Hello, my first post on here
I'm in the UK, but did spend a while drinking seawater learning to kitesurf in Bunbury WA. This year I'm heading to Indo and will be spending some time on Lombok. I've been trying to find somewhere that hires out kit, or gives lessons, but I can only find schools etc on Bali. I've found a great place to stay in Ekas on Lombok, does surfing, windsurfing and SUP but no kiting!
Has anyone been here? I have heard you can kite in the Gilis, but need to take your own stuff, plus there's a strong current there I've heard. I haven't done much since leaving WA and need somewhere nice and easy to start with at least!
Thanks
If your going there to surf it might be a better idea to base yourself around Kuta as it is central to more waves. Ekas is a long way from other waves and needs a big swell to be any good.
I only got it good once in two weeks. but surfed Grupit nearly every day.
Gilli Islands are supposed to be awesome don't know about kiting there as i wasn't a kiter when i went.
Depends what time of year. July/August is windy but as a result most surf spots (Kuta) will be blown out by 11am. Forget Ekas, stay in Kuta and boat trip to Ekas if you want to surf there. The road to Ekas is no good. If you want flat water kiting, Gilis would be good in the windy months.
I would say kiting in Lombok is not for learners. Stick to Bali.
Ah, thats not good news.
Maybe I'll have to do a day trip to Bali to kite, I definitely need somewhere easy to not brick it!
They have a surf boat in ekas to take you round to places apparently, but its interesting what you say about surf - will have to do a bit mroe research.
Thanks
Depends what time of year. July/August is windy but as a result most surf spots (Kuta) will be blown out by 11am.
Blown out, isnt that what you want for kite surfing'.
Hello friends,
I have been to Lombok numerous time, I also have reports from many friends and people who has been there.
The best place for Kitesurfing in the South of the island. The best spot so far is Kuta Lombok. Wind is been reported to be stronger then Bali by about 2-3 knots!
Wind better in the morning when generally in Bali is better in the afternoon.
I just went back to read a report a friend of mine wrote to me:
He spent 1 week and went around exploring all the bays around Kuta.
He said the only place where the wind was coming in clean enough was the further west part of Kuta Lombok.
Sengiggi have almost no wind as is shadowed by the Vulcano.
The Gili gets wind later in the season when the trades become more southerly.
It start to blow there in late August all the way to October.
I heard that last year someone was teaching kitesurfing there but I don't know who.
The beaches are really small and launching could be difficult, also between the island the currents are fierce!
I hope this can help.
Bye Jankie
I did a surf trip through Lombok/Sumbawa last year. Def not the place for an inexperienced kiter.
Outside Ekas was good but really shifty and needed a big swell. Its also got massive cliffs surrounding it and a tiny beach to launch from. It was pinching and closing out alot when I was there. Around the corner is inside Ekas which is a more feasible wave. It still has massive cliffs and no decent launch site. Youd need boat support to make it work.
The best place I saw to kite on the trip was probably yoyos in sumbawa. Nice big open beach and the reef isnt nearly as hectic. I saw a guy have some success on his kite while i was there.
Heres some shots from ekas
Ahh, thanks for more responses.
I'm now wondering if we can do any kiting in Java - as we have a couple of nights there free I think - unless we cut Java short and head straight to Bali for 2 nights - food for thought!
Hopefully I can shift some flights around which would help. Photos of Ekas look great - although I have absolutely no hope of surfing that Hope there's some nice whitewash near the shore for me
"...unless we cut Java short and head straight to Bali for 2 nights - food for thought!"
yes, DO that, for sure ...