Here's a thread dedicated solely to all things about surfing in Indonesia...

First surf spot to be featured :

Sumba Island






Sumba Island is part of the Lesser Sunda Islands, located in the middle of the above map.

Isn't it Sumbawa?

Check your map, homey!



Here's another map that shows Sumbawa and Sumba

Places to surf in Sumba Island

Manggudu Island


location


supposed to be right handed surf

The season on this island runs from April-October.


Nihiwatu Beach

According to the surfies, the most famous surf on Sumba is called "Occy's Left".


picture of Nihiwatu beach


left handed surf


location of Nihiwatu beach

eff that! the reef is so close to the shore. you'd come out with wanas stuck to your back. nice beach and breaks but damn the water looks really dark, it'd be cool if you wanted to extreme.

post more

I want to learn how to surf!

^you have to learn it in real worl honey...

love the pics

I suddenly remember Nusantara, our old member who got banned. He liked surfing a lot.

Next stop for the newbies.... BALI.

One of the best places to surf for newbies is Bali. There are a variety of breaks to experience on this island but the only drawback is the crowds... there are traffic jams on the waves and sometimes fights can break out when u are a newbie crossing the territories of more experienced surfies with a bad attitude.

This is the list of beaches to surf on Bali as well as G-Land off Bali in Nusa Lembongan.

Uluwatu, Padang, Impossibles, Bingin, Dreamland, Balangan, Jimbaran, Airport Rights, Airport Lefts, Kuta Reef, Halfway Kuta Beach, Legian, Seminyak, Canggu, Pererenan, Balian, Medewi, Nusa Dua, Sri Lanka, Turtle Island, Serangan, Hyatt Reef, Tanjung Sari, Sanur, Padang Galak, Ketewel, Keramas, Lebih, Padang Bai, Nyang Nyang, Greenball - and nearby Nusa Lembongan's Shipwreck, Lacerations, Playgrounds and Ceningan.


KUTA REEF (Kuta Beach)
I have surfed there before off Kuta beach and found it by far the easiest place for anyone who wants to learn surf. The reef is located 800 mtrs offshore, infront of the Sandi Phala Motel. You can paddle out there or ask a local boat operator to take u out. 4-5ft is the optimum size on the mid to high tide. But due to Kuta Reefs central location it can get very crowded, sometimes up 60 surfers in the water. But, there are all types of different levels of surfer, and surf camps operated by local balinese surfies.

Dry season
May to October is best.


beware of riptide and pollution though...


Kuta Reef, when the conditions are right is a world class lefthander!

For the experienced surfies, there are Canggu & Dreamland, Nusa Dua, G-land in Garajan, Nusa Lembongan, Padang Padang and the famous mysterious Uluwatu Reefs.





ULUWATU REEFS

I have been to Uluwatu and the waves freaked me because of the proximity to razor sharp reefs and the caves. Today Uluwatu is maybe the best surfing wonderland of sorts, and is known to have an almost perfect surfing break all year round and one of the best left handers in the world. The waves work on anything from 3-10 ft. Uluwatu is a swell magnet and rarely goes flat!!


Cliffs at Uluwatu


Razor sharp reefs - careful approach required..japanese surfies told me that they found pieces of teeth and scalp on the reef bottoms


PADANG PADANG

The next break down from Ulu is Padang Padang. Known as the balinese pipeline. It is a very fast long barrelling wave that lives up to it's reputation as the most serious wave in bali. Similar to Hawaii's very own pipeline, the bali pipeline also breaks over a shallow coral reef and is only for expert surfers.

Lesser known is Padang Padang rights which breaks in front of a beautiful white sandy beach. This is a very easy wave and is suitable for beginners, longboarders and intermediate surfers. This is a perfect surf spot for learner surfers to progress from riding whitewater to unbroken waves. The conditions at high tide are very forgiving - a long slow unbroken wave which can reform from whitewater to swell. It is also a beautiful location for sunbathing and watching the sunset


Padang Padang - Indonesia's most dangerous and hollowest wave


Impossibles

Impossibles is a fast racy wave that is very picturesque. There are 3 seperate peaks on this wide reef which breaks up the crowds. On the right conditions with a good size swell and offshore wind it is possible for the sections to link up and to get a ride of a mile or more to the warungs at bingin.


impossibly screaming long waves


Bingin

Bingin is a perfect machine wave that works best around mid tide. It is a very consistent wave and throws out many perfect barrels. If you want to practice barrel riding lefts - bingin could be the perfect location. At low tide it can be very shallow and for expert surfers only. At high tide the wave can break very soft and is where the bali children learn to surf. High tide can be perfect for long boarders or intermediate surfers.




Bingin - gettin' into the barrel - goofy foot paradise


Dreamland

Dreamland is a beautiful white sand beach a short walk from Impossibles & Bingin. There are many different breaks that work at different stages of the tide and is suitable for novice surfers as it breaks over sand. The best wave is an A frame peak that works best at low tide on a big swell. There is also a punchy shorebreak wave where you will see balinese and visiting surfers exhibiting their skills at the water's edge. Dreamland is a perfect location to spend the day surfing, sunbathing and hanging out in the local warungs.


Dreamland

Balangan

Balangan is the next break on the bukit and is waking distance from dreamland. It is a reef break but has a beautiful white sand beach which is very quiet and beautiful. Balangan is a fun left hander that is not so fast as the other reef breaks on the bukit and is suitable for intermediate surfers.




A wipeout...



copyright : sources from surfsites

of course!


yeah, I did notice he was a bit racist though

WOW!!! i Looove my country!!

I luv Uluwatu and its reefs...so WOW!

more pleaseeeee

G-land (Grajagan Island)


to get there


aerial of G-land

The island of Grajagan is situated just off Java and hosts one of the best waves in the world. Located at Plengkung Bay on the southern most peninsula of Java is the legendary Grajagan. G-Land as is otherwise known was discovered in the 70's by a couple of intrepid surfers on a flight between Jakarta and Bali. The long lines were unmistakable perfection and the discovery that followed is now regarded as arguably the worlds best left-hander. With three sections, Kong’s, Moneytrees and Speedies. Some of the best wavemasters in the world Tom Carroll, Gerry Lopez and Peter McCabe have showed the surfing world the wonders of G-Land in the movie "All down the line". The Quiksilver Pro is now an annual event at G-Land and the pro surfers are stoked to be competing in such absolute perfection.

Season from March-November


perfection



Nusa Lembongan



A short trip from hectic Bali. Nusa Lembongan is 20km off Bali's east coast and just an hours cruise across the Badung Strait. It's a small island with a population of less than 4,000. It a less crowded surf at the breaks on Lembongan. There are 5 main breaks in Nusa Lembongan –
1. Shipwrecks – a fun, workable right that breaks on the mid to high tide.
2. Razors – a rarely makeable, left barrel, that on it’s day is a long full suck turbo tube.
3. Lacerations – A high speed, hollow right barrel.
4. Playgrounds – a mellow left and right peak that provides a wave when the swell is small and the tide is low.
5. Cheningan’s – a rarely surfed left off the temple on Nusa Ceningan that is surfed when the swell is small and the winds light.

Season : April - October dry season. During this time you will find that the south east trade winds are offshore on Lembongan, the same as the Uluwatu or Kuta side of Bali.

All About Waves...



Plunging Wave

Known as a "dumper" this wave breaks with tremendous force. A swimmer is easily thrown to the bottom causing injuries. Only experienced surfers should attempt this wave.

Spilling Wave

This occurs when the crest tumbles down the face of the wave. Waves of this type are the safest for body surfers, swimmers and board riders.

Surging Wave

A great build up of water near the shoreline. This wave may never actually break and the danger is that the swimmer's feet may be knockout from under them.

Inshore Holes

Actually a trough running parallel to shore, its depth may vary dramatically. Children can often be drawn into a "hole" by the strong undertow.

Inshore Drift Current

This current moves parallel to shore. It can be fast flowing or indistinguishable. Its intensity is less outside the surf line.

Rip Currents

A body of water seeking its own level causing a drag outwards to sea. Discoloured sandy water, and rippled appearance around clam water are signs of a rip current.
If caught, DON'T PANIC. Swim out then parallel to the shore for 30 meters and return where waves are breaking

I've been to Nusa Lembongan. It was gorgeous.

"If caught, DON'T PANIC. Swim out then parallel to the shore for 30 meters and return where waves are breaking"

haha. that's if it didn't already took you half a mile off shore while your head is bleeding from a bad wipeout.

I can't surf and am scared to start learning of it. But I like watching surfers surf

Surfing is genetically determined. Either u are a land animal or a sea animal with an acute sense of balance. Some people just has the ability to balance on water, while others get sea sicked on the waves.. if u can´t surf, juz dive!!!

oh yeah! so true!

I like this thread.... does anybody have pictures of surfies in Nias or Mentawi islands? these islands are off the coast of Sumatera, and are famous with surfies from all over...

has anyone tried the boogie board?

sure it's not learned.
: If you can't why not just


Longboard (original)
or

Body/boogieboard

uhh boogiee boardddddd fun fun fun

I tried the long board in bali and have to say it's easier to stabilise, but couldn't get past the kneeling stage.

did you stick closer to the beach?

More surf spots to follow!

Mentawai Islands

The Mentawai Islands lie roughly 100 km off of the west coast of Sumatra in Indonesia. They consist of 4 main islands with many smaller islands scattered throughout. From north to south, the main islands are Siberut, Sipora, North Pagi, and South Pagi. These islands block most swells from reaching the mainland on Sumatra, but they offer some of the most perfect surf in the world. Access to the islands is by sea only with regular ferries to the main trading ports, but by far the best way to access the surf is by charter boat.

The surf spots are located all over the islands




surfs up!





kids on mentawai island

Culture :
The islands are inhabited by local villages scattered throughout, where the main contact they have with the Western world is through the main ports, or encountering traveling surfers aboard charter boats. It is not uncommon to be parked at a surf break and have the locals paddle out to the boat in dugout canoes to sell locally made, hand-crafted souveneirs. The landscape is made up of dense tropical forest sloping up from the coast to the high mountain ranges.

Health :
Malaria is rampant on the islands and surfers should take full malaria precautions when visiting the Mentawais. Malarone is recommended. Malarone must be prescribed by a physician prior to the trip and is taken orally with minimal side effects. Larium is not recommended due to strong side effects and larium is considered by most to be “overkill” for the generally mild risk exposure while onboard a surf charter vessel. Prevention is also recommended by taking precautions to avoid mosquito bites which include repellant, dress, and staying clear of land and swamp areas especially at night. Malaria is something to take seriously and not to “blow off”. Med-evac insurance is required for all charters and can be signed up for online through Access America.

Climate :
The Mentawai Islands have consistently high temperatures and humidity, with very little change in temperature year round due to it’s proximity to the Equator. The temperature ranges between 72 – 90 F degrees (22 – 32C). Water temperature is fairly constant at about 80F degrees (27C). The dry season in this region of Indo is from January to September, and the wet season is from from October to December. Even during the dry season, you can expect rainfall regularly, usually lasting for 1-2 hours, but mainly at night. In the wet season, the rain is more frequent and a light poncho is good to have with you. The winds are variable throughout most of the year. Since the islands are very close to the Equator, they are less affected by any trade winds and most winds are due to local storms or pressure differentials with many glassy days during the surf season.

The Surf :
Indonesia is one of the most consistent surf destinations in the world. The best waves can be had from March to October, with the biggest swells likely to occur in June-September. During these months the winds are variable and it’s easy to find a break with offshore conditions since there are waves facing almost every direction. The swells are from the South to Southwest and are generated from the many low pressure systems the move from west to east across the southern Indian Ocean. During the peak months of June – September, the surf ranges from head-high to double overhead, with larger swells at times, and usually never drops below 3-4 feet. In the early and late season (Mar-May, Oct-Nov), the surf is usually chesthigh to a couple feet overhead on average. This is a great time for surfers seeking less intense waves with more options perhaps for intermediates.

Equipment :
You’ll need to take everything with you that you think you may need. There are no surf shops in the islands or in Padang, so make sure you have a spare surfboard or two, along with extra fins, leashes, wax, etc. Board size is a personal thing, but it would be wise to bring an assortment for various conditions. Recommended quiver is 2 to 3 boards: A normal shortboard, a mid-range gun (6-6 to 6-10), and a larger gun for the bigger days (7-0 to 7-6) when there is a bit more water moving. It can get double or triple overhead during the larger swells during the peak month of July and August. The warm crystal blue waters make it possible to swim without a wetsuit, but a vest or long-sleeved rashguard is advised for protection from the sun. Booties are a necessity due to the sharp coral found at all of the reefs. A helmet is also recommended. Be sure to bring plenty of waterproof sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher.

source : http://www.wavehunters.com/mentawais/mentawais.asp

yep, it was in Kuta, where the surfs break close to the beach, there's no reef.. so it's a pretty easy place to learn surfing!


Kuta

this is Lance's Right in Mentawai Islands... looks more like a traffic jam at any rush hour!!!




More surf fotos to come, but from around the world!!!

Juz when u thought surfing is a bule thing, here's some pics of local Indonesians surfie wave machines for your visual delight!


Rizal Tanjung racing the blue wonderwall of Padang Padang, Bali


In Bali, the sea was traditionally seen as a home to bad spirits, but today’s generation of kids seems keen to show how good the ocean can be. A boy called Mustafa, puts on a magic performance at Padang Padang.



Some international surf spots that will wipe u out if u try


Mexican horror


Waimea wipeout..


I like these shots.. sunset surfs in California




I wish i could go to work on Monday mornings on one of these surfs instead of being stuck on this freaken screen..! Hehe!

yeah! check this one out chiqqie...

^ yeahhh my friend loves doing that!

ok, this is like one of the most violent wipeouts ever recorded... a boogie boarder in Teahupoo (pronounced cho-pu) in Tahiti. imagine how that tonne of wave breaking over your back... and yr skull scraping the coral reef below!


Off the wall body surfer, look man... no boogie board!!!

^ wooo that must been a hella crazy experience!

Thank you, thank you very much! I now have my next travel destination.

Gee Wizi !
I love this topic. Lots of information. So you are also at home in the water.
Since I ripped the cartillage in my knee, I have had to prone it on a bodyboard. No problem, I love it any which way, as long as I am able to get out into the waves.
I surf where I live in Victoria Australia, and I have surfed around Lacanau in France, but unfortunately I have never been surfing on any of my trips to Indonesia (no waves around Pontianak).
Hope we get more posts from people who have surfed around the archipelago and hear about their personal experiences.

Yeah...i love the water... i love the waves... i juz love the rush of the surf!
Now, i have been trying to learn kite surfing, but i've drank too much salt water this time...haha!

Post pics of the surfs in Australia!!!

Even though these pics are not from an Indonesian surfari, I got the invite to post from the topic boss, so here are my pics of surfing in Victoria, Australia.

All of these pics are from a surf trip to Squeeky Beach on Wilsons Promontory.
This is my brother.


This is me.


This is my Japanese friend Yasuhito.

Is that guanamata, flinders, lorne or torquay?

C'mon Claudia, I wrote the name of the place in my post above.
I think you mentioned that your husband also likes surfing. Has he been surfing at Wilsons Promontory ?
I know the waves at the Prom are generally regarded as wimpy, but I love the place because the scenery is such an inspiration. The water is crystal clear, the air is fresh and I can gaze at the forests and mountains.
By the way, did you surf or enjoy any water sports when you were in Indonesia ?

great pics ralf!! what kinda camera did u guys use? my brother has a Carl Weiss lens in a box but it's such a bulky thing.

your bro is cute! and u looked kinda scared on that point-break btw...

edited

Oh sorry, I ain't pay any attention, he has never mention about that place but he may have been there before he met me.
I don't like water sport much even know I like the beach, just a few splashes would do for me. I have to say we have a pool here but such a cold winter I don't even spare anytime to clean it as it's not my job anyhow. My oldest daughter loves surf and pool, also my mother in low, she's a champion, she's 58 yrs but she swam nearly every morning even in a cold winter. Brrrrrrr, I just can't stand on the cold water... to cold...

Carl Zeiss lens ? That is good stuff.
For the pic of my brother Dirk I used my old Nikonos, which is a basic diving camera.
It makes sharp and clear pictures, but is kind of fragile in the impact zone where the waves break.
I am always scared to take it out.
Funny thing is that I bought it second-hand from a surfer returning from Bali, and he said he wanted to get rid of it for the very reason that it was fragile in the impact zone. I always thought "Oh I am a safety-conscious guy - No worries !"
.....But there were times of panic when I was sure I had ruptured the O-rings and flooded the camera.
So far I have been lucky.
Dirk made the pics of me and Yasu with a plastic water-proof disposable camera. Those disposables are so much fun to use.
The plastic housing is really tough and they make reasonably good photos.

I really love surfing, even though my busted knee gives me a lot of trouble. When I am in the water I am so chilled out.
Sometimes I don't come back to land for 6 hours.


Wow ! Claudia your mother in-law is a champion to go swimming all year round.
I wish I could go swimming and surfing as much as I used to, but at the moment I am under a lot of pressure to make enough money.

Gotta give it to that grandma!!

@ ralf, thats a nice boogie board !!!

the first time i surfed was in Kuta Beach, i had a long board to start the lessons with and had to stop when i busted my face and got a nosebleed from the surfboard while trying to get on a wave!! boinggggggg.........!!! during that surf, i did flood my underwater camera, it was a minolta...

and then we went to Uluwater and i had so many cuts from the corals i juz had to give it up... now i am trying kite surfin... it's even tougher than surfing i reckon!

That isn't a bodyboard in the pic above tangawizi. It is a wide fibreglass thruster. From that angle in the pic though, it does look a bit like a kneeboard or bodyboard. It was big and easy to balance on.... until my Dad broke all three fins when he crashed into a rocky reef.
Over the years I have found that other people's surfboards, or even your own surfboard, is often your worst enemy in the water; a more common danger than all the other perceived threats.
I have been whacked by fibreglass and polyfoam. A bodyboard is soft, but when you miss-judge a wave and go over the falls in an awkward position, landing with the edge of the board stuck in your ribs as you hit a shallow sandbank - that can really hurt. After a while you learn how to land more safely.
When you are surfing in a crowd, it is important to keep track of all the fibreglass spears around you.
There was one time when a massive wave sent many surfers wiping out in all directions, and I failed to notice one runaway surfboard. At the last split second I glimpsed what looked like the biggest malibu ever..... shooting straight at me !!
I sprang out of the way, but the fibreglass spear got me in the upper thigh. Real close to losing my lil' bruv.
On the beach I took my wetsuit off to check the damage and found that the impact with the nose of the heavy board had given me a big black bruise with a bloody ripped skin gouge in the middle.
If I had not been wearing a 4mm steamer then the injury would have been more nasty. A full length wetsuit also offers excellent protection against all kinds of annoying things such as sunburn, cold water, stinging jellyfish, boardrash, and also it can save you in case of impacts. tangawizi if you wear even a very thin steamer, when surfing in tropical Indonesia, you can avoid a lot of scratches from coral and rock reefs. Coral scratches can leave a lingering sore that takes ages to heal up, due to infection from the little critters that live in coral.

Hey, that's all so cool, I wish I could be a surferer but I'm to old to think about that.
By the way talking about surfboard, my husband knew the 2/3 men who started billabong and ripcurl. Oneday they spend their days in a garage near gunnamatta around st Andrew beach and created some surfboards, that's the begining of all and now their brands are just famous, I guessed you're all know those brands.

You are never too old for surfing and healthy excercise. No need to go for big waves. Just enjoy the water.
Wow, so your husband knows people like Gordon Merchant, Brian Singer and Doug Warbrick !

@ralf, hey, maybe u should invent an underwater jockstrap protection gear, you'll be rich and retire in Bali for ever!

Oh there's already billions and billions of surf accessories for sale. I wouldn't wanna get into that industry.
Often the basic skills of swimming are forgotten amid all the "must-have-accessories".
In future I must be more careful of my lil' bruv.