Hi, today I’m going to share with you why it is best to start learning to surf in Bali. As well as where and how to do it!
A few words about Bali, it is a beautiful, paradise island in the chain of numerous islands of the Indonesian archipelago, which is also called the island of gods and demons! Since long time ago locals had believed that evil spirits and demons live in the ocean. Now, I think that in the ocean that washes the shores of this magical island, also live Gods of waves of the south swell!
Waves driven by storms from the southern latitudes come to Bali all year round, 365 days in the calendar year. So that you have the desire and strength to surf every day!
There are two seasons on the island, dry and wet. In the dry season, which lasts from April to October, with mainly north and north-east wind. In the rainy season, from November to March, the wind changes its direction and blows from the south and south-west. If you came to Bali in the summer, you will discover the south and west coast of the island with its numerous spots, both for beginners and for advanced surfers. South Coast, so-called Bukit, is full of reef breaks with the world-class waves. Tournaments and surfing competitions are annually held here, with the participation of high-level skills of sportsmen. On the west of the airport, a long strip stretches its sandy beach. There appears a paradise for beginning surfers and those who for the first time decided to get on a board and catch their first wave!
East and South-east of the island starts to "work" in the wet season, when the wind changes its direction. It stretches the strip of barrier reef, coastal reef and beaches with black volcanic sand. The waves here, as it supposed to be on a reef spot, are often large, fast and sharp,they require the surfers to use all the skills. Here the pro-riders chose the local spots, and friendly welcome some world-class surfers who visit Bali during a training tour or during the next stage of the World Cup of Surfing.
Most tourists, including those who came to look for the best waves, visit the island during the dry season! Coast of Kuta got its fame as the most loyal and the most suitable location for learning to surf in Bali. Right here, on the west coast is the largest number of surf schools and surf camps, both international and Russian! Here, on the beach, you will also find a lot of local guys who are ready to show you how to surf a board and rent one. If you came for the first time and want to learn the basics of surfing and you have just two weeks on the island, it is best to contact one of the schools. Choosing a school is your own business! First, you should pay attention to safety, the availability of health insurance, the right equipment and the number of students and instructors in groups. On average all schools give the same basics. During the first 3-4 lessons, you can usually learn how to deal with the board, to find the correct position on the board, paddle to catch the wave, get up on the board, and move down from the waves, keeping the balance. You will also get the necessary minimum of knowledge about the safety rules of behavior on the water, the basic rules of surfing, information about the wave formation, the peculiarities of the wave formation on Bali. However, how fast you will learn the material and the necessary skills, depends on you, your interest in the process of learning and the effort you make in training. Not the least role in the progress of surfing plays your physical shape. If you intend to achieve an early effect of training, prepare for the journey to the ocean in advance, developing your physical skills. Do exercises to develop strength, endurance and flexibility!
As a rule, in a school with experienced instructors who speak the same language will rather the result of understanding the processes and surfing. If suddenly you have doubts during the lessons in your successes, and you suddenly have begun to doubt about yourself or you think you get bad, remember that surfing is not only an exhausting exercise, physical activity or sport, surfing is a communion with the ocean! Believe me, in two weeks or 10 lessons, you will not become a professional surfer, it takes months and years to be one! However, you will be able to get closer to this amazing culture, feel the pleasure of sliding on the wave, learn to interact with the ocean and begin to understand it!
Begin to enjoy the process, and then it will not take long to achieve the result!
I wish you all success, rapid progress and easy first steps in surfing!