First waves
For complete beginners
IDR 500,000 per lesson
Ocean safety, paddling and your first rides on the whitewater, at a pace that never feels rushed.
EnquirePrivate surf lessons in Bali with a local eye for the ocean
Calm, attentive coaching for complete beginners, surfers ready to progress and children, at the beach breaks of Canggu and Kuta and on the long point at Medewi.
Lessons
Coaching for every level
Each session is shaped around the surfer in the water: their level, their confidence and what the ocean is doing that day. Every lesson begins directly at the beach.
Progression coaching
For intermediates who feel stuck and want to improve
IDR 600,000 per lesson
Wave selection, positioning in the lineup, and the specific habits holding you back.
EnquireChildren
For children, at their own pace
IDR 450,000 per lesson
Gentle, playful sessions in water of the right depth, with a coach who keeps young surfers close and confident.
EnquireBeyond the lesson
Equipment advice
Guidance on the right board, volume and fins for your level, whether you are renting for your stay or buying a first board of your own.
Every surfing question
Forecasts, tides, lineup etiquette, where to surf next. Ask on the beach, or afterwards on WhatsApp.
Board, rashguard and leash are included with every lesson. See what to bring.
What’s included
The equipment is ready. Bring the rest.
Every lesson comes with everything you need in the water. Pack your own swim things and sun care, and you are set.
Included
- Surfboard
- Rashguard
- Leash
Bring your own
- Swimwear
- Drinking water
- Sunscreen ideally reef safe
- Towel
A first lesson
From the sand to your feet
Complete beginners move through four stages. Experienced surfers and children follow their own path, and no one repeats a step they have already mastered.
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1
On the sand
How to lie on the board, how the leash works, where today’s current runs, and the one rule that keeps everyone safe: never between your board and the wave.
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2
Paddling out
Balancing your weight so the nose stays level, long unhurried strokes, and passing the foam without losing ground.
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3
Catching whitewater
Your coach steadies the board, lines you up and sends you into the wave. The first rides are on your belly, then your knees, then standing.
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4
Standing up
One fluid motion rather than three. Feet across the board, knees soft, eyes down the line, repeated until it becomes instinct.
at your own pace Find your wave
Where we surf
From Canggu and Kuta to the point at Medewi
The spot is chosen each day by tide, swell and your level, from the beach and reef breaks of Canggu and Kuta to the long, unhurried point at Medewi on the west coast.
Canggu
Beach and reef breaks a few minutes apart, each working on a different tide.
Batu Bolong
Reef break, sand bottom
Soft, slow and forgiving, with a long ride and nothing sharp underfoot. It is the natural place for a first lesson.
- Tide
- Mid to high
- Size
- 2 to 4 ft
- Bottom
- Sand, reef
Old Man’s
Reef break
Mellow, peeling waves right beside Batu Bolong. A gentle step up once you are standing.
- Tide
- Mid to high
- Size
- 2 to 5 ft
- Bottom
- Reef
Berawa
Beach break
A true beach break: steeper, faster and particular about the tide, over a forgiving sand bottom.
- Tide
- Low to mid
- Size
- 3 to 6 ft
- Bottom
- Sand
Echo Beach
Reef break
Powerful lefts and rights over reef, for confident surfers ready for real speed.
- Tide
- Mid to high
- Size
- 3 to 8 ft
- Bottom
- Reef
Kuta
Long sandy beaches with forgiving whitewater, a classic place to begin.
Kuta Beach
Beach break
A consistent, gentle beach break over sand, ideal for first sessions.
- Tide
- All
- Size
- 1 to 4 ft
- Bottom
- Sand
Legian
Beach break
Sandbar peaks just north of Kuta, a little quieter and with more shape.
- Tide
- Mid
- Size
- 2 to 5 ft
- Bottom
- Sand
Medewi, west Bali
Around two hours west of Canggu, so best planned as a full day.
Medewi Point
Point break, long left
A long, slow left that peels for a remarkable distance, with a fraction of Canggu’s crowd. Booties recommended.
- Tide
- Mid to high
- Size
- 3 to 6 ft
- Bottom
- Cobbles
Yeh Sumbul
Beach break
Along the coast from the point, and it changes with the swell and tide: it can barrel on its day, or run soft and easy. Fewer people out than at the point.
- Tide
- Mid to high
- Size
- 3 to 6 ft
- Bottom
- Sand
Your coach
Rifki, a Balinese surfer with an eye for the right wave.
Born and raised in Bali and surfing its coastline since childhood, Rifki coaches with patience and precision, shaping each session around the surfer in front of him.
- ISA certified surf coach
- Lifeguard trained
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Surfers who feel stuck
The habits holding you back, found and fixed wave by wave.
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Children
Patient, playful and always putting safety first.
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Reading the ocean
Your waves called for you, so the session is spent riding.
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Clear communication
Instruction in clear, confident English.
Reviews
In their words
I was really afraid of the water. With Rifki’s help I managed to stand up on the board, and it was my very first time surfing.
After two years of surfing I still could not do any turns. With Rifki I finally made real progress.
Gallery
From the water
Sessions, students and the waves themselves.
FAQs
Before you book
Do I need to be a strong swimmer?
You should be comfortable in water that is out of your depth. Beginner lessons take place in water between waist and chest deep, on a very buoyant board, but the ocean moves, and staying calm if you fall off matters more than technique.
Where do we meet?
Directly at the beach. Transport is not provided, so guests make their own way; the exact meeting point is confirmed on WhatsApp once your lesson is booked. Sessions at Medewi, around two hours west of Canggu, are best planned as a full day.
Can you help me choose a board?
Yes. Whether you are renting for your stay or buying a first board, Rifki can advise on length, volume and fins for your level, and answer any other surfing question, from reading a forecast to lineup etiquette.
From what age can children join?
Children are welcome from five years old. Their sessions are patient and playful, in water of the right depth, and move only as fast as the child is comfortable. There is no upper age limit for adults.
What should I bring?
Swimwear you can move in, a towel, sunscreen and drinking water. Your board, rashguard and leash are provided. A full swimsuit or a rash vest stays in place when a wave breaks over you, and jewellery and valuables are best left at your accommodation.
What if conditions are poor?
Conditions are checked before every session, and if they are unsuitable for your level the lesson is moved. We find another time or day that works, at no extra cost. Worth knowing: small, untidy waves that disappoint experienced surfers are often ideal on day one.
How do I pay, and what if I need to cancel?
Pay in cash on the beach or by bank transfer, whichever suits you. Cancel at least three hours before your session and there is nothing to pay. Inside three hours, or if you do not turn up, half the lesson price is charged.
Book a lesson
Plan your session with Rifki.
Share your level, your dates in Bali and the area that suits you. Rifki will reply with a time that works with the tide and a meeting point on the beach.
Bookings by WhatsApp · Bali time, GMT+8