Activity: Surf Guiding

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.

The east coast of Bali, with its white-sand beaches and crystal clear water, is often overlooked by the everyday surfer who prefers to stay close to the hotspots like Canggu and Uluwatu. Especially in the rainy season, it is worth the drive to the other side of the Bukit, because of the offshore wind conditions.

When the waves are huge, you can find sheltered spots if you don’t like triple overhead bombs getting on your head. If it’s smaller like today, there are plenty of more exposed surf spots with fewer crowds and lots of waves. This particular left is situated right next to a mushroom-shaped rock. You can find multiple peaks here, from left to right breaking waves, everything is on offer. Today the left was the best choice and everyone got their fix of waves for the day.

Another day in Paradise and the sun is finally shining again! Moderate offshore wind conditions and a medium size swell were a perfect match for this left-hand reef break. Waking up at dawn was not necessary today due to the very low tide early in the morning. With enough sleep and having breakfast before the surf session, catching waves was no problem at all, despite the strong current.

Staying in position can be difficult here due to the strong side current and wind. Having a landmark on the beach is crucial to being able to catch the waves in the right spot. If you are not sure which landmark to take, ask some of the local surfers who know the surf spot very well. Keep in mind though, the landmark for expert surfers might be different than for beginner or intermediate surfers.

The forecast for today predicted strong wind from the west early in the morning, so we decided to go to Nusa Dua to avoid choppy onshore conditions. As expected, the conditions at Geger were much better and we could see the incoming sets delivering glassy, perfectly peeling shoulder high waves.

Left and right breaking peaks were on offer, this made the crowd split up and everyone had enough space and opportunities to catch waves. Don’t be fooled by the small size, on a lower tide the waves are fast and powerful and the inside section breaks in shallow water. Perfect for practising airs, floaters and other high-speed manoeuvres.

This rainy season really lives up to its name. Daily rain showers and small swells are the norms this time of the year. Finding the right time to go for a surf is crucial if you don’t want to get wet before you even hit the beach. But to every downside is an upside! Make it through the rain and you will often find surf spots half-empty with perfect surfing conditions.

Today was no different, heavy rain was the reason many stayed at home and missed the morning surf. Once everything cleared up, Pandawa delivered fun left breaking waves as usual. Even though the waves only were shoulder high, the incoming sets had much more power again, and everyone out there was grateful for that. With the small waves dominating the last couple of weeks, surfers all around Bali are welcoming the more powerful swells with open arms.

The swell was picking up today and many of the southern reef breaks on the Bukit were on fire. This one, in particular, is famous amongst Indonesia’s elite surfers as one of the best training grounds. The wave’s fast pace and steep walls provide perfect ramps for practising airs and high-speed manoeuvres.

Indonesia’s pro surfers have been on the rise for the last few years. With this many different waves, from peaky beach breaks to hollow and heavy barrels, Bali offers everything a professional surfer needs to have in his or her repertoire. As an intermediate surfer who is just starting to improve his or her surfing skills, watching these guys is amazing, but also very inspiring.

This rainy season has been a dream for all surfers who favour small waves over big heavy barrels. The small swell continues to deliver the perfect conditions for beginner and intermediate surfers. Not only for those but also for advanced surfers, there are still plenty of good waves out there. Pandawa is one of those spots where, as an advanced or as an intermediate surfer, you can find suitable waves for your surfing level.

Pick the right wave and you will have a fast, steep wall in front of you where you can do tight turns and even airs on some occasions. If you are an intermediate surfer, with the right guidance of a professional surf guide, you will be able to catch user friendly, but still challenging enough waves to push your surfing skills to the next level. Tomorrow, there will be a new, bigger swell arriving from the south. With stronger winds blowing from the west, the east side of the Bukit will be the best choice for the weekend.

After a few days of Christmas celebrations, we were enjoying the east coast of Bali again. Today, Nusa Dua was the best place to go due to the strong wind from the west. Even though the waves were not that big, they had enough power to give you a fast and challenging ride. Steep, head high walls and offshore wind conditions made the waves perfectly suitable for airs and quick turns.

The upcoming week looks very similar in terms of surf conditions. With the wind blowing from the west and the swell dropping tomorrow, Geger will be the go-to spot for many surfers on the Bukit.