Ulu’s getting all-time XXL. PC: Surfers of Bali
Thanks to social media, you’ve undoubtedly caught wind of people getting the waves of their lives around Indo back in July. Somewhere right around the halfway point of July, the Indian Ocean switched on (which isn’t exactly unusual) and then it was as if nobody remembered to turn it off. Swell after swell pushed through and Bali more or less became the center of the wave-riding world.
“The last time we experienced really consistent waves in Indonesia with multiple monster swells thrown in was in 2006,” the folks at Surfers of Bali told The Inertia. “The biggest days on the 19th and 25th produced huge waves all along the Bukit, complete with a tow session at massive Uluwatu. It was awesome to watch it all go down from the Uluwatu cliff. And as generally happens during big swells, there was a more communal vibe compared to a regular day when we’re mainly focused on getting our own slice of the pie.”
Of course, it’s tough to imagine lineups packed with tourists backpaddling and scrapping for their own waves when it gets this big. These are the days when those lineups tend to thin and only the cream of the crop paddle out. Here’s a five-video, raw-footage recap of swell after swell after swell:
July 19th: A Prelude at Ulu’s
“There were about a dozen guys sitting on Outside Corner and less than half of that on the Bombie,” Surfers of Bali wrote. “Amazing rides, wide sets, and heavy wipeouts aplenty.”
July 19th: Balangan Going OFF
Ulu’s wasn’t the only place turning on, obviously. Here’s footage of Balangan looking legitimately perfect. As you can see, it’s not exactly a packed lineup. This was a sizeable swell but still didn’t match up with what was to come.
July 24th: Drain Pipes at Padang Padang
This was the scene at Drain Pipes while the second, bigger swell was still filling in. A bit crowded but looking as fun as ever. And then…
July 25th: Towing Psycho Uluwatu
This one is worth watching until the end. Or at the very least, jumping straight to the final minute and one of the best and biggest waves that may have ever been ridden at Uluwatu.
“The guy towing caught some incredibly long rides covering almost the entire length of the reef, and there were a few paddle guys giving it a go, dodging the massive, shifty cleanup sets and the river-like sweep,” Surfers of Bali wrote.
July 29th: Padang Padang Is On…STILL…Or AGAIN…
