expect most days to be clear with light winds, or no wind at all.
May started out the same: Uncrowded, amazing glassy conditions just before the monsoon period arrived. With it, we saw the first decent swell of the season arrive too.
June was amazing for the first couple of weeks. We had Pam Burridge over with a group – they literally scored every day perfect whilst they were here. In the last week of June, just like in May, a big swell arrived and Kandooma was on.
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Early in the season, I got the chance to surf some unexplored waves in the Northern Atolls close by the InterContinental Resort which was a real treat, and probably one of the best and most memorable highlights of the 10 years I’ve worked in the Maldives.
It’s amazing to think there are still unexplored and unchartered areas to surf in the year 2022.
Empty Northern Atolls
We got one of our biggest swells of the year in the late July, whilst Shane Dorian was here. It was so amazing to watch some great surfers tear it up in some serious-size surf.
Shane was calling it 8 foot Hawaiian on one of the days!
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August was the best month of the season so far, with sunny days, light offshore winds and overhead waves every day all month!
We got the chance to surf with Xavier Rudd late August/Early September, when we hosted him for Music in Paradise. What an absolute legend Xavier is. I remember calling him into a little nugget of a wave on the end section, he pulled in and made the drop, only to resurface afterwards with a half a board. One of the guests was stoked he ended up with Xavier’s snapped board as a souvenir.
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We had a wet start to September with more rain falling on one day than recorded in years, followed by and epic 2-3 weeks of waves for the rest of the month. Our guests were getting barrelled wave after wave for days. Not only Kandooma was firing; we scored all of the surrounding breaks, including some unforgettable sessions at Tuckey Joes – one of the best lefts in the Maldives.
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Kandooma was perfect for days and the barrels were deep, hollow and very makeable.
We were getting spat out the end to all the guests cheering from the newly renovated surf corner.
As I write this, we have some small, fun, clean waves breaking out the front and are expecting another swell to hit in a few days time.
Still plenty of the season left, and hopefully many more waves to score. Whilst it’s been a late start to the season, it looks like it could be a late finish, which would be an amazing way to end the 2022 season in the Maldives.
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Gallery
Fun days in April:
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24 July 2022: Central Atolls with Tyler Knox
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August perfection, one of many days this year during August 2022
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Another quality day: September 30, 2022
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