Margaret River Pro (Part 2)

After a hiatus of five years, the World Championship Tour returns to Indonesia with one and a half events this year.

One and a half? Yes, you read that right.

After the shark scares, the remainder of the Margaret River Pro Western Australia event has been shifted to UIuwatu on Bali’s Bukit Peninsula in Indonesia and it will commence as soon as the Corona Bali Protected is over and finish no later than June 13, 2018.

The Wave

facebooktwitterpinterest Down the line at Ulus. Photo credit: Marc oh!

Uluwatu is Bali’s most consistent wave and it’s heavily tide dependent. Swells generated deep in the roaring 40s make their way thousands of kilometres across the Indian Ocean and run down various sections of the reef, groomed by the constant offshore wind.

Temples offers fast barrels and could offer big scores for surfers if the swell is small. The Peak is the most consistent wave at high tide, but Uluwatu is best on a low tide. The Racecourse section offers long barrels over shallow reef when the swell is small, but spectators will be hoping for Outside Corner to be working on a big swell and low tide. This is when Uluwatu is at it’s best, with huge walls and the occasional massive barrel section. When Outside Corner is breaking properly, the crowd in the water thins substantially and the warung owners start complaining about falling revenue!

The Surfers To Look Out For

facebooktwitterpinterest Lakey Peterson and Stephanie Gilmore winner of the Oi Rio Pro

If the event is held at Outside Corner, Owen Wright will be hard to beat. Wright dominated in similar lefts in Fiji a couple of years ago.

In the women’s section, Australians Tyler Wright and Stephanie Gilmore, with plenty of Indonesian surfing experience, will be hard to beat.

Spectator Tips

facebooktwitterpinterest Taking in the action at Single Fin bar

Uluwatu is a very friendly and close knit community. Staying at a local homestay is definitely the best way to go. If you’re travelling to Uluwatu with a driver from other parts of the island, hire them for the entire day. The chances of finding a new driver to take you back to Sanur, Nusa Dua or the Kuta area is very low.

The warungs  on the cliff offer everything you need for the day and they are a great place to watch the event. At low tide it’s safe to view the surfing from the beach. Access is through a spectacular cave. Just keep heading down hill and you’ll eventually find it. There’s also a great rockpool to swim in as you exit the cave on the ocean side. The Single Fin Bar on the top of the Uluwatu cliff is a popular place for a beer and some tunes, while The Edge Bar has the best views of the waves, especially when the Racecourse section is firing.

On the way back from Uluwatu, there’s a little cafe  just before the Padang Padang bridge called Ye Ye’s. It’s a Bali Institution and a great place to chill after the sun has gone down.

How To Get To Uluwatu, Bali

Fly: As the Official Airline of Surfing in Australia, AirAsia operates 21 flights per week from Perth to Bali and onwards to more than 130 destinations across South East Asia and the US.

Once you arrive in Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport otherwise known as Denpasar International Airport, Uluwatu is 30 minute taxi ride south.

Related articles:

Exploring Southern Bali: Bukit Peninsula

Ultimate Bali Adventures Guide: Yin Yang and Everything In Between