17th May 09
****AFTERNOON SURF UP-DATE****
Howdy folks and thanks for stopping by the one and only original baliwaves for the latest info on Bali’s surfing and weather scene.
Well around the Kuta area and even down south to our premier break of Uluwatu there hasn’t been a lot of surf for the holiday crew this weekend. So the boys and I from here at Home Base made the pre dawn (4.30am) highway run to Balian up on Bali’s north western coast. It’s really only a 1.5 – 2hr drive up to balian from here in Tuban but the idea of leaving pre dawn is so that you miss the majority of traffic that use the same highway betwe Bali and Java. The other main reason is so that you get to arrive just as the sun is rising to try and beat the crowds.
We arrived at Balian just after 6.00am to find wave height in the 2-3ft+ range out the front on the river mouth a frame left and right with surfers just making the paddle out. But by the time our team hit the water there was another 10 more and steadily growing. Within an hour there was at least 30 on it. The boys opted for the slightly bigger a frame while I snuck down to the right hander further down the beach and shared wave for wave with one other surfer…
Surfing conditions were clean and glassy with just the slight hint of off-shore wind which held through until around 10.30am before the ESE Tradey started to kick in. But even as we were leaving at 12.30 noon the waves were still clean and smooth.
Tide wise today we had a 1.0mtr Low @ 9.00am and then she’ll be filling back in for a 1.9mtr High @ 3.00pm this afternoon.
Our daily sms surf report from the G-Land Surf Camp was calling wave height to be still holding in the 4-5ft sector hitting Money Tree’s and the launching Pad. With no surfers in the water at 7.00am. I’ve also received another batch of photos from their in camp photographer and thats what your seeing today.
Weather wise around Bali today it’s been hot and steamy with the mercury maxing out at 29 degree’s Celsius and Humidity up there in the high 90’s.
Ok crew that’s me for the Sunday Session
If your planning a trip to Bali this year (and I know you are !!) feel free to drop me an email if you want a helping hand organising anything.
L8R
Slim
Dave Gordon says
Hey mate, beginner surfer (i can ride a wave, but catching them is still the struggle) > I’ll be surfing with my cousin who is an experienced surfer but would like to have some lessons in Bali.
Any schools you can recommend? I like the idea of not planting into reefs like last time 🙂
thanks for any info,
Dave
Dave Gordon says
(re: last comment, I’ll be in Bali most of the Time. surfed Uluwatu on small days, Pedang, Belangen, Kuta and some of the islands and north west / east coast so know where i want to hit.)
Mark C says
Head for Kuta Dave. Couple of schools around there that might suit. Best leave the Bukit alone.
Trevor says
Howzit Howzit
Do you know of any good places to rent a board from? I’m on my way to Bali next week but my board is stuck in South Africa 🙁
Please please can you help?
Thanks
Trevor
Graham says
Hi Slim,
I’m flying in from the UK in 3 weeks for my third season in Indo. I haven’t managed to hit Lembongan yet, but would like to go this time. What I need to know is how big must Ulu’s be for places like laceratons to be head high? Does it need much swell to start breaking?
Cheers!!
Graham
whippet says
Graham,
You need a fairly large south west swell for Lacerations. you can work out the tides yourself 🙂
Dan says
hey graham,
whippet’s got it with the swell & u can surf it on any tide except dead low… but a MAJOR word of warning!!!, the place is not for kooks or begginers ( not implying u are ) but ive seen some heavy shit happen out there… super heavy beatings with some of the worst reef rash ever, i even saw a guy break his leg out there one year!!! so be careful & if its a little beyond you just paddle across the channel to playgrounds which is a little mellower… have a good trip.
gerry says
Hi Slim
im an aussie and had some good fun at balian the same day as you guys but from the photos i think i missed the best waves always good vibe there for me so far anyway and nice wave nearly as good as noosa ( is absolutely cranking at present)
great surf reports from bali makes aussie working day easier, might catch you one day in bali
slim says
Hey Gerry, thanks for tuning into the baliwaves mate !!
Yeah I have to agree Balian is usually always a mellow place with a good friendly vibe, thats why I like surfing up there too.
Glad to hear the points are pumping, national park……. I was surfing up there in ’85. Went there to stay 2 weeks and ended up staying 6 months…
Thanks again for dropping me a line
Slim
pigo says
Boat babies,they cursed themselves, all surferd in this shot broke their boards or ripped fins out and broke legropes, only Caban survived, he will get his next time.