Palikir Pass now within easier reach
Every surfer knows that Palikir Pass is one of the best waves on the planet, yet it's never been an easy wave to reach. Flights out of Australia operate once a week and they take a roundabout route across the Western Pacific. Cost has also been an issue.
The good news for surfers is that Air Niugini has just added Micronesia to their list of destinations. From this September Air Niugini will fly twice weekly from Sydney, Brisbane, and Cairns. Flights stopover in Port Moresby before heading onwards to Micronesia but total flight time is reduced from the current duration.
And the flights are cheaper too, making strike missions a possibility - still expensive, but no longer exorbitant - while package trips are now a more economical prospect.
World Surfaris are quick off the mark with packages staying at Pohnpei Surf Club. Click for more info.
Pohnpei isn't known for big waves, mid-range swells are most common during the main season, yet a couple of times a year it pours through at Palikir. Here's Jay Davies from last year.
Comments
Good news.
Anyone here been there?
Yeah, I went about 6 - 7 years back.
Worth the trip Stu? What is the wave like on mid sized swells?
Yeah, as long as you go with realistic expectations. P'Pass itself doesn't pump all the time, and you only see it at the size shown above a few time each year. Yet in my week long trip we had, from memory, three days at Palikir. One day was 4'-5' and just starting to do the heave ho, but even the smaller ones were running perfectly through the inside.
The swell season is also when the trades blow but I got lucky and for a few days we were between cycles, meaning the waves on the east coast were surfable. Surfed two passes over there, both at size yet neither stacking up to Palikir's perfection, when the north side wasn't really breaking.
Like anywhere you roll the dice, but less outlay makes it more inviting.
Thanks Stu it would be more of a gamble than Indo or Fiji. If the waves are no good is there plenty to fill in your day? I imagine the snorkelling and fishing would be fantastic.
Much to do besides surfing and fishing ?
Rusty: " You sure got a lot of magazines !"
Cousin Dale : " Yeah I use 'em all the time."
rusty :" How do you use a magazine ?"
Cousin Dale ( working on his grip ) : " Yeah, I was gettin' to that ......you ever bopped your baloney ?"
Nan Madol and the corner stores sell joints like cigarettes ...true.
Direct flights - the best or the worst thing to happen to P pass ?
looks the goods possibly the next surf trip
Yep. If I could be anywhere in the world right now, it'd be Pohnpei. They're staring down the barrel of a week-and-a-half of perfect P'Pass, size fluctuating between four and ten foot.
Who won the competition ?
We'll be making an announcement today.
Oh come on now....its near my bedtime
Thanks for staying up to watch me win Udo, much appreciated.
I can't believe it!
....
....
I really thought they would have announced it by now. I guess whoever won isn't checking their email or summat. I've given up hope.
Hope not, I'm constantly checking my email!
My email ain't working.
Please let it be me....
I feel like Veruca Salt.
Veruca salt??? what.....anyway thanks Ben...clapping applause,start sortin boards eh,cant wait!
Veruca Salt - I want the golden ticket !
I didn't know Allois was the judge !?
And I feel robbed , 600 M out .... just because " the Chuukese boys " torched the old terminal there .
Oh well fortune favors the brave .
PS is the trip soon or next season !?
"I didn't know Allois was the judge !?"
Ha ha ha...
Annina can take the trip anytime between now and late Jan next season.
How longs the trip? Would be pretty tempting to jump on a plane today with the consistent run of fun sized swell over the next week or so.