Ability Level: Intermediate

Our intermediate surfers set off to Balangan this morning, where they enjoyed excellent tropical surf in a stunningly beautiful location! The swell has continued to taper in size since yesterday, with the forecast reading 4 ft. at 13 seconds from 213 degrees. The waves broke around shoulder high on the sets, with occasional larger sets coming through. The wind blew offshore for the duration of the session, and the wave faces were as clean as they were blue. We waited till after breakfast for the tide to come up enough to cover the reef with this morning’s low tide of .8 meters at 6:30 AM (Benoa).

The surfers worked on improving the speed of their pop-ups and optimizing where their feet were placed on the surfboard. These are essential skills that a surfer must master before they can progress.

With a quickly rising tide and a dropping swell, Balangan was the break of choice for our intermediate surfers. The surfers enjoyed classic dry-season lines running down the reef at an intermediate-friendly pace. The swell has continued to drop in size since the peak of the swell yesterday morning, coming in at 4.5 ft. at 13 seconds from 213 degrees. The waves were in the head-high + range with a few standout sets left over from the swell’s peak. The surfers enjoyed long rides and came home smiling and ready for lunch!

Balagan is a beautiful long reef with many sections ideal for intermediate surfers on a high tide. The multiple sections spread out the surfers; and the characteristics of the wave allow the surfer more time to get up and moving before it’s too late.

With the large swell from a few days ago fading away and a quickly rising tide, our intermediate surfers headed to Balangan, which is an excellent wave for intermediates when the tide is high and the swell small or moderate in size. At Balagan, our surfers found fun, shoulder-high lines set amongst a light side shore breeze and sunshine. The swell came in at 5 ft. at 12 seconds from 200 degrees, and the morning’s high tide reached 2.4 meters at 10:00 AM. The surfers enjoyed the long left-breaking waves (and even some rights!) and worked on reducing the time it takes to gain control of the surfboard after a pop-up.

The dry season is well underway with the first big swell of the year in the books. The long-range forecast looks excellent for all levels of surfers!

With the persistent wind from the west continuing to blow, our intermediate surfers set off to Black Stone this morning in search of fun waves. At Blackstone, the surfers found fun, waist to shoulder-high left-breaking waves running along the reef, brought in by a swell of 4.5 ft. from 13 seconds, coming from 221 degrees. The wind was blowing moderately cross-shore against the waves however the faces of the waves were clean enough for long rides across the reef. The surfers worked on correcting mistakes with their stance as they gain control of the surfboard after the pop-up.

As a beginner or low intermediate, developing the habit of surfing in the functional position is how you build your foundation for an effective stance. You can reach your surfing goals with your feet in the correct position and your weight properly distributed.

It was a beautiful, clear morning in the Nusa Dua area! Our intermediate group decided to paddle out to the clean peaks at Geger Left. The surfers found small but enjoyable waves amidst a clean offshore breeze which kept the conditions fun. The waves were in the waist-high range with the occasional larger sets, brought in by a swell of 3.5 ft. at 16 seconds, coming from 205 degrees. The waves were smaller than expected given the long-period swell, however the conditions were smooth so all could get fun rides. The surfers worked on trimming their boards down the line and identifying when to do a cutback and when to pump for more speed.

It is unusual to be surfing so much in Nusa Dua in April. Generally, you can count on the wind to be light and variable, opening up all parts of the island for surfing.

Fun conditions this morning in the Uluwatu area! The ocean was smooth and the west wind on the forecast only began to arrive toward the end of the session. Our intermediate group paddled out through the famous cave at Uluwatu, where they enjoyed fun left-breaking waves running down the perfectly shaped reef. The waves were head-high on the sets, with the occasional larger wave coming in, and the forecast showed 3 ft. at 13 seconds, coming from 209 degrees. The surfers worked on building their confidence when surfing a steeper reef break, and reducing the time it takes for them to gain control of the surfboard after they pop up.

The surf forecast shows a persistent west wind blowing until the 18th, however long-range forecast in this latitude are not accurate enough to be relied on. See you out there!

Excellent surfing conditions in Nusa Dua this morning! Our intermediate group enjoyed the clean peaks at Black Stone, while our advanced group scored long right-handers at Chicken Wings. The rain overnight left the ocean with a smooth sea state and glassy waves for the surfers to enjoy. At Black Stone, the waves were shoulder-high plus with the occasional standout set, brought in by a swell of 3.5 ft. at 14 seconds. The surfers worked on developing drive from their bottom turns, which they used to propel themselves down the line and set up for a cutback.

The bottom turn is the foundation of good surfing as it is where you generate the speed and control required to do a top turn or drive down the line. Days like today, where the waves are not too big with smooth conditions, are perfect for improving your bottom turn.

The persistent west wind made a late-season come-back this morning, blowing out the line-up at Uluwatu. No problem for us at the camp, as offshore peaks in Nusa Dua are only a short drive away. The swell has picked up in size since yesterday, and our advanced and intermediate surfers found fun, shoulder-to-head high waves at Geger Left, brought in by a swell of 3.5 ft at 12 seconds from 225 degrees. The lefts peeled nicely down the line, and the faces of the waves were clean. The surfers worked on improving their angled take-offs, which they used to quickly get up to speed to match the pace of the wave.

We will be surfing in the Nusa Dua area till Thursday based off the current forecast. Stay posted as the forecasts often change. See you out there!