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Learning to Catch a Wave in Bali
Published by Kristin Cowles, Editor-in-Chief
Country: Indonesia 
The Experience
Visions of surfers riding gnarly waves fueled my excitement. Forgetting about my nerves I focused on acting the part of these bronzed beach gods, adapting my best laid back surfer attitude. I was in Bali, and I was going to learn how to surf! Bali is a world renowned surf destination in Indonesia offering a large selection of surf locations ranging from beginner spots like Kuta Beach and Sanur, to world class barreling reefbreaks such as Padang Padang and Uluwatu. Going to Bali and not trying to surf, is like going to Paris and not visiting the Louvre. It's unheard of!
Shortly after our arrival we began to search out a well regarded surf school in Kuta beach. After some research we choose Pro Surf School, voted best surf school in Bali the past 3 consecutive years. Frank the owner having grown up surfing this very beach, was never too busy to chat with us, offering insight and encouragement, and even taught some of our classes. With no previous skate or snow board experience we opted for five lessons, which we would soon learn meant a ravage beating on our out of shape bodies, from some of the strongest waves we had ever maneuvered. Pounded, pulled, and pushed around, over the next five days we learned to become accustomed to the taste of salt water.
On our first day of surf lessons Pro Surf School guaranteed us that we would stand, and sure enough they were right. After a classroom lesson and beach briefing, we entered the waters with our massive surfboards to attempt arching our backs and riding the waves in, and eventually standing. With guidance from our instructors and a well positioned push, we had done the unthinkable, we had caught a wave... or at least the white wash of one. The sense of accomplishment was so great, that we envisioned ourselves carving some heavies by the end of our five days. How naive. Over the course of the next four days we learned about how waves are created, which are good and bad, directions, winds, how to maneuver, some bad habits which seemed necessary in light of aching muscles, and of course the constant in the equation ... falling. Getting up became more and more frequent, but falling was still inevitable and daunting in the face of having to fight the current to get back out to wave territory. By the end of the week we had made great progress, but were still no Kelly Slater by any means. Surfing takes practice and a lot of patience in waiting for the right wave. I have great respect for those who get up everyday and surf, not only for their skill, but also for their ability to become one with the power of the Ocean. Taming the raw force of nature, dancing their boards gracefully along the swells.
Shortly after our arrival we began to search out a well regarded surf school in Kuta beach. After some research we choose Pro Surf School, voted best surf school in Bali the past 3 consecutive years. Frank the owner having grown up surfing this very beach, was never too busy to chat with us, offering insight and encouragement, and even taught some of our classes. With no previous skate or snow board experience we opted for five lessons, which we would soon learn meant a ravage beating on our out of shape bodies, from some of the strongest waves we had ever maneuvered. Pounded, pulled, and pushed around, over the next five days we learned to become accustomed to the taste of salt water.
On our first day of surf lessons Pro Surf School guaranteed us that we would stand, and sure enough they were right. After a classroom lesson and beach briefing, we entered the waters with our massive surfboards to attempt arching our backs and riding the waves in, and eventually standing. With guidance from our instructors and a well positioned push, we had done the unthinkable, we had caught a wave... or at least the white wash of one. The sense of accomplishment was so great, that we envisioned ourselves carving some heavies by the end of our five days. How naive. Over the course of the next four days we learned about how waves are created, which are good and bad, directions, winds, how to maneuver, some bad habits which seemed necessary in light of aching muscles, and of course the constant in the equation ... falling. Getting up became more and more frequent, but falling was still inevitable and daunting in the face of having to fight the current to get back out to wave territory. By the end of the week we had made great progress, but were still no Kelly Slater by any means. Surfing takes practice and a lot of patience in waiting for the right wave. I have great respect for those who get up everyday and surf, not only for their skill, but also for their ability to become one with the power of the Ocean. Taming the raw force of nature, dancing their boards gracefully along the swells.
"...these guys guarantee you will be
catching waves your very first week!"
catching waves your very first week!"
When to Go to Surf Bali
You can surf Bali all year round, but the peak season is during the dry season from April to October. During this time there are a lot of pro tours that come to the area which can cause crowds on some of the more popular surf spots, but provide great viewing. If you are going to learn how to surf, November through March might be an alternative to consider as it will be less busy, and although during this season the waves are smaller, they are still good for beginners. Beginners typically learn on waves that are between 1 and 2 meters. Keeping this in mind you can also consult a tide chart to see what the waves will be like in advance of your trip, to find out if they are suitable for your surfing level.
Odds n' Ends
With the strong currents coming up from the Antarctic, the coasts of Bali are littered with surf spots good all year round. Kuta Beach in Bali is a great place to learn how to surf for many reasons, it has a nice sandy bottom which you will come to appreciate after about your fifth fall, its gradual slope allows you to walk out quite far remaining still only chest deep, and there are other intermediate surfers practicing close by, which can help you get your positioning and reads down if you are a beginner. The typical cost of an hour lesson ranges from $15 - $20 USD, with room for savings the more you book.
If you have had previous experience surfing or boarding of some sort, then you will most likely only need a few short lessons and the rest from there on in is trial and error. If this is the case you will need to equip yourself with a board available for rent for about $3 - $5 USD per hour from surf schools or from guys on the beach. Be careful if you plan to rent a surf board from someone on the beach. Some of those boards are snapped and will snap again at some point, but this time you will be on the hook for the cost of a replacement.
If you have had previous experience surfing or boarding of some sort, then you will most likely only need a few short lessons and the rest from there on in is trial and error. If this is the case you will need to equip yourself with a board available for rent for about $3 - $5 USD per hour from surf schools or from guys on the beach. Be careful if you plan to rent a surf board from someone on the beach. Some of those boards are snapped and will snap again at some point, but this time you will be on the hook for the cost of a replacement.
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Places to Stay Nearby
Search over 900,000 global hotel deals from over 30 merchants. Book via Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, Booking.com, Priceline and the websites of popular hotel chains.
Nestled in the village of Tuban, this beach resort has been designed with discerning travellers in mind. The 15-room resort is located just a few ... 0 miles away
$676884 IDR+
General Description\nAffordable accommodations\nAccessible to many local attractions\nBoutique hotel accommodations\nDesigned to meet families needs\nLocation\nConveniently located in central Tuban\nCentrally located minutes from the beach\nLocal Attractions\nCity entertainment in ... 0 miles away
$410881 IDR+
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More Experiences Nearby
- See Bali's Famous Sunset at Tanah Lot
- The seaside temple of Pura Tanah Lot is probably the most famous and most photographed place in Bali. Every hotel offers sunset tours out to the temple, and every visitor has seen photos of it before they’ve even visited. There’s really only one reason for its iconic status: it’s beautiful. Of course, such a popular tourist attraction is bound to fall victim to commercialization, and at Tanah Lot, a flea market of vendors and warung (food stalls) greets you as soon as you enter the property. It’s a bit jarring at first to hear the calls of salespeople and to ...8 miles away.
While You're There - Tours and Trips Nearby
After cruising in comfort to Lembongan Island aboard the luxury catamaran 'Bali Hai II', you are transferred to a private Beach Club. Here you can ...20.28 miles away via Bali.
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Return to the village to learn the art of Balinese Cooking in a traditional kitchen. A fabulous demonstration in cooking delicious meals. Grind, mix and ...20.28 miles away via Bali.
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+ 11 others. Show all.
Books and DVDs
Elsewhere on the Web
- Tide Table - BaliandBeyond.co
- Bali - WannaSurf.com
- Bali is perhaps the best known island in Indonesia, being a 'dream' destination with names such Padang Padang and Uluwatu with its famous entry cave.
- Surf Report - BaliWaves.com
- Surf report on conditions of different spots in Bali.
- Indonesian Surfing Championship - ISCtour.com
- The primary focus of the Indonesian Surfing Championship series is directed at the Indonesian surfers themselves, to provide them with a consistent, legitimate, and respected forum in which they can compete and measure themselves against their peers, a stepping stone towards the ultimate goal of becoming a professional surfer and getting on the ASP WQS and WCT.
Media References
- Almost Amalfi - TheAustralian.new.com (newspaper)
- THE jaunty little white carriage sweeps down its inclinator track to the sandy-toed Nammos Beach Club. There's a bamboo sling roof, wood-fired brick oven and calamari on the menu. Surely this is not Bali but the Greek isles;
- The best of Bali: on land and in water at one of Indonesia's treasures (newspaper)
- Bali’s got loads of beaches that Gilbert and a friend explore on a road-trip. Her description is spot-on: “There are so many kinds of beaches in Bali.
- Dede Suryana Is Riding A Tidal Wave of Success - TheJakartaGlobe.com (newspaper)
- ede Suryana faces a busy 2009, both in and out of the water. Indonesia’s top professional surfer has his sights set on defending his Indonesia Surfing Championship title. He also has to do his part to promote “Chasing Waves,” a documentary about his journey as a surfer.
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