Ian Gentil, Telos Islands

This wave in the Telos Islands is one of Indonesia’s lesser-known gems. A dramatic change in depth creates an almost standstill wave on the take off and our guide tells us it can handle up to 12 feet of swell. Thing is, it doesn’t get bigger than six feet in height, “it just gets wider.” “It’s hard to get into when it’s that big,” he says. Y’think? The very obvious ledge and defined take off-to-pit zone also makes it a water photographer’s dream. Sets on this day were around the three-foot mark with sneakers rolling through unpredictably and catching the team out of position. Like this one. Maui grom, Ian Gentil ideally should have been under that first ledge. He still clocked some womb time and anyways, kid’s like14 years old. He’s allowed lapses.– Jed Smith