THIS EXHILARATING TWO-DAY ACTIVITY IN SANUR WILL GET YOUR BLOOD PUMPING FOR SURE! KITE SURFING IS BOTH EXHILARATING AND FUN TO LEARN REGARDLESS OF YOUR EXPERIENCE LEVEL IN THE WATER. THE BEST PART IS THAT YOU DON’T EVEN NEED TO STAND UP ON THE BOARD TO HAVE AN ABSOLUTE BLAST. BUT WHEN YOU DO, IT’S A THRILL OF A LIFETIME!

See ya!” That was the last thing we heard before Mario, our Level 3 instructor, was whisked out of the boat and rocketed three stories high into the air. Moments later he landed gently like a feather on the calm waters of the Sanur lagoon.

We looked at each other in disbelief before realizing that he did it all for show – very impressive! Shortly after, we headed back out in the small boat towards the reef to practice maneuvering the kite with a control bar at kite surfing speeds as it flew high above our heads. Mario looked at me with anticipation in his eyes and a smirk on his face and said simply, “Wanna fly?”

KITE SURFING

Being from California, I’ve spent most of my life in the water. From being a junior lifeguard as a kid to surfing here in Bali, I belong in the ocean. For Dana, my good friend from Prague who joined me on this adventure, it’s a different story. However, we both found that kite surfing is both exhilarating and fun to learn, regardless of your experience level in the water. The best part is that you don’t even need to stand up on the board during your first few lessons to have an absolute blast. But when you do, it’s a thrill of a lifetime!

Our adventure started with a 20-minute classroom session at the Rip Curl School of Surf on the beach in Sanur. In the Level 1 course they provide an informative introduction booklet on kite surfing basics that covers the history, equipment, safety, wind, and more importantly the principles of flying these specialized kites.

After the classroom session it was time to set up the equipment on the beach and practice flying two different training kites in the comfort and security of the soft white sand. The power of holding the wind in your hands with these kites is a rush in itself, even while just standing on the beach!

2-DAY PACKAGE

Our lessons were part of their two-day package deal – three levels of approximately two hours each. It’s a pretty simple formula: Level I - Essential Basic Kiting, Level 2 - Water Control (Body Dragging and Board Starts), and finally Level 3 - Riding.

With the harness system it doesn’t take much upper body strength, as it’s all about finesse. Once you learn to let the kite lift you onto the board, it’s time to start slicing across the tropical waters of the Sanur lagoon under the power of a kite. This is one Bali adventure that you don’t want to pass up.

The beauty of learning to kite surf is that it’s truly about the journey. Just to fly one of these kites from the beach or to practice being pulled through the water by the wind is well worth the price. I recommend their package deal where you get Levels 1-3 for Rp. 3,000,000. This includes everything you need, but if you want more time, you simply tack on one or two more lessons before you’re on your own.

Once you’re a kite surfer, Rip Curl carries the latest range of equipment for rental or purchase. And when you want to keep honing your kite flying skills, Rip Curl allows their students to come by and practice anytime, free of charge.

IKO CERTIFIED

Dotted with colorful kites on the beach, the Rip Curl Kite Surfing School is impressive. No wonder it is Asia’s leading educational water sports center. With all IKO (International Kite Organization) certifi ed instructors, top-notch equipment and even showers for a post lesson rinse, there’s a great buzz of energy and activity all around the center. They even have a grassy area next to the beach with beanbags for resting after a long day of kite surfing.

Safety is their first priority, and with the new advances in gear, this sport has never been safer or easier to learn. The setup is a snap and the curriculum they’ve created to teach kite surfing is quick and effective. I was up and riding for a short distance the very first day, and by the second day I was riding all the way across the beautiful Sanur lagoon and loving every second of it. I never imagined that within the fi rst four hours of instruction I’d be a kite surfer. I’m hooked!

Bali is not just a tropical getaway and a honeymoon hotspot, it’s also a paradise for surfers! Bali and the surrounding islands have some great surfing beaches, with beach breaks for beginners and huge barrels for the pro’s.

You need to know the characteristics of the waves to find a surfing spot that fits your level so you don’t end up in a whirlpool of thundering waves. Here are the best five surfing spots in Bali based on their level of difficulty.

In all cases: Respect the local surfers (don’t drop in before them) and be careful around shallow water!

Surfing Kuta Beach : Beginner-Intermediate

The easiest and most beginner friendly beach to try your surfing skills is Kuta beach. The beach is close to the nightlife and tourist center of Legian, hence the beach is always crowded. As a surfing spot, Kuta is very appropriate for beginners. The soft tide and average height of the waves make it a good first step for beginner to try out white water surfing (surfing the waves after they break and roll towards the beach). The good thing here is that there are plenty of lifeguards on the lookout, might you get into trouble (the undertow can get quite strong). Also, it might be a good idea to follow a surfing lesson (just ask one of the surfing dudes renting out boards at Kuta beach). For experts, Kuta beach’s swell will be to easy to defeat.

Surfing Canggu Beach : Beginner-Intermediate

Canggu beach is slightly more challenging, depending on the tide. Canggu is located close to Seminyak, about 30 minutes from Kuta. Canggu is a popular spot to surf just for everyone, both experienced surfers and beginners surf in Canggu. There is a variety of beach and reef breaks, with a few soft rolling waves that are ideal for beginners and some fast, rippable peaks, for experts. Canggu will be a place to have a relaxing surf with waves that aren’t that extreme (but can get rather fast!). But, when the tide is up, it can be a real challenge even for the professionals. For beginners, Canggu is also a friendly beach. The soft waves and medium tide makes learning how to surf more fun. It’s usually more quiet than in Kuta, there’s a warung that sells some snacks, but that’s about it.

Surfing Uluwatu Beach : Intermediate-Expert

Mysterious Uluwatu is the next spot to try. Go to the Uluwatu temple and walk down the reef through the famous cave. Be prepared for the reef and take reef booties and a good leash. Uluwatu might be the most famous wave in Bali and hence is always crowded. There’s always some swell and there are several waves to try. The Peak, in front of the cave is the most consistent. Racetracks is good for tube riders. Outside Corner only works with big swells or low tide. Uluwatu is only for intermediate surfers, be careful at high tide to make it back to the cave. Uluwatu has several risks that include shallow water, reefs and lots and lots of other surfers. Uluwatu is especially crowded in the high waves seasons around August to September.

Surfing Keramas Beach : Intermediate-Expert

Keramas beach is located passed Sanur, in the direction of Gianyar. This once secret hide-away is now one of the most popular surf spots on Bali. Keramas has an excellent reefbreak, and one of the few rights on Bali. It is definitely a wave for professional surfers. Keramas beach promises constant waves and a big swell, as long as you get up early, after 07.00 a.m the onshore wind might affect the barrel. The end section gets really shallow and you should be careful with the sharp reef and annoying sea urchins. The location makes this beach less crowded compared to the others, so, if you’re looking for a world-class wave without having to battle to stand up on your board, Keramas is the place to be.

Surfing Padang-Padang Beach : Expert

Padang-Padang beach maybe the most famous surfing beach in Bali, nicknamed the Balinese Pipeline. You will find Padang-Padang on the Bukit Peninsula, opposite of the Padang Padang bridge. There are a lot of surfing competitions held in Padang-Padang. This ‘gnarly’ left hand point is strictly for professional surfers because this is the most dangerous and probably the most hollow wave in Bali. The size ranges from 4 to 12 feet (don’t even try entering the water in the latter case!) Things to be cautious with include shallow water (coral) and fellow surfers (Padang-Padang gets seriously busy). Luckily there is also a gentle right hand wave that breaks on the beach here, a great beginners wave, especially at high tide.