Intermediate Surfing in Bali

Very small today by Bali’s standards, but perfect for intermediate surfers today at Uluwatu, which is one of the best waves in the world for the quality and length of ride. At low tide the waves were breaking a bit fast but as the ride pushed in the waves were softer breaking and easier to make. A solid swell is forecast for tomorrow, and when it’s firing there is a huge range of breaks to choose from.

It was a choice between Uluwatu, which is Bali’s premier surf break, and Balangan which is one of the most beautiful beaches in Bali. We decided on Balangan, as the crowds are lighter and more mellow. It’s also a perfect location to hang out on the beach or in one of the local warungs. The waves were mostly head high which is perfect size for intermediates and there were some long rides to be had. A perfect way to start the day.

Beautiful Balangan was the go for an early morning session today. Balangan still retains the charm of Bali before mass tourism, and has not changed very much this century. Bumpy windy road, long white sand beach, headland to protect from cross winds, and traditional warungs to drink a cold coconut juice. Balangan never gets flat and is a perfect location for intermediate surfers on conditions such as today when the surf is head high. Balangan has a very long reef with various sections which spread the crowd out nicely.

Surfing in the afternoon or late evening in Padang Padang can be magical. When the wind stops blowing and the sun sets, glassy wave conditions are not unusual. Often it can be better than in the morning due to a smaller crowd in the water.

Even though the waves were not perfectly glassy at this time, the lack of other surfers out there made it easy for us to catch many waves. The beautiful view of the sunset combined with the fun waves makes this experience very memorable. A cold Bintang or Coconut on the beach after the surf session is a great way to end the day.

Nyang-Nyang was on fire today as the small swell slowly faded away. A hot spot for many good surfers and professional athletes to practice. As the crowd wasn’t too bad this morning, we were able to catch great waves ourselves. Watching the locals tear apart the perfect walls of water, is a nice way to catch a breath between sets.

Soon, the new swell will arrive and we expect head-high to overhead sets from tomorrow on. Uluwatu will be a great choice as well as other surf spots like Impossibles, Dreamland, and Balangan. The rainy season is almost over and we are experiencing mostly offshore winds in the mornings and afternoons on the west side of the Bukit.

Our home spot was so much fun today! Glassy, head-high waves came consistently and the crowd was very light early in the morning. Long left-handers gave plenty of opportunities to practice backhand bottom and top turns. Perfect to improve your surfing skills!

We are expecting one more day with smaller waves, but on Tuesday, a new swell is about to arrive later in the afternoon. Everyone is excited about the new swell and we are looking forward to this week. With the wind changing already, the conditions will be offshore and favorable for surf spots like Uluwatu, Impossibles, and Balangan.

One of the best sessions happened this morning at Green Bowl! Perfect head-high right-handers were peeling over the reef in the south of the Bukit. Clean walls invited us to draw big top turns and snaps, while some waves offered nice barrel sections. The tide was just right and the swell was big enough to deliver sets consistently.

This is what a morning session should be like, sunny weather, blue water, and great waves. Surfing these waves for the first time can be intimidating, but once you catch your first waves, you will want more. But be aware, some sets might be bigger than expected. Sitting on the shoulder and watching the first few sets roll in, is a good way to start before you make your way to the peak.

Straight after breakfast this morning, we took the short 5 minute drive up to the most consistent quality surf spot in Bali, and arguably the world’s most consistent quality wave. We were lucky that the waves were overhead and not crowded. At the start of the session there was a bit of a wobble on the wave, but as the tide came in the waves cleaned up, and there were some great rides to be had on the racetrack.

The surfing season is now well underway and we got another 6-7 months of sunny weather and offshore winds to look forward to. We are firing up the pizza oven for lunch, and then will head back to Uluwatu this afternoon to catch the dropping tide. Eat, Surf, Sleep.