What it takes is the spirit to get there, and no one embodies this spirit quite like the UK’s Oli Adams. “Timing wise this trip was perfect for me, as I needed to test myself next to world class surfers in good waves to know where I was at after coming back from my operation.” Oli continued when others said stop. Late last year he grew critically ill and very nearly lost his battle with Crohn’s disease, but Adams is now back and shredding harder than ever.

He’s fallen, he’s crashed, he’s been hurt. Regrets? Not one. Not when you’re on a boat in the Mentawais. “During the trip I realised that I wasn’t back to 100% just yet but everyday I loosened up a bit more and towards the end I was starting to surf how I wanted, and nailed a few clips. Since returning home though the training on the trip set me up to really get my surfing to where I want it to be, and in the last few weeks I’ve been surfing the best I ever have. I have to thank the other surfers on the trip for motivating me and Protest for giving me the opportunity to go to a place that most surfers dream about!”

And Oli wasn’t the only one frothing. He was joined on the boat by Yannick De Jager, Tristan Guilbaud, Jatyr Berasaluce and Larsonneur Gaspard.