Padang Padang is known as the Balinese pipeline and breaks very similar to it’s more famous cousin in Hawaii, except that there is no backdoor right hander and it is more deadly on the inside, particularly at low tide. The take off is relatively easy and it’s about positioning yourself for the inevitable barrel which is fast and furious. The end section tends to pinch so a clean exit is not always possible and on lower tides it is deadly shallow with the added complexity of a strong rip.
Paddling to the line up is very easy as you just need to lie on your board and let the rip current take you out. The reverse is the case paddling back in and on bigger days even the professional surfers can struggle against the fast flowing water. If low tide shallow reef is not your thing then be careful at higher tides as you don’t want to join the unlucky crew who have been slammed against the rocks on the inside.
On smaller days it doesn’t break very good and tends to section. The bigger the swell the better it gets and will hold up to about triple overhead. Crowds are a factor as you need to contend with hot locals who got it dialled, visiting pro surfers and hordes of Brazilians who have come a long way just for the chance to get the barrel of a lifetime.
Baby Padang otherwise known as Padang rights is located just the other side of the channel and is a completely different deal. There is a short right breaking into the channel offering an easy paddle back and a longer left hander that is never perfect but can be quite good. Best on a small to medium sized swell, when it gets bigger there is a strong current and can get heavy and nasty. Very popular with beginners and intermediates this is the place to get your first green ride. The left can reform on the inside so you start riding green wave, then white water and then green again. This is due to the shape of the reef giving different depths of the water.
Baby Padang is a surf camp favourite as located very close to us and on most days it is suitable for novice surfers. White sand beach, absolutely beautiful, and there is a great scene around sunset with many sexy girls showing off their tanned beautiful bodies hiding very little with their G-string.
