7. Padang Padang: So Good They Named It Twice
7. Padang Padang: So Good They Named It Twice
Description:
The hollowest and best tube on Bali. Doesn’t start breaking till it is 4 foot, and only gets proper at 6-8. Intense crowd, intense tube and a scary end section that gets shallower as you go along.
History:
It was Australian’s Steve Cooney plus American Rusty Miller who first surfed Ulus back in 1971. It didn’t take long to work out the next cove down offered a rarer, but more perfect barrel. The wave has been a surfing icon ever since.
Death factor:
Only breaking in serious winter swells, and best above six foot on the the big low tides. Add a heavy crowd and this wave scares this shit of most mortals.
Why you need to surf it?
One Padang barrel is worth ten at Bingin, and the sheer green perfection must be surfed to be believed.
Logistics:
Stay in Kuta, or at the ever increasing range of luxury hotels above the break. The beach is beautiful and usually packed with brown skinned beauties.
Standout performers:
In the ’80s Jim Banks was the best surfer here by far. Jamie O’Brien provided a signature performance in the Rip Curl event in 2009, as did Kelly in a Search WT event in 2008 (with switchfoot) but local legend Wayan Gobleg and Rizal Tagung have notched up the most tube time.
Season/swell:
May to September and hope the biggest swell coincides with the biggest tides.
Expense:
Choose between half a star nasi goreng or cocktails by the infinity pool.
Share