Hey John Philbin, long time no see, as they used to say in Hawaii. That was a very exciting survey of the G-land layout. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I never went to indo but sure wish I had. Now I'm 65 with too many sports injuries. But now that I'm retired I might do the old man routine on an easy uncrowded swell, and I'll have visions of your vivid descriptions in my head until I do. Let me know when you want another board... Gordon.
Thank you for such a well description! I am heading out to Bobbies’s June 30th and I just can’t wait!! I have the VHS of the Quicksilver 1997 that Egan won, I can die a happy man after this trip
Great interview. I was fortunate to spend 4 weeks at Bobby's. I agree what John said about Bobby. Bobby took me into Denpasar to see if I could get my Visa extended. He didn't have to, but offered. Bobby needed to go to Denpasar to shop so I went with him, and then we stopped by the government building. Bobby has made many surfers dreams come true. What was the very first year you went to G-Land?
Thanks for your comments Glenn. We hear these stories a lot about Bobby. Helping others seems to be the key to a good life. John has been going to G-Land since the mid eighties I believe and I showed up ("late") in the early 90s. I just finished the book 'Journals from the edge' by one of the founders of the camp - Bill Boyum. It helps to imagine what it was like when first surfed. It would have been rugged and beautiful.
@@OldSurfDad Do you know all the names of the current Camps at G-Land? Bobby's, Joyos, ?, ?? I heard there were now 4 camps. Google maps shows 5 camps. When I went there was only Bobby's and Bam Bams in 1987. Do you know if they intend to put a maximum limit on the amount of surfers allowed on the point in the future? In 1987 I did two 2 week stints, one in June and then in late July. On that July 1987 stint I think there might have been 50+ guys at each camp, it seemed crowded at times, especially when it was perfectly surfable. If you could ask John, that would be a great question I would like to know...If they intend to put a max limit of surfers in the area at one time? And what are the names of the current camps? I would love to go back there.
@@GlennLaguna There are several camps at G-Land now. I think 4. Just like in any country, as government officials change, so do the policies. No one knows what will happen next. Hopefully it won't become overcrowded, but G-Land's breaks do hold a lot of surfers. Some will surf tiger tracks and others speedies. It gets harder to find empty waves. I applaud those that made discoveries like G-Land and those that continue to look for the next spot. I'm glad I was able to enjoy Grajagan when I did.
@@OldSurfDad When I went in 87' for four weeks, my first and only time there, I had a bad experience in that there was a group of rowdy Aussies at night for two of my weeks, one of them killed the camp Gecko that some say hung in the main camp tree forever. That left a bad taste in my mouth regretfully. I didn't want to be stuck in one camp with rowdy surfers. If not for that I might have not ventured out. But that being my first 4 month stint to Bali I ventured and found Sumbawa, West Sumbawa (Scar and Super Suck) and Hu'u, so subsequent trips I kept going to those spots over G-Land and found practically empty surf comparatively, maybe not as raw, but perfection barrels. I was lucky to have spent just over 12 months total in Indo. I did two short stints camping out at Desert Point 89 and 91, but that was pretty feral at the time, sleeping on the gound with a makeshift mosquito net and it was also around the time the guy got his shoulder hacked by robbers, so didn't feel completely comfortable there. Thanks for this interview, it brings back good memories.
@@GlennLaguna To hear someone killed a gecko at G-Land really chaps me. There was a huge one there that would live in the restaurant usually near the ping pong table and we'd watch him eat bugs. We've all had fuckwits bring down a trip. Sometimes you gotta move on, but look it opened up another door. I first went to those spots on Lombok and Sumbawa a few years after you on a boat called the 'Whale' or 'Lady Luck' as it become known later. Having a boat helped with the feral camp hazards at Desert Point, but we didn't stay as long as I would have liked. I think I got the best left of my life there. It was one of those moments when everything comes together- you got the right board, you feel good, there's a perfect swell and you luck into a good one. I still think about that ride and it gets better every year! Ha! Thanks for letting me relive it again.
Awesome interview, only been here three times but pretty sure John was there twice in that time. Couldn't meet a nicer bloke and its meeting people like this guy that makes your trip!🐯🎇 and of corse the barrels you get😎
Hands down longest reef Ive surfed. Some people think they are good at surfing until they come here and realize there's a whole other level of surfing. Consequential
Last time i was there, one of the builders asked me;” Mister, why don’t you go home”? For no reason at all. I was just walking around admiring the trees
Thanks for reminding me of this James. If anyone reads this and wants a premonition of what was to come in Tahiti (and probably another break in the near fututre), start at the 07:00 minute mark. It's shocking and infuriating to watch natural wonders of the world (in our case reef and waves) continue to be destroyed due to unregulated development and outright greed.
John’s description of G land is the best description I’ve ever heard of any surf spot, you guys are legends 🤙🏽
Thanks Leandro. I agree John does a great job here describing the break. Looking forward to the event May 28th to see how the pros surf it.
Hey John Philbin, long time no see, as they used to say in Hawaii. That was a very exciting survey of the G-land layout. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I never went to indo but sure wish I had. Now I'm 65 with too many sports injuries. But now that I'm retired I might do the old man routine on an easy uncrowded swell, and I'll have visions of your vivid descriptions in my head until I do. Let me know when you want another board... Gordon.
John may not read this here, but I'm sure he'd like to hear from you. His instagram is @johnphilbin_
This is great! Thank you for giving us some insight to G-Land.
You should go there. It taught me good lessons.
Legend Mr. John..
Coming out of the water unscathed is a blessing at g land
Surfed with John at G land in 2016 when the 'Decade swell' came through. Cool guy. We were staying at Joyo's though so he must go between camps.
sweet content and nice edit man!
Thank you for such a well description! I am heading out to Bobbies’s June 30th and I just can’t wait!! I have the VHS of the Quicksilver 1997 that Egan won, I can die a happy man after this trip
Went there from West Oz in 1990.15 guys in the water and it pumped for 10 days straight...Madness.
Those memories last forever man! Love hearing this. Thanks for watching.
Great interview. I was fortunate to spend 4 weeks at Bobby's. I agree what John said about Bobby. Bobby took me into Denpasar to see if I could get my Visa extended. He didn't have to, but offered. Bobby needed to go to Denpasar to shop so I went with him, and then we stopped by the government building. Bobby has made many surfers dreams come true. What was the very first year you went to G-Land?
Thanks for your comments Glenn. We hear these stories a lot about Bobby. Helping others seems to be the key to a good life. John has been going to G-Land since the mid eighties I believe and I showed up ("late") in the early 90s. I just finished the book 'Journals from the edge' by one of the founders of the camp - Bill Boyum. It helps to imagine what it was like when first surfed. It would have been rugged and beautiful.
@@OldSurfDad Do you know all the names of the current Camps at G-Land? Bobby's, Joyos, ?, ?? I heard there were now 4 camps. Google maps shows 5 camps. When I went there was only Bobby's and Bam Bams in 1987. Do you know if they intend to put a maximum limit on the amount of surfers allowed on the point in the future? In 1987 I did two 2 week stints, one in June and then in late July. On that July 1987 stint I think there might have been 50+ guys at each camp, it seemed crowded at times, especially when it was perfectly surfable. If you could ask John, that would be a great question I would like to know...If they intend to put a max limit of surfers in the area at one time? And what are the names of the current camps? I would love to go back there.
@@GlennLaguna There are several camps at G-Land now. I think 4. Just like in any country, as government officials change, so do the policies. No one knows what will happen next. Hopefully it won't become overcrowded, but G-Land's breaks do hold a lot of surfers. Some will surf tiger tracks and others speedies. It gets harder to find empty waves. I applaud those that made discoveries like G-Land and those that continue to look for the next spot. I'm glad I was able to enjoy Grajagan when I did.
@@OldSurfDad When I went in 87' for four weeks, my first and only time there, I had a bad experience in that there was a group of rowdy Aussies at night for two of my weeks, one of them killed the camp Gecko that some say hung in the main camp tree forever. That left a bad taste in my mouth regretfully. I didn't want to be stuck in one camp with rowdy surfers. If not for that I might have not ventured out. But that being my first 4 month stint to Bali I ventured and found Sumbawa, West Sumbawa (Scar and Super Suck) and Hu'u, so subsequent trips I kept going to those spots over G-Land and found practically empty surf comparatively, maybe not as raw, but perfection barrels. I was lucky to have spent just over 12 months total in Indo. I did two short stints camping out at Desert Point 89 and 91, but that was pretty feral at the time, sleeping on the gound with a makeshift mosquito net and it was also around the time the guy got his shoulder hacked by robbers, so didn't feel completely comfortable there. Thanks for this interview, it brings back good memories.
@@GlennLaguna To hear someone killed a gecko at G-Land really chaps me. There was a huge one there that would live in the restaurant usually near the ping pong table and we'd watch him eat bugs. We've all had fuckwits bring down a trip. Sometimes you gotta move on, but look it opened up another door. I first went to those spots on Lombok and Sumbawa a few years after you on a boat called the 'Whale' or 'Lady Luck' as it become known later. Having a boat helped with the feral camp hazards at Desert Point, but we didn't stay as long as I would have liked. I think I got the best left of my life there. It was one of those moments when everything comes together- you got the right board, you feel good, there's a perfect swell and you luck into a good one. I still think about that ride and it gets better every year! Ha! Thanks for letting me relive it again.
Awesome interview, only been here three times but pretty sure John was there twice in that time. Couldn't meet a nicer bloke and its meeting people like this guy that makes your trip!🐯🎇 and of corse the barrels you get😎
great interview, makes me want to go to G-Land now.
Thanks my brother!
awesome video mate.
Hands down longest reef Ive surfed. Some people think they are good at surfing until they come here and realize there's a whole other level of surfing. Consequential
Glad you got to experience G-Land. It's hard to explain unless you've gone speedlining down the barreling steep wall. Looks a lot easier on camera! Ha
Last time i was there, one of the builders asked me;” Mister, why don’t you go home”? For no reason at all. I was just walking around admiring the trees
I'm sorry to hear you had this experience.
Masterpiece🤙
Thanks man! I really enjoyed this conversation with John.
Wow OMG Land, nice pic bro
Nobody said it??? I have to....
"Nobody listens to Turtle..."
But now we do
No judges stand allowed on the reef ya kooks......
Thanks for reminding me of this James. If anyone reads this and wants a premonition of what was to come in Tahiti (and probably another break in the near fututre), start at the 07:00 minute mark. It's shocking and infuriating to watch natural wonders of the world (in our case reef and waves) continue to be destroyed due to unregulated development and outright greed.
Why don't u do turns
I think John is implying he's older now (62) and doesn't do radical turns like the young guys. If that doesn't make sense, it will :)
Tiger Tom!
This is great! Thank you for giving us some insight to G-Land.
Thanks Bart. Really stoked on John's knowledge of the wave and the stories that came out of this.