Even a beginner can stand up on a surfboard after a two-and-a-half-hour lesson, surf school instructors say.

 “Our idea is to show beginners that surfing is all about having fun. They just need to come with a spirit of fun, and they’re going to love it as soon as they are able to stand and ride the wave on their surfboard,” said Lentera Sanjaya from the Odysseys Surf School in Kuta.

So what does it take to learn how to surf?

To improve surf skills quickly, beginners need to understand three basic principles, said Made Yoga, the head instructor at the Rip Curl School of Surf.

 “First, you need to pick the right surfboard. Beginners should opt for larger boards because they need more space to maintain their balance while standing on the board, while professional surfers can use smaller boards.”

 “The next thing is health. You should be fit. If you are tired or hung-over because you were drunk the night before, you simply won’t enjoy it,” Yoga said.

 “Best not to surf if you are epileptic, asthmatic, pregnant or have heart problems,” Theresia Dam from the Rip Curl School of Surf added.

Once you’ve taken care of health issues and your surfboard, the next important factor to consider is the condition of the water, such as the height of the tide, waves and wind direction.  

“We usually check tidal movements, the size of waves, as well as wind direction, by using a yearly tide chart that describes the height of the wave every day from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.,” Yoga said.   

“Swell also matters. When we teach beginners, we recognize when the right swell comes and what
type of swell is suitable to learn on,” he added.

Safety is a top priority. Learners have to wear the right gear. Most surf schools usually supply the students with board shorts, rash shirts and helmets to protect against injuries.

Beginners — and professionals for that matter — are always at risk of injuring themselves, but as long as they follow the instructors’ advice and exercise caution in general, they will be safe, Theresia ensured.  
Surf schools usually include insurance coverage in their lesson package, with a liability of up to US$1 million.   

Warming up: Surf school students stretch before going into the water at Jimbaran Beach. As students are gearing up for their first experience riding waves, they are given instructions and told to stretch for a couple of minutes before heading into the water. The instructors also show them the right position when standing on the board.   

 “Before going to the beach, we usually take our students to a swimming pool to teach them how to paddle while lying on their boards,” Lentera said.

There are different class levels. At the introductory level, beginners learn the necessary basic theory to surf, like how to paddle, stand up on the board, and a few basics about their boards.

 “During the first two-and-a-half-hour session, a total novice will learn how to handle a board, ride a wave, paddle, and do forehand and back hand turns. We also teach basics about ocean and water safety,” Theresia said.

At the next level, intermediate students get exposure to riding more challenging waves. They learn how to gain speed on a board, understand waves to get the best experience riding them, as well as how to position themselves when tackling the wave.

The Double D Surf School located at 66 Beach in Legian offers four levels of classes: beginner, stoked, keen and addicted levels.

“After completing the introductory course, we teach students to be more confident on their board, control it while turning and maintaining a comfortable pace,” said Double D owner I Made Mulyadi, also called Dedik.

“At the keen and addicted levels, students will learn techniques to get through the surf into the lineup, select the right waves and confidently ride amazing waves,” he added.     

Beginners said they really enjoyed their first surfing lesson.

 “It was really fun. When I was on the board, I just let my body relax, ride the wave, and enjoyed it,” said Valentina Suslonova from Russia, who took lessons in Legian beach.  

She didn’t find it as hard as she thought, thanks to the instructor who gave clear explanations about different techniques.

 “The waves are really perfect. The only thing I am afraid of is hitting someone with my board,”
she laughed.

Australian Vlad Tooha found his first session in Kuta beach very easy.

“It’s my first time learning how to surf, but I didn’t find it difficult, maybe because I am used to skateboarding,” he said, adding he was really excited about taking more surfing lessons.  

While beginners find Legian and Kuta beaches the perfect spots to learn how to surf, more experienced surfers usually head to Canggu, Padang Padang and Keramas for advanced classes.    

Besides surfing, watersport lovers can also take body boarding, kite surfing, windsurfing and wakeboarding classes in Sanur and Jimbaran.   

Safety is paramount: A surf rescuer walks on the beach with his surfboard while keeping an eye on surf students out in the water. The number of surf schools in Bali has grown in recent years, catering so far for tourists staying in Kuta and Legian wanting to get a taste of water sports.

Two-and-a-half-hour group classes cost between US$35 to $65, while private or one-on-one sessions will set you back between $60 and $100.

One instructor usually handles four to five students in one session.

“To ensure people’s safety, we also have rescue personnel for each class,” said Lentera of the Odysseys Surf School.

Schedules may vary, depending on tide conditions and individual skill levels, but surf schools usually offer daily classes, between 8 to 10:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 4:30 p.m.  

There are around 15 surfing schools in Bali, mostly in Kuta, Legian Seminyak and Sanur, said Yoga, the head of the Rip Curl School of Surf since 2005.

“Indeed, there are plenty of opportunities here for people wishing to open a surfing school, but not all of them are able to survive,” he said.

While some surf schools rely on foreign brands to attract people, Double D prides itself on being local: Balinese owned and operated.

Established by I Made “Dedik” Mulyadi and his twin brother I Gede “Deduk” Aryadi in 2007, with the support from Legian customary village, Double D has managed to survive amid the competition with other established brands and their significant capital.

“We want to keep this surf school local, to show that we also have the potential to offer surf classes with a local flavor,” Dedik said.   

The school’s students are mostly European, Australian with some visitors from Jakarta. “They ally say they chose [to learn how to surfing with] us because they want to contribute to the local economy by spending their money on local businesses,” he said.  

— Photos by JP/Stanny Angga