Hi,
Anyone kitesurfed in Bali? I'm heading up there on holiday for a week in July so thought I might take the gear along, is it worth it?
Recommendations on where to go?
Kite size? Wind conditions?
What are the local kiters like?
Anything else I should know?
I know there are a couple of old forum posts on here but anyone have any recent knowledge?
Thanks.
Expect to be disappointed with the kitesurfing, and you'll have a good time.
If you expect to have a good time kitesurfing, you'll probably be disappointed.
I lived in Bali for 2 1/2 years. While the wind can sometimes be good, it's far from being a great kiting spot. That said, if you take your gear, you might pick up some good days in July. Be prepared for it to be nowhere near as good as Perth though.
Sanur is the best bet. Large kite...at least 12m. Wind can be good at times. But it's very patchy. I have spent more time than I would like to admit standing on the shore waiting for the fickle wind to pick up. It can be very frustrating.
Huge tides at Sanur. So depending on the tides, you may have a long walk over reef to enter the water. Bring booties if you have them.
Nusa Dua also has a spot. Some people kite at Canggu, but be VERY careful there. Strong currents, sometimes nasty waves, rocks along the shore. I had a 12m kite totally shredded there.
Hope you get some up there.
The SE trade winds dont change direction, the biggest issue is strength. If youre taking the mrs, tell her that if your there for 10 days, 2-3 will be kiteable in July. Keep a flexible schedule, as youll wake-up in the morning and it will be on. Kuta-Changu-Balian side is for experienced kiesurfers only as it is offshore-cross-shore. Nusa dua-Sanur side is great for others, however, higher tides only
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Yup. That's how I go into trouble. Wind shifted in a matter of a few minutes. Kite dropped out of the sky. Couldn't relaunch. Kite got caught in the impact zone. Destroyed. I wouldn't recommend Canggu to anyone except top notch kiters. And even then, be extremely careful and talk to some "locals" before you go out there.
Late in the arvo the wind can change, I finish there at 4pm as it goes flukey. The other thing with changu, it is cross-offshore so dont get greedy with length of ride. The takeoff and first 2 sections are cool, but the wind shadow after that is critical. It gets gusty, and there is no wind at water level to launch especially with waves involved.
... I've been really lucky, the first year I went to Bali we had 100% hit rate with wind, 7 out of 7 days. The next year we had 16 out of 21 days there kiting, but as said above, beauty is in the eye of the beholder in what standard of wind your willing to accept.
If you have the right equipment its fantastic at Sanur, bring your big gear and just enjoy it for what it is, a holiday.
cheers,
Robbie 
as with everything, it depends on perspective...
what Puetz and me consider an epic day, the WA wind snobs wouldnt pump up for
all the advice above is on the money, and i would suggest at least a 14m to maximise your water time. Assuming you are on a twinnie, go straight to sanur.
Jankie does a pretty good summary of kiteable days on the bali kitesurf facebook page. have a look or annoy him with a PM[}:)]. the stats are pretty good if you are capable of having fun in 12-14 knots.
the local kiters are great, some of the tourists are knobs tho 
respect the fishermen. watch out for morons on jetskis. oh, and the inevitable sanur tattoo (sea urchins).
as you mention, there is plenty of info on here from prev posts, and it is all still pretty relevant. if anything, there is less crowds now than there was a few years ago in the peak season, but thats about it.
i spend a fair bit of time in Bali, and during peak wind season (late june thru mid-late aug), i average about 70% days kiting. keep in mind each year is different, and the last couple have been pretty good.
fyi, im 98kg, ride a 17M edge with various twinnies, and 14/12/10 reb with a surfboard.
have fun!
Get ready with the RED Thumb!!! I want to make a new record......
I take any day of the week a nice 12m kiting day in Sanur THEN a 7m day in Perth!!!
Can't even come close by a mile to compare the water condition....
Flat water inside the lagoon and real waves on the reef!!!!
Perth is just chops and close out beach break.....
Good advice from everyone. Well done T one in saying to respect the fishermen at Sanur. You see a lot of knob head kiters blasting past and around them. It's their spot first. Show some respect.
Also, forgot to mention that in addition to Canggu being far more challenging than Sanur, the water quality sucks there. I used to surf and kite from Double 6 up to Canggu and can't remember how many times I got ear infections from all of the literal sh8t in the water. The water in Sanur is much cleaner.
A real tragedy what's happened to Bali in the last 10 years....both in the water and on land. :-(
Just to clarify...
Wind in Canggu get a bit stronger due to thermal activity that add to the trades.
Problem is that the trades are side off shore, when the thermal kick in then wind become side shore. Usually around 16:30 - 17:00 with the sun going lower thermal wind loose intensity and wind turn off shore again!!! Normally best time for kite in Canggu is between 13:00 to 16:00. Never wind there in the morning.
Sanur/Nusa Dua some time get best wind conditions early in the morning with wind that is more east and therefore more sideshore on the reef.
Bali kiters have a Group on Facebook call "Kitesurf Bali" and we put every day weather report and comments about the various places in the Island.
Since we got our own weather station in 2010 I have been recording the wind stats for Sanur. You can find them in the file of the FB group.
Just for your info July stats: 2010 - 20 kiteable days / 2011 - 21 kiteable days / 2012 - 27 kiteable days....
Of course if you show up with only an 8m you never touch the water!!!
PS. We will announce shortly a NEW spot in Bali that will blow up your mind... Good for wind junkies in love only with small kites! 15 - 25 knots almost every day in the summer months from April to November!!!!!
Thanks for all the replies and advice. I am going there for a holiday (with wife plus other non-kiting friends) but I have free reign to kite when ever I want - that was the deal!
I have a 11m Naish Park but I only weigh 65kgs and I have a 133 North Jaime - so hope I'll be okay. I might be able to borrow a bigger kite to take with me.
Thanks again.
Either way, I'll be there with bells on!!!
Shame... man.
I reckon at your weight and the winds you get a high aspect kite such as the dyno and the edge are really the best options. Zephyr 2013 maybe?
Don't bother with a kite smaller than 10m and take a 12 or bigger if you have one.
The trade winds start around 11-12 and shut right off around 4 pm.
Suss out any surf breaks carefully before you give them a go.
I had great time Early Aug and hope to go back in late july 2013 to Bali /Balian Surfed in morning and kited in after noon , Over head waves, out on 5' surfboard
and 10m rebel , had 12m did not use it If like this photo , Pics of kitesurfing and Villa i stayed at, On facebook smookboards
Puetz, you're welcome to try it , but you know its gonna fold...
peterc, bit of a generalization... trades often kick in early, and we have had plenty of late arvo/night kites...
and the waves around sanur/serangan are mostly easy, unless its a really decent swell. although Hyatt can be a challenge on a kite....
Great shots Puetz!! Now I'm thinking I "need" to buy a bigger kite...hmmm Naish Fly maybe...
T-one, see you over there going to b1 first then back down your way for the rest of it,same time as normal ....
