Surfing Indo in March/April

[Kllazs]

Hi everyone

I just booked a surf holiday to Indo from 15 march till 15th april (landing on jakarta).
Was thinking of doing a mini trip from java to lombok with combination of surfing/backpacking but still not concrete.
Main premise is to surf though.
I have already searched this amazing forum and want to go to batu karas the first week.
From then everything is still open.
Level is beginner/intermediate. 4 weeks of experience.
Also goofy, so left hand breaks would be nice!!

Any advice/tips on this surf holiday?

Thanks

[jaffa1949]

Welcome. But I'm not sure my reply will be entirely welcomed, which of necessity will be blunt.
Necessity, your safety!
Four weeks Surfing you think you may be edging into being intermediate!
Just what can you do in riding a wave?
An Indonesian back pack surf trip for a month ( Great but we will get to the basics of that after your surfing needs)
Batu Karas, Java some surf schools , mainly right handlers over coral and lava reefs, Karang is one such,, next gentle learners break not so bad right handed and good for learning.
Legok Pari a certain amount of sand! Next your first left hander Bulak Bendak, a experienced level left hander.
Be prepared to buy limes or iodine wipes to sterilise the coral cuts.
Next what sort of board will you be riding and back packing with? That will interesting, google map check the road conditions, some main roads, little more than one car wide, ithrough the jungle well away from the beaches, little side roads, do. you know which one lead to beachs, the central south of Java it is very hard to access beaches beyond East Java you need to island hop, ferries Java to Bali Java to Lombok or Java, Bali Lombok, ferry Terminals in Lombok at NW coast of Lombok surf in south!
There are buses somewhere, sometimes, if you backpack please expect to pay for any rides, you will be considered rich, think cheap and you will be considered rude and arrogant. Karma is alive and well in Indonesia
Have you been to an emerging country with huge areas of jungle and real poverty, but cultural richness.
Java Muslim. Bali Hindu, and Muslim, Lombok, Muslim and Hindu, .
People are very welcoming when respected! Modesty and respectful behaviour at all times!

How old are you?
Are you self sufficient in surf safety and self rescue as most locations have nothing to offer if you can look after yourself, you will be on your own!
It is a big adventure ,but nowhere near as connected as traveling in Australia, USA or Europe,.
Outside cities the further off track you go the less English or any other language is spoken
Bahasa Indonesian is even rare in some areas!
Do you have travel vaccinnations/ medications, malaria, typhoid encephalitis , severe bacterial infections and dysentery just covering a few.

My honest suggestions for you areto head from one clear surf destination to another, go to surf camps learn there!

Surf condition can change brutally from tide to tide, a benign spot can shift in minutes as a pulse of deep Indian Ocean swell arrives.
Buy a book I recommend to all new Indonesian travellers should have, Indo Surf and Lingo by Peter Neely, basic language, a run down of heaps of surf Spots.

Stay your whole stay at Batu Karas, as so much of your surf time will be spent in fruitless ( only in not getting much surf) travel.


Just a question where was your 4 weeks surf experience gained?

I am not being disrespectful of you , but there is so much risk for the novice.
Ask more questions we can tell you more
BTW have been surfing through the length of Indonesia since 1979, short and long boards.
There others who are resident there!

[Kllazs]

Hi Jaffa,

I want to apoligize for submitting my topic on this forum. I've typed it in a hurry without layering my subject of travel. After seeing what i've written i can understand the concern aroused.

A little background to straighten things up
I'm 24 years and had 4 weeks of surf last year at Gran Canaria and Zarautz Spain, each spread over 2 weeks. I did do surfcamps each time.
the level of beginner/intermediate was a level at my last surfcamp in which i took lessons. i just took this standard as a global level, it obviously isn't.

I just wanted to ask for easy beginner places to get further into surf, experience the culture, do some excursions and meet new people. Just local, down to earth and not so tourtisty. And off course with the concept of surf classes/camps.
I would rent and not buy a board on the places, longboard probably. So i would not have to take it with me when travelling to some other destinations.
Something hypothetical like a transport from jakarta to pandangaran to batu karas. Staying there for a week, then going elsewhere and ending near bali to take a domestic flight back to jakarta.

There are still three months left in getting informed about all necessities, practical and cultural, which i'm already doing so no worries.

Again, sorry for the bad topic. I can understand you where guessing my age :p

Take Care!

[jaffa1949]

Kilauea it is not a bad topic, surfers at your level need clear advice as to,where and when to go!
I see so many first timers to Indonesia overwhelmed injured and at a total loss in the surf.
Grand Canaria surfing would give you some idea of the power of a central ocean island surf, and most good surf schools would put you in easier conditions.

This is my insight into intermediate surfing, able to read the surf choosing easy routes to paddle out.
Can paddle for and catch most waves with judgement, functional in pop up up, able to,set up riding the face, backhand or forehand by a bottom turn or good angled take off.
Can adjust their speed to suit the changing wave with top and bottom turns and trimhas a basic cutback and knows and uses the rules of etiquette and line ups.
Can duck dive or with a longboard, turtle roll.

Add to that able to swim adequately in if leash breaks, , understands rips and beach and wave conditions!

Please recognise this is not a bad topic at all, you were prepared to ask the questions other people assume they know.

I surf all over the world and research any new area I’m going to, Currently Sri Lanka is my research spot!.
The culture in Indonesia is astounding and very engaging and rewarding, your preparation will serve you well.
Try and buy the book I suggested, I alway have a copy.

Cheers at 24 it will be great!