Local guide/coach Bali

[pisces25]

Hi,

Just looking for some advice. I have been surfing since October so am still very much a beginner but am slowly getting better and have been catching small green waves for a while now. Because of work I have been quite restricted how often and where I can surf but have been managing about 5-6 hours a week. Til now I have only surfed beach breaks and my main frustration at the moment is I am having a bit of trouble with making the drop on the bigger waves. I am off to Bali for 3 1/2 weeks in June and would like to take the opportunity to really improve my surfing, maybe surf some reef breaks and different conditions and basically surf every day. For the first 2 weeks I am there I am travelling solo (am volunteering for 2 of the first 3 1/2 weeks I am there but am not required for this until 130pm each day). As I will be on my own I am hoping to have a few one-on-one lessons with an experienced guide/coach over there. How do I go about this? Is it best to arrange through one of the surf schools before I go or would I be better off waiting until I am there? I have seen some surf schools and surf camps on the net but they seem to be quite $$ and whilst of course I will pay for coaching I would prefer to give the money straight to a local rather than a surf school/company that may be aimed at tourists. Ideally I am just looking for a local who is willing to spend a few hours with me each morning for a few days and maybe drive me to a few different spots until I get my bearings and can surf on my own.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, even better if you can recommend anyone for this kind of thing

Thanks

[indahvoo]

Hey,

Try talking to the people who runs the surf shop on Poppies 2. Their shop is called Avocado. They give out private lessons and bargain the price they give you. It should be around 25 US dollars a day. I'm sure you can get it cheaper if you maybe rent a board from them. They can tell you where to go too for the size of the swell you want. You can rent or get surf lessons from the people who rent out boards by Kuta beach too. But they seem to be harder to bargain. Mostly if they know you're not familiar with Bali. Enjoy!

[pisces25]

Awesome thanks. I am staying in Canggu for the first two weeks I am there. Is the surf In Canggu ok for beginner's? Anything in particular to be aware of when surfing around there?
thanks..

[indahvoo]

Canggu is great in the morning. Good swell. I have a workshop where I work about 10 minutes from the beach. There's a big nice hotel right by the end of the Pantai Barawa Street. I like Canggu because, well close to work, and not many people selling stuff and bother you. And also the beach is not crowded.

[pisces25]

Nice.. I like the idea of being away from the crowds. My budget won't stretch to fancy digs unfortunately, I am booked into a homestay/hostel type thing. They are 4km from the beach apparantly so will most likely need to organise a motorbike which is going to be another adventure in itself I'd say and they also said they can arrange surfboard hire. Have you seen a surf school operating around there?

[aronjon]

hey pisces,

how was your trip? i read your post, and it sounds similar to my situation. did you end up finding a surfing coach? i have been surfing canggu the past few days, and i would really like some coaching.

cheers-

[pjkl]

If you need private coaching, I can help you, drop me an email. I live in Bali half of the year, I don't coach myself but know many local teachers who would be very happy to get a few bucks and will guide you.

[betinho1974]

Try to contact the people from this website http://www.indosurflife.com, they probably know better what to do and how to do.

[Sugar70]

Nice..
I like the idea of being away from the crowds.
My budget won't stretch to fancy digs unfortunately,
I am booked into a homestay/hostel type thing.
They are 4km from the beach apparantly so will most likely
need to organise a motorbike which is going to be another adventure
in itself I'd say and they also said they can arrange surfboard hire.
Have you seen a surf school operating around there?
Thanks...

[indahvoo]

Hey Sugar70

To rent motorbike make sure you bargain. Never anymore than 50 thousand rupiahs per day (about USD 6). Enjoy Bali!! If you rent for more than a week, you should get a better deal.

[surfisup27]

Hey mate-------www.surftourbali.com

Try them mate, exactly what your after, they offer packages for beginners and intermediate surfers who want to start challenging reef breaks.
Its run by an English guy but he has his Indonesian staff that know all the breaks real well and are friendly as hell. We did a 7 day tour with them and we saw different surf breaks and had a blast. Good luck mate

[jon.biarritz]

I would recommend bringing your own board or two with you and reef boots to protect your feet from the reef and from urchin spines. And very little else, just a few things in a small rucksack including anti-diarrhea powder and intestinal medecine. Surf gear in Bali is dear, more than at home, but everything else you'll need can be found cheaply once there, including good local food, inexpensive lodging everywhere as you go, clothes if needed and good cheap mosquito repellant. You can live fine in Bali on $20-25/day/person. On arrival, rent a scooter for 50 dollars total for the 3 1/2 weeks, with a surfboard side-rack. Filling the tank with gas costs about $1.50 per fillup. You can get all over Bali with that. If you are a beginner I would avoid the crowded reef breaks where the pros go, you'll get cut on the reef mercilessly, esp. in April because the surf usually is getting bigger during the dry season as well and lots of top surfers will be in the water... and they are not beginner spots, you'll want to have a few hundred sessions under your belt before paddling out into that crowd. On the internet you can find all the recommended spots for your level (maybe just the Kuta Beach for beginners), and just go there with your scooter and board. That's what I did for a month on my first trip to Bali and it was great (it was in December, so I mostly went to Keramas and a couple others like Serangan, Nusa Dua and Canggu). Take Singapore Airlines if possible, great service and the surfboards as baggage are no extra charge. Malaysian Airlines are good too. Cheers.