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Surfing Empty Beach-Break at our Doorstep, in Sumatra 

In between world class waves and heavy beach breaks

Surf in Indonesia is pictured by reef-breaks, mechanical waves, and crystal clear waters. The coastal area of Krui is one of those regions bordered by world-class surf breaks. Ujung Bocur, and Way Jambu known as the Sumatran pipeline, are just two of the spots that make Krui a prime surfing destination.

Cabana Surf Stay
The wave out-front Cabana Surf Stay, known as Mandiri.

This time around, we were not chasing a swell but went to Cabana Surf and Stay to celebrate a birthday party with our crew and to make sure we would have birthday waves we stayed, in front of one of Indonesia’s most consistent surf-breaks, Mandiri beach. 

Surfing Krui
Lonely surfer standing out-front Cabana Surf and Stay

A variety of waves like we’ve rarely encountered 

Some of the most known surf-breaks (Ujang Bocur, Way Jambu, The Peak..) can be crowded, especially during the peak of the swell season (June-September) but with the variety of waves stretching on kilometers of coastline there is always an option to surf regardless of wind directions and swell sizes.

Surfing Krui Ujung Bocur
Ujung Bocur on a 4-5 feet swell. Photo by Nana Gapero
Way Jambu
Way Jambu, also known as the Sumatran Pipeline

Most local accomodations known as “losmen” are situated around the wave of Ujung Bocur which makes it the most crowded wave. The spot is a real swell magnet and the wave works even with a very small pulse of swell peeling along a beautiful reef that you can see clearly while riding different sections allowing turns and barrels over a 300-m ride when conditions are good.

Surfing Krui
Empty beaches bordered by palm trees. This is Krui, Sumatra
Surfing Krui Way Jambu
Morning check at Way Jambu, also known as the Sumatran Pipeline. Not ON on that day, unfortunately.

“Krui is one of these places in the world where you can surf all year long.”

When the swell picks up, The Peak and Way Jambu are the best options for barrel hunters and bodyboarders rejoicing at the view of those steep take-offs and wide open caverns. Unfortunately we did not see it this time-round, but with the wet season around the corner we believe Krui will be a good bet for surf missions having seen that just a tiny bit of swell can awake a few breaks. Krui is of these places in the world where you can surf all year long.

Krui's left
“Krui’s left” during our short trip. There was not much swell but we can have an idea of how good it can be.

Barrels for breakfast at Cabana Surf and Stay

We fell asleep every night with the sound of the waves, waking up with pumping waves at our doorstep. To us, this was already luxury. Needless to say the vibes we were greeted with by the crew of the locally owned Cabana Surf and Stay were friendly and welcoming.

The A-Frame of Mandiri breaks right in front of its restaurant, while various peaks here and there can be ridden as the sandbars shift with the tides and allows the crowd to never max out. Mandiri’s beach break will test your physical condition, requiring twice the duck diving and paddling than an Indonesian reef break.

Cabana Surf and Stay
Mandiri’s A-Frame – barrels for breakfast at Cabana Surf Stay.

Cabana’s surf guide, Bobby, is one of Krui local surfers and made our short surf-trip memorable by bringing us to some of his secret spots as well as his home island of Pulau Pisang, also known as Banana island.  Once again, it is fascinating to see how surfing can give access to career opportunities to Indonesians living near a surf-break. Bobby is just 21-years-old and handled us and other guests with professionalism, offering with an open-heart his knowledge about his loved home-breaks.

Banana Island
View from the cliff-top of Banana island. Bobby’s home-island.
Surfing Krui Cabana Surf and Stay
Bobby, coming out from a sunset sesh out-front Cabana

We were among the first guests at Cabana and we wouldn’t be surprised to find the place and its seven cosy rooms packed on our next visit, so make sure to book in advance 🙂

Note: Current prices per person range from $US 80/day to $US 100, inclusive of all meals, snacks and transportation from Lampung airport to Krui (approx. 5-hours drive) – More info on their website, here.

 Interested in surfing Krui and staying at Cabana Surf and Stay? Just drop us an enquiry below.

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Indo Surf Crew

Indo Surf Crew was first born in the year 2018 as a surf photo & video content creative project while the first surf coaching trip organised by Uriel & Rodrigo happened in 2019 on an island off Sumatra. Since then, they have been running surf coaching retreats for all levels and mostly specialise in surf coaching for intermediate to advanced surfers. Surfing Consciously is our motto. To us it means, bringing awareness to our body, thoughts and interactions – in and out of the water. We take pride in working with eco surf resorts that are acting responsibly in preserving Indonesia’s nature, supporting and educating local communities. Indo Surf Crew was founded by Uriel Jean Armel, a French surfer and film-maker who has taken roots in Indonesia. You can read more about Uriel here, on an interview with Magicseaweed & here during an interview with the Surfing copywriter. As for Rodrigo, he was the first surf coach to join Uriel in his adventure and he’s the founder of the Power Surf techniques – a method that is now practiced internationally to train surf athletes from all over. Power Surf is a land based practice that combines ginastica natural, yoga, capoeira and martial arts, breaking town the fundamental surf techniques through a series of exercises. It also involves video analysis a skate practice for optimal result, which we do during our surf coaching trips.

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