Sage Advice and Mind-Melting Tubes With Desert Point Local Usman Trioko

If Desert Point isn't the most beautiful wave on earth, it's gotta be close. A mind-melting, cartoonish left tube, it draws surfers from all over the world every year, each one of 'em in search of the best wave of their lives.

Some are successful, others hardly catch a wave. Deserts is a finicky place, with short tide windows, and at times there are hundreds (literally) of surfers vying for just a handful of sets each session. It gets brutal.

One surfer that doesn't have to worry about the crowd is Desert Point local Usman Trioko. While Trioko currently lives in Bali, he heads home to Deserts for just about every swell, where he holds down poll position in the lineup.

While Trioko could catch every set, he doesn't. Quite the opposite. He's the kindest and most respectful surfer you'll ever meet, and he's never greedy. He'll wait an hour between waves, calling others into sets, and only taking off when he feels it's his turn. As you'll see in the edit above, his quality over quantity approach often leads to him riding the best waves of the day. Rightfully so. That's where karma and talent collide.

After watching this very impressive edit, we rang Trioko to ask him what it was like growing up at Deserts, how he handles the brutal crowds, and to hear his advice for visiting surfers going forward.

On growing up at Desert Point:
Growing up at Deserts was so amazing. It’s paradise for me — back in the day there was no [internet] connection, there was nothing here…I didn’t have electric, I didn’t have a phone, and I didn’t have social media. I was just surfing all the time. I surfed here everyday, nonstop. I just learned by myself, nobody taught me how to surf. So I was very happy here. Everywhere I go now there are beautiful waves but when I come home it’s like, “wow, I can’t believe this is my home. This is the best place in the world for me.”

On the increased crowds over the last few years:
Many people want to come surf Desert Point. Everybody knows about it. And everybody just wants to get the best wave of their life. So, it’s OK, the crowd. As long as there is respect for the boys, as long as there is respect for the locals, I don’t mind it. It’s normal for me. I grew up here and it’s always been crowded. When I’m in the water I’m happy. Happy to see people from all different sides of the world, and I’m happy to share the waves and say hi and talk to everyone. I love seeing people get the best barrel of their life.

His advice for all visiting surfers:
I just think there needs to be more respect for each other. Try not to fight. Try not to snake anyone. That’s the most important thing for me to say. Desert Point is all love. It’s not like anywhere else in Bali where you can argue and fight. If you come to Deserts respect each other. Take turns. If that happens everyone will be so happy. Everyone will get waves. It doesn’t matter who stayed 5 years, who stayed 10 years…it doesn’t matter, you will never be a local, so please just share the waves. There should be no drama. Everyone wants to get some good waves and everyone should be able to enjoy Deserts and have fun. I want to see everyone happy on the beach and happy in the water. Just be thankful and relax. Desert Point is my happy place.

Related: Watch: Zeke Surfs ‘Craziest Party Wave of My Life!’