Lances Left Mentawai: Surf Guide to Lance’s Left at Katiet
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The Lances Left Mentawai wave is a left-hand reef break near Katiet on southern Sipora, around the point from HTs (Lance’s Right). It offers long, wrapping walls with barrel sections on south to southwest swell, is commonly said to prefer easterly winds and mid to high tide, and is the usual back-up when HTs is wind-affected. It suits strong intermediates and up.
Lance’s Right, better known as HTs or Hollow Trees, gets the posters. Its sister wave around the point gets the sessions when the wind is wrong for HTs, which happens more often than most visitors expect. Lance’s Left is a quality wave in its own right: longer and more open-faced than HTs on many days, with sections that can throw on bigger swell. This guide covers where Lances Left is, what it needs, who it suits, and how to plan a trip that includes it.
Lances Left Mentawai: where the wave breaks
Lance’s Left sits near Katiet village on the southern tip of Sipora, one of the central Mentawai islands, on the opposite side of the point from Lance’s Right. The two waves are close enough that camps in Katiet surf both, but they are not side by side. Getting to Lance’s Left from Katiet usually means a short boat ride or a local transfer by scooter or vehicle, depending on where you stay and the sea conditions. Some charter boats also anchor here as part of South Sipora itineraries.
Do not confuse the names. “Hollow Trees” and “HTs” refer to Lance’s Right. Indicators is listed by surf guides as a separate left. When people in Katiet talk about “the Left”, they almost always mean Lance’s Left.
What is the wave like?
Lance’s Left is a left-hand reef break with long, wrapping walls. On moderate days it offers performance surfing: open faces for turns with occasional tube sections. As the swell increases it becomes faster, more powerful and shallower, and the barrel sections become more serious. Like almost every Mentawai reef, it breaks over live coral.
| Factor | Lance’s Left | Lance’s Right (HTs) |
|---|---|---|
| Direction | Left | Right |
| Character | Longer walls, barrel sections on size | Very hollow, fast barrel |
| Swell | South to southwest | South to southwest |
| Wind | Commonly reported to prefer easterly; handles HTs-onshore conditions better | Light east to southeast or northeast |
| Tide | Surfable on many tides; mid to high often preferred | Shallow inside at low tide |
| Level | Strong intermediate to advanced | Advanced when overhead |
For the full picture on the right-hander, see our Lance’s Right surf break guide.
Conditions that make Lance’s Left work
- Swell: south to southwest groundswell. It can handle a lot of size but becomes heavier and more consequential as it grows.
- Wind: easterly winds are commonly described as favourable, and the wave tolerates some wind that would blow out HTs. That is why camps switch between them.
- Tide: mid to high is the usual recommendation. Lower tides make the shallow sections more dangerous.
- Size: sources do not agree on a single minimum or maximum. Ask your guide on the day.
Lances Left Mentawai surfing: who should paddle out?
On smaller, cleaner days, capable intermediate surfers can enjoy Lance’s Left, particularly on the more open sections. You should already be comfortable taking off on steep reef waves, reading sections and duck diving under powerful sets. When the swell is overhead and the wave starts throwing, it becomes advanced terrain. Beginners should not surf it.
Hazards
- Shallow coral, especially on the inside and at low tide.
- Fast take-offs and sections that change with swell direction.
- Hold-downs on bigger days.
- Currents along the reef when the swell is large.
Watch for a while from the channel before your first session, learn where people kick out, and clean any reef cuts the same day.
A typical day surfing both Lance’s waves
Many Katiet guests follow a simple rhythm. They check HTs at first light from the beach, surf it if the wind is light and the tide is right, and switch to Lance’s Left when the breeze turns or the tide drops too low for comfort on the right. Lunch and a rest follow the midday wind, and a late-afternoon session goes to whichever wave cleans up first. This flexibility is the main reason surfers choose Katiet over a single-wave base.
Best time to surf Lance’s Left
Lance’s Left follows the general Mentawai pattern. The main swell season runs roughly from April to October, with the most consistent and largest swells usually from June to August. That is also the busiest period at both Lance’s waves, because land guests in Katiet and charter boats overlap. April, May, September and October often offer a better balance of swell and space. From November to March, surf is generally smaller and winds more variable, though good days still happen.
Where to stay for Lance’s Left
Most surfers who prioritise Lance’s Left stay in Katiet, which gives them HTs out front and the Left a short transfer away. Accommodation ranges from homestays and surf camps to resort-style villas. Our guide to finding an HTs Mentawai surf resort explains the options in Katiet and what to ask, and the wider Sipora Island surf resort guide covers the rest of the island. If you are weighing a land base against a camp-style stay, the Mentawai surf camp guide is a good next read.
Getting there
Fly to Padang (PDG) on mainland Sumatra, take the Mentawai Fast ferry to Tuapejat on Sipora (about three and a half hours), then transfer south by road and boat to Katiet. One Katiet property puts the onward leg at around two hours. Some operators also run direct speedboats from Padang.
Quick facts
- Location: near Katiet, southern Sipora, Mentawai Islands.
- Wave: left-hand reef break with long walls and barrel sections.
- Best swell: south to southwest.
- Wind: commonly easterly; a back-up when HTs is wind-affected.
- Tide: mid to high usually preferred.
- Level: strong intermediate to advanced.
- Access: short transfer or boat from Katiet.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lance’s Left the same as HTs?
No. HTs (Hollow Trees) is Lance’s Right. Lance’s Left is a separate left-hander around the point in the same Katiet area.
Can you walk to Lance’s Left from Katiet?
Usually you take a short boat ride or local transfer. Access depends on your accommodation and the sea conditions, so ask your camp how it gets guests there.
Is Lance’s Left good for intermediates?
On smaller, cleaner days it can be, especially for confident intermediates. On big swells it becomes an advanced wave.
When is Lance’s Left better than HTs?
Mainly when the wind is wrong for HTs. Camps often move to the Left when HTs becomes onshore or messy.
Is Lance’s Left crowded?
It can be busy in June to August, when boats and land guests overlap. Dawn sessions and shoulder months help.
For seasons, regions and trip formats, see our Mentawai surfing homepage.
Plan a trip to Lance’s Left
We are an independent planning guide and do not own any resort or boat. Tell us your level and dates and we will help you find a Katiet stay or South Sipora itinerary that suits you. Message us on WhatsApp or email bd@juaraholding.com.
