Kuta beach in Bali is a hot spot among tourists seeking some surf, sand and sun. With amazing waves crashing on to the beach every few minutes, surfers from beginners to experienced pros dock the waves ready to ride at a moment’s notice. The varying waves and wind creates giant cylinders for the more experienced while creating milder waves for the beginners making it a surfers paradise be it to show off some moves or learn to balance on a board.
There are a number of surf schools and even individual local surfers well experienced after spending half their lives riding the waves are ready to teach beginners and tourists how to surf and enjoy the waves. Surfing is not about prancing on the beach with a board to look ‘cool’ but to enjoy the waves, feel the pressure and move with the water, feel the rush of the wind and glide on the glassy surface at one with the sea. First is to choose the right board and ideal trainer. Learn how to lie or sit on the board for the first time, exact balance point to suit your body and board, paddling techniques and maintaining constant speed and stability once in the water. For beginners and children make sure to take precaution in a good wet suit to maintain body temperature and comfort, a gel to keep from slipping off the board, a surfboard leash to prevent loosing the board and even probably a helmet.
Next up is learning about the waves, wind and weather. One must know to read the wind to determine the surf conditions, wind and ground swells, changing sea levels with time and season and most importantly the tides, be it a ‘glassy’ or ‘ultra clean surf without ripple’ or ‘lumpy surfing’ depending on the wind. Learn to position your board beforehand and backhand on the wave, different dives such as the duck dive to get under a wave, angling the board to suit the wave and manoeuvring the board at different stages are a few of the tips to be learnt. Finally find out your own special stance and surfing techniques that will even put your trainer to shame. Most importantly one must learn to respect the waves, the underwater creatures, fellow surfers and especially the locals or in other words, surfing etiquette to become a true professional surfer and all this can be done and taught at the Kuta beach, Bali.
Your Ubud Hotel staff will be able to hook you up with a surfing school or local surfer to take your lessons. Uma Bali is a fantastic Luxury Hotel Bali with all these facilities and much more.
Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.