TRAVEL – Asia Report

No where else on the planet seems to evoke such magical, mystical surfing dreams like Indonesia and other Asian island countries. Drifting off in thought during class or at work its the images of deep blue, flawless reef pass waves backdropped by tiny, green islands that consistently come to mind. While its a little more civilized today than it was in the early ’70′s when seekers were escaping to perfect waves, there’s no shortage of experiences to be had. It is anancient and wonderful land. In the immortal words of John Severson, “In this crowded world the surfer can still seek and find the perfect day, the perfect wave, and be alone with the surf and his thoughts.” Get lost with Surfer Magazine’s Travel Report surf maps and information.

BALI, LOMBOK, NIAS AND GRAGJAN SURF OVERVIEW
The weather of Indonesia has two main seasons: wet (December-February) and dry (June-August). During the wet season winds are predominantly from the west, usually accompaniedby rain squalls, providing offshores for Sanur-Nusa Dua side. If the wind is strong enough, however, Nusa Dua is generally blown out. During the dry season, the SE trades blow, creating offshores for Lembongan, Uluwatu through beachbreaks, and G’Land. The months in between are characterized by variable winds and weather conditions. The worst wind for surfing is a south, as the Uluwatu headland will split the flow into onshores at both Nusa Dua side and Uluwatuside. While temps do not vary much year round, the dry season is the most pleasant, as there is less humidity and evenings are cooler.

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KYUSHU, JAPAN SURF OVERVIEW
The island of Kyushu is the southernmost of the four main islands of Japan. Due to the island’s location, there are surf spots located throughout the island, with the majority of the surf occurring on the Pacific side (Miyazaki Prefecture). Kyushu has a great variety of swell windows. The east coast from Saiki to Kushimi is open to Pacific swell sources from ENE to S. The continental shelf here is narrow so incoming groundswell will not likely dissipate. The west coast can get swell mainly from Sto W from the East China Sea, but these swells are generally short-lived. The north coast is open to N angled swell from the Sea of Japan, which is mainly short-period wind swell. In winter (Dec-Mar), swell sources come mainly from the west. Tidal range is approximately 4-6′ on Kyushu, but may approach 10′ near some days. Bring a tidal calendar.