Intermediate Surfing in Bali

A small southerly swell today meant that our favourite spots on west coast of Bukit were either very small or flat. With a a light westerly wind, and a very small swell it was a no brainer to head to Pandawa, if you like surfing lefts (we do!). This spot is a swell magnet and picks up any swell from any swell direction. It can be a very powerful wave as it comes in fast out of deep water. Today it was more mellow with an 11 second swell period making it perfect for intermediate surfers who like head high waves. Sunny weather made us remember that the dry season is only 1 month away and April is always perfect.

A very strong westerly wind was keeping many surfers in bed early in the morning. Surprisingly, later the wind dropped and we found a nicely running right-hander in the south of the Bukit peninsula. A little wind chop does not harm here since the wave has enough power to push you past slower sections.

This spot is very popular on smaller days, because of the consistency of incoming sets. The paddle out is fairly easy and the line-up is close to the beach. The beautiful white sand beach and scenery give this spot a triple-A rating. Perfect for a quick and fun surf session to start your day.

The southside of the Bukit was our preferred choice today, due to the smaller size of the waves. The light westerly wind wasn’t affecting the surf conditions too much and clean left breaking waves were peeling over the reef at Pandawa. The relatively low and slow-moving tide kept the crowd away this morning

Tomorrow the swell continues to fade away and more southerly exposed surf spots will be the best choice for most surfers. Because of the very light wind, we expect glassy conditions almost all day. The rest of next week looks pretty consistent with a medium-size swell and a change in wind direction coming from the east.

Another beautiful sunny day in Bali, with a very light offshore wind. The swell is smaller today, but very clean conditions and perfect for intermediate and improver surfers. On smaller days, the waves are less powerful, and slower moving, so less rushed and gives time to think about what you are doing. Very light crowd today and enough waves for everyone with quality waves breaking all the way from racetrack to the peak.

Bali is now open to international tourism and direct flights are operating from Japan (for Americans) and via Singapore (for Europeans). It is necessary to have a visa and stay 4 nights in a 5* hotel on arrival, but a price worth paying to enjoy uncrowded line ups.

The windy days are over and today was the beginning of a change in wind direction. With a light breeze continuing into the early afternoon, we decided to pay the south side of the Bukit a visit again. This surf spot favours smaller swells because of its exposed location. A perfectly right breaking wave and a small crowd was giving us many opportunities to practice turns and snaps. This peak is ultra consistent and you never have to wait long for the next set to come.

We are looking at the upcoming week with high expectations for Bali’s west side. The forecast predicts light winds throughout the week and medium swell size from the southwest. With an early low tide, you can get enough sleep and jump in the water when the tide is rising again, later in the morning.

The westerly wind was dominating the last couple of weeks and we got to surf Nusa Dua most of the time. Due to its perfect offshore conditions, the east side of Bali is the preferred destination for many surfers during the rainy season. Clean waves and plenty of peaks make this surf spot a favourite.

Known as a swell magnet on smaller days, this spot attracts surfers of all levels and is the go-to option when it is too windy on the west side of the Bukit. This shoulder-high left-hander breaks best on a low to mid-tide. Suitable for advanced surfers who like racing down the line, but also for the intermediate level surfers who want to take the next step in their surfing career.

What a great way to start your day! Clean head high sets awaited us this morning on the south coast of the Bukit. Although the forecast predicted westerly winds, the conditions were perfect. A light offshore breeze and a moderate current made this session very enjoyable.

This wave is ideal for top to bottom surfing, a skill not every surfer can master, but essential if you want to make most of your wave. If you go further down the face of the wave after the take-off, you can generate more speed out of your bottom turn. This is important for setting up a quality top turn.

The small days are over and finally, we were greeted by overhead incoming sets again! The strong offshore wind conditions made the waves stay open perfectly and deep take-offs were rewarded by the occasional barrel. Long walls and clean faces invited us to draw big bottom and top turns before doing radical floaters and snaps on the closing sections.

With swells like this, many more surf spots in Nusa Dua and on the east coast come to life. Left and right breaking waves are on offer on this side of the Island. If you are not sure if you can handle the size of the waves, Geger is the perfect option. With its multiple peaks, you can choose smaller waves if it gets too heavy on the main peak. This also helps split up the crowd and it barely gets too busy.