The Average Surfer In Bali (When Not Diluted By International Tourists) Is Supremely Talented

Where in the world is the average level of surfing highest?

Oahu’s North Shore? Australia’s Gold Coast? That little jetty in the Port of Amsterdam?

All good options, but what about Bali’s Bukit Peninsula, where the world’s most consistently mesmerizing waves reside? Typically, due to its wave quality, tropical climate, vibrant culture, and relatively low cost-point, Bali is flooded with surf tourism all the year long, ranging from truly elite waveriders to whatever this is.  

Point being, when you surf in Bali, you’re as likely to be within spitting distance of Kelly Slater as you are dodging the epoxy retro-fish of a bootie-wearing dentist from—you guessed it—the Netherlands.

So in normal times, the average surfing ability of a Balinese lineup is right around 5/10. Maybe 5.5 when Rizal makes one of his rare but noteworthy appearances. 

Which brings us to the video above—a raw-ish edit from a single afternoon at Bingin. 

As Bali has been closed to international tourists since covid began, the locals have enjoyed their most “mellow” surf season in a generation (or two). That means instead of 50 people surfing at one of their premier waves, it’s 20, but most of them are childhood friends.

And. AND. They all fucking rip. Like, properly. Watch the video above, which features mostly Balinese locals, and try to dissuade me. 

Rio Waida (the final natural footer in the clip) is damn near CT-ready, as far as we’re concerned.