Pandawa Surf Report and Spot Info

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The new year welcomed us with offshore winds and shoulder high set waves at one of our favourite surf breaks on the Bukit. A not too big and friendly crowd made this session very enjoyable. Among the local rippers were some of Indonesia’s best surfers. Just seeing these talents fly through the air and doing massive turns on such waves, is just incredible.

Not only did the Pros have fun, but many other surfers, experts and intermediates were having lots of waves to practise their surfing skills. On this kind of wave, you need to be able to generate lots of speed to make it around the section and onto the clean face of the wave. Once there, enjoy the ride!