hi all
winter has set in, the season over for most.. BUT I WANT MORE!!
so i've been researching kitesurfing/kitesurfing trips up in Bali. I've focused on Bali as it seems like the ideal winter location for us Perthites/Westralians in terms of travel distance & price - ie a 10-14 day trip (inc flights) costing $1500-2000, rather than the usual $3K+ for other destinations further abroad.
if school holiday season is avoided, flights seem to be around $500-700.
their season runs from june to september, running 10-25kn on a 10 day cycle.
there are a few sites/schools that can be found with a simple google search if you're curious.
GETTING TO THE POINT:
- i'm looking for any recommendations as to locations / training schools / packages / accommodation close to the spots
- putting it out there that i'm interested going mid-july to late aug for 10-14 days & would like to form a larger group (currently going with one other mate).
- looking for any stories/advice/experiences/amusing anecdotes
discuss !
I dont know why you are looking for a larger group. Bali is busy enough already.
I don't see the appeal of Bali at all. Sunburnt bogans in Bintang singlets as someone put it the other day. I only get to take one or 2 holidays abroad a year (I'm not complaining, I consider myself very lucky to get this much) so I want a kite trip to be more of an experiance. I'd like to get a bit of culture, food, atmosphere, and it had better not be crowded!
It's cheap because everyone goes there. I'm sure there are some upsides like having Jankie's shop there and like you said, it's cheap. Personally, I'd rather give up my latte's or nights out of whatever for the rest of the year so I could afford to have the vacation I want. I'm going to PNG in july instead. If i were going to Indo, I'd choose somewhere a little less crowded.
For all my bitching and opinions on the matter though, I've never been so take it with a grain of salt.
I dont know what you into ApatheticEnd but PNG gets swell from the north, Our summer is there swell season, unless your after flat water and wind, then good choice.
njord, dont count out our winter, some of the best kiting of the year, just be carfull and keep a close eye on the weather systems.
Apathetic...I think you should take a trip to Bali one day. Its not all just bintang and bogans. All this is confined to Kuta pretty much. Get away from Kuta and the island (pretty big island!) is full of culture. Personally I love the place, always have a ball, great food, live like a king and not to mention has some of the best surf on the planet 
You cant simply load Bali in with Kuta. Probably the crew who filled you in on "Bali" didnt venture out of Kuta themselves? Maybe they are the bogans? 
Hell, even my missus heads to Bali for yoga/spiritual getaways. Thats as far away from bogan activity I can imagine.
Seriously, I dont reckon you can bag a place if you havent been there.
Last year I managed to nab some extremely cheap flights to bali with air asia.
The total cost for two people return from Perth was $388.40
Imagine my surprise when i check my credit card statement later on to find that they accidentally charged me 388.4 Indonesian rupiah.
So my total flight cost ended up being 5c + a $4.00 currency conversion fee from Westpac. $4.05
Bargain!
I went kayaking in Nusa Dua and was almost killed by a jet ski...The guy just didn't care to come back after the crash, seeing me alive and well :(
Can't imagine what would be like in a hospital there.
Than, they tricked us for 30% when we changed some cash...I still can't understand how they done it.
Food is not really cheap, at least dining at Jimbaran, Sanur or Kuta.
So no, I wouldn't go. But I would go to Cocos (Keeling) Islands for AUD$464 one way - it is not cheap but it is still Au territory with great kitesurfing...
Let us know how was it !
Good luck
Bali is very kiteable...Why do you think ben wilson does a wave camp there every year??
late may-early Aug. is the time to go. A 10m is the smallest kite you will need. Freestyle is not that great, but the wave riding is. You dont need a small kite to wave-ride in cross to cross-offshore perfection. Sometimes they have crap seasons, it is all to do with la nina and el nino. This year my pick is to go late as possible.
The only thing Apathetic end is right about is kuta. mabe a trip to midnight oil would change his views on a lot of things....
im of to bali for the month of aug and alot of mates have been very happy with the kiting over there
To answer some of your questions Njord... I have kited Bali in July/aug for the last 3 years, and love it. however, if you think a 10M is a big kite, dont go there... 12's and 14's are the Go. plenty of flatwater at sanur, also great waves out the back or at serangan. there are some other awesome spots to kite if you do some research, but start at sanur. 3 kite schools there, some better than others. start with the local guys down at the Mertasari end (southern), at "kite beach". it can get a little crowded especially at the sanur beach hotel kitespot (blue oasis), but the carnage is always good for a laugh...
add to the kiting, the cheap food, cold beer, and fantastic locals and it's pretty hard to go past. i am fortunate to travel 3 or 4 times a year to kite, and while the kiting is better in some other spots, bali is always the one i really look forward to.
look for an orange and blue 2010 rebel 14M from mid jul to mid aug, and come say hi!
have fun!
ps - Jankie is the Man if you want more specifics - or do a search, as there is a lot of info about Bali on here.
omg thats awesome that theres good kite spots in bali were leaving on the 15th of july.... what do you gys think im 65Kgs was gonu take my 7M ss but me and my mate was thinking of just hiering boards is that a good idea??? save on lugauge. Anyway we was gonu hire some scooters too get around does anyone know some good spots were staying in legian but we are prepard to travel hours for some good kiting :) deffs keen find some fellow Westerns kiting in july
Bali...... Me & Mel are setting off on the 19th July for a 6 weeks or more until perth warms up.
There are so many places to kite there, especially if you are into waves., Just Go discover !!!
We will be in Sanur so Mel can improve her level for a week or so, flat water there.... Then off for some wave action ..... cant wait 
Any one tried the Storm beers? english guy has a brewery in Sanur, Very very nice after drinking only Bintang
Will be there for last week of August,, just gotta sort out type of kite to bring.. board,, etc...
Cant wait, gonna get me sum tacky souveniers!
Been to bali twice kiting at sanur, Bali is great as you can kite, have a 1 hour sports massage for $25 or less afterwards, eat at great restaurants, and shop and party through the night the place doesn't stop.
The wind is best from July to September. But it is a light wind site. SO BIG KITEs. Wind can be less reliable and not guaranteed like cocos or perth summer.
Getting about is easy but insist on the meter when you hop in a taxi and hop out if they refuse. From KUTA it is $6 to Sanur Beach Hotel . If you get stuck in traffic jams and can't be bothered waiting, get out pay the taxi driver and look for a scooter driver who will take you where you want to go, this is safer when the cars are crawling along!
YOU MUST HAVE A BIG KITE- I bought a OZONE zephyr 17 m from Jankie's shop best to preorder if your determined , get 10% off and save huge on the OZ price eg 1500 dollars versus 2200 in Oz. I had a ball with this kite. In Perth 11m is ideal for my size 83kgs, but the 17m will complete my quiver.
Look at Jankies website as it has heaps of info on bali and very good general advice about how to have a great time in bali.
YOu can go to bali with non kiters and girlfriends and they won't be pissed off and bored in fact they may well beg to go back next year.
Flight to bali is painless , 3.5 hrs and you can be on the kite beach in the afternoon the same day , shopping, eating partying by evening.
i've never been to bali before, but i'm heading to Seminyak in 3 weeks for a holiday with the girl. I'm sure that my luggage will accomodate my board and kite :D
Im FIFO at Cocos islands till the end of the year. So if your keen on finding out more details PM me. But the season has started here and should last till September. There is a kite beach that is pretty much deserted, except for a couple of kites on the odd occasion. It's currently consistently 18+ knots. The other day it was getting up around 30knots
dbabicwa said...
I would go to Cocos (Keeling) Islands for AUD$464 one way - it is not cheap but it is still Au territory with great kitesurfing...
it costs $8 for a lettuce here :0
i've never been to bali before, but i'm heading to Seminyak in 3 weeks for a holiday with the girl. I'm sure that my luggage will accomodate my board and kite :D
Im FIFO at Cocos islands till the end of the year. So if your keen on finding out more details PM me. But the season has started here and should last till September. There is a kite beach that is pretty much deserted, except for a couple of kites on the odd occasion. It's currently consistently 18+ knots. The other day it was getting up around 30knots
Just had a week at Club Med, Nusa Dua and kited 4 days from 7 in 12-15knots. I used my 12m Cab Switchblade which was perfect (only 70kgs). So glad i decided to take my gear. Hardly any kiters, only the GM of the resort but plenty of windsurfers. Other boaties and local fishermen (who wade out to the reef on a dropping tide) not a problem. Only frustration was wind and tides not being totally in sync so had to settle for the smallish, shallow lagoon run most of the time but otherwise can highly recommend Nusa Dua.
I hired some gear and kited last month in Sanur from an IKO accredited school and hire place running out the back of a big hotel - sorry can't remember the name, but I think there is only a couple of IKO's in Bali (correct me if I'm wrong).
They took me out beyond the reef in a dinghy and just supervised really which is always a bonus when you don't know the local conditions. I think it was about a $20 cab fare from legian and the driver waited for me which, for a girl travelling hans solo, is noice to know someone may miss you if you don't come back! 
