BootsnAll Travel Community

Hi all,

I am heading to SE Asia and India for a good chunk of time (6 months) and want to learn how to surf. My plan is to learn somewhere in SE Asia and maybe hang out in that location for a while before heading to India where I also hope to surf. Any recommendations on where I can accomplish these goals? Thanks you in advance.

Gary

Gary..i don't know where you can learn how to surf in southeast asia but i must say surfing takes a lot of dedication. Just like the nike commercial, you just have to get out there with your board and "just do it" The first thing first is to get in the water with a surf board...and just paddle hard and balance yourself as you catch the wave.... Maybe you can catch the next tsunami awhile your out there...
and by the way start with long board and instead of short one.

Bali seems to come to mind for surfing...

PC

India = no surfing.

this site lists lots of options

Soofligo,

You said it, man. I plan on dedicating at least three weeks to surfing to really get the fundamentals nailed. If it's anything like snowboarding or skateboarding, I should be okay.

I am really just curious of the closest spot to Bangkok to catch some good waves. Thus far, Pulau Nias off the coast of Sumatra seems the best candidate. I wasn't sure if there were some lesser known spots in perhaps Malaysia.

Hopefully, Pulau Nias will be somewhat restored by the time I am ready to visit it. It was awful close to the epicenter of the recent earthquake.

Thank you all for responding...I will check that site out, Mina.

you can do some windsurfuing in Goa...

i have a friend that goes to Malaysia every year for the surf. But I don'w know where, as unfortunately I lost contact with him two years ago.
And it'll probably take longer than three weeks to learn, but as long as you don't mind taking a few beatings in the waves it'll all be a joy.

quote:

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Originally posted by garyyetter:
Soofligo,

You said it, man. I plan on dedicating at least three weeks to surfing to really get the fundamentals nailed. If it's anything like snowboarding or skateboarding, I should be okay.

I am really just curious of the closest spot to Bangkok to catch some good waves. Thus far, Pulau Nias off the coast of Sumatra seems the best candidate. I wasn't sure if there were some lesser known spots in perhaps Malaysia.

Hopefully, Pulau Nias will be somewhat restored by the time I am ready to visit it. It was awful close to the epicenter of the recent earthquake.

Thank you all for responding...I will check that site out, Mina.

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I'd avoid Nias until you have a handle on it - maybe a couple months (if you're spending 6). Unlike snowboarding or skateboard which you can pick up in a day or two, surfing takes a loooong time to get. There is a lot more involved... learning the ocean, get used to being on your board, handling yourself and your board - and that's before you even paddle for a wave.

I would stick to Bali and maybe enroll in a camp for a couple days if you really want to learn. And have patience and don't expect to get it right away, it's going to be very frustrating at first.

Good luck and have fun with it!

I just got back from Bali 2 weeks ago, and Kuta Beach is great for beginner surfers (the waves break over sand as opposed to reef.) Nice easy waves that take you all the way in, and if you want, bigger ones you can actually play in.

Uluwatu is only an hour away, and they have excellent waves there when you're feeling braver.

Board rental is cheap, weather if fabulous, waves are awesome... I would do Bali!!!

Well, I found what I was looking for in Daet, Philippines. A nice beach break with waves about 4 feet right now. I started catching waves my second day on a longboard. Not as hard as people led me to believe; I actually thought learning to snowboard was more difficult. If anyone wants to surf in a very quiet, friendly place, Daet (Bagasbas Beach is it). They'll even teach you for free here.

Perhaps I'll try Bali on next year's trip.