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Turning 73 and still surfing: Singapore grandpa travels regularly to ride the waves

72-year-old S'porean still chases the waves regularly at idyllic bay in Indonesia

Mr Eu applying wax on his board which measures nearly 3m long. Surfers who use longboards usually surf on more mellow waves, making him a rather peculiar sight in Nias where most surfers ride shorter boards with a more aggressive style. Every morning
Mr Mike Eu dropping in on a 4m-high wave during a morning session at Nias Island’s Sorake Bay. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Mr Eu applying wax on his board which measures nearly 3m long. Surfers who use longboards usually surf on more mellow waves, making him a rather peculiar sight in Nias where most surfers ride shorter boards with a more aggressive style. Every morning
Mr Eu taking a breather as young surfers head home in the evening. “Those who know me know that I am 72, but the younger ones who don’t sometimes wonder, ‘Who is this grandfather surfing?’” ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Mr Eu applying wax on his board which measures nearly 3m long. Surfers who use longboards usually surf on more mellow waves, making him a rather peculiar sight in Nias where most surfers ride shorter boards with a more aggressive style. Every morning
A picture of a 27-year-old Mr Eu surfing in Hawaii, to where he often flew as a Singapore Airlines pilot. He got his first taste of surfing in Australia at 21, honed his skills in Hawaii, and discovered Nias at 45. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Mr Eu catching a wave at Sorake Bay. He has been returning to the bay since his first visit nearly three decades ago. "The waves here are first-class," he says.
Mr Eu catching a wave at Sorake Bay. He has been returning to the bay since his first visit nearly three decades ago. “The waves here are first-class,” he says. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Above: Foreign and local surfers preparing to drop in on a wave at Sorake Bay. During the peak surfing season from June to October, up to 40 people at a time can be seen in the water waiting for waves. Right: A local surfer heading home at dusk. Sora
Foreign and local surfers preparing to drop in on a wave at Sorake Bay. During the peak surfing season from June to October, up to 40 people at a time can be seen in the water waiting for waves. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Mr Eu applying wax on his board which measures nearly 3m long. Surfers who use longboards usually surf on more mellow waves, making him a rather peculiar sight in Nias where most surfers ride shorter boards with a more aggressive style. Every morning
Every morning and evening, Mr Eu rides a motorcycle from the lodge where he stays to the beach five minutes away. The 42-year-old lodge manager Perli helps him carry his board while riding pillion. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Mr Eu applying wax on his board which measures nearly 3m long. Surfers who use longboards usually surf on more mellow waves, making him a rather peculiar sight in Nias where most surfers ride shorter boards with a more aggressive style. Every morning
A local surfer heading home at dusk. Sorake Bay reminds Mr Eu of his childhood in Siglap. “The beauty around here, the nature, it’s like going back in time.” he says. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Mr Eu applying wax on his board which measures nearly 3m long. Surfers who use longboards usually surf on more mellow waves, making him a rather peculiar sight in Nias where most surfers ride shorter boards with a more aggressive style. Every morning
Mr Eu warming up before heading to the beach. Surfing is a core-intensive, cardiovascular activity. “During wipeouts and fights with the waves, you need your body and joints to help out,” explains the former Olympic swimmer. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Mr Eu applying wax on his board which measures nearly 3m long. Surfers who use longboards usually surf on more mellow waves, making him a rather peculiar sight in Nias where most surfers ride shorter boards with a more aggressive style. Every morning
Local children playing at Sorake Bay, a renowned surf spot due to its consistent year-round conditions, with waves ranging from 1m to 10m. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Mr Eu applying wax on his board which measures nearly 3m long. Surfers who use longboards usually surf on more mellow waves, making him a rather peculiar sight in Nias where most surfers ride shorter boards with a more aggressive style. Every morning
Mr Eu applying wax on his board which measures nearly 3m long. Surfers who use longboards usually surf on more mellow waves, making him a rather peculiar sight in Nias where most surfers ride shorter boards with a more aggressive style. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Mark Cheong
Updated
Nov 12, 2019, 05:56 PM
Published
Oct 14, 2019, 05:00 AM
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Two flights across Sumatra and a 21/2-hour car ride later, I arrive in Sorake Bay, a small beach town at the southern tip of the Indonesian island of Nias.

The low-profile, laid-back vibe of the place, where tall palm trees and "losmens" - local lingo for hostels - dot the coast, is a stark contrast with the monstrous waves that make this one of the most famous surf destinations in the world.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on October 14, 2019, with the headline Turning 73 and still surfing: Singapore grandpa travels regularly to ride the waves. Subscribe

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