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West Sumbawa Surfing
This island measures about 280 kilometers long from
east to west and varies in width from 15 to 90
kilometers. Compared to Bali and Lombok, Sumbawa is
relatively uncrowded being about three times the
size of Bali with less than a fourth the population.
The people of Sumbawa are mostly farmers and
ranchers by trade. In times they prospered through
the sale of fine horses and fragrant woods (sapan
and sandalwood), but now they live a much rougher
life than do their Lombok and Bali neighbors to the
west. Sumbawa's distinctly Australasian climate,
flora and fauna lend a thorny, dry and scrub-cutting
edge to day-to-day life and survival. The three main
and most famous spots surfed on the west coast of
Sumbawa are Scar Reef, Super Suck and Yo-Yo's.
Scar Reef, just south of the Jelinggah Beach
headland, is a great left-hander and hollow wave
that is best at lower tides. Either side of low tide
will cause this wave to break further down the line
towards the jutting headland. Higher tides bring the
wave closer to the inside and cause it to section
considerably. Scar reef picks up plenty of swell
depending on direction, but it is particularly
good-and waves are hollow and superb-on a big south
swell.
Super Suck , off the village of Malok about a half
hour past the town of Taliwang, is the most famous
and sought after wave on this rugged coast. When
Super Suck is working, it is really working and will
make your trip to Sumbawa more than worthwhile. Big
walls of water break off a boil rock on the outside
of the bay and suck up into a thick and heavy left
that bowls and winds down the reef for a few hundred
meters. The inside section of this reef gets really
shallow.
Yo-Yo's, just south of Super Suck at Sekongkang Bay,
is your best West Sumbawa bet when everything else
is small. This beautiful bay offers two different
spots. The best is about 400 meters from a towering
cliff. It is a right, sometimes called The Hook,
which gets really good and holds up to six feet of
swell. This wave is fast and hollow and features
shifting peaks. It breaks and is rideable on all
tides except a dead-low one. The second wave here,
located right up against the cliff is called The
Wedge and can handle six to eight feet of swell
before closing out. It consists of a shifty and
mushy outside peak that winds into a fast and
bowling inside section. April to October, tradewinds
can blow Yo-Yo's out, so mornings are best.
East Sumbawa ( LAKEY BEACH
)
There are 5 world class surfing waves situated in
the same bay directly in front of LAKEY BEACH
The main wave 'The peak' has a left and a right hand
take off.
Lakey Peak - An intense hollow right & lefthand
peak, with the left generally being longer, the
right can fire on the proper swell direction. A
frame with a guaranteed backdoor for those with the
balls to pull in. Best at 5-8 foot that holds all
sizes and goes off at mid-tides, and the left can
provide some deep barrels to surfed at low tides if
the swell is big enough.
Lakey Pipe is on either side of 'The peak' a popular
wave amongst the body boarders and 'Nomans' which is
suitable for the more extreme surfer. 'The beachy'
only breaks in the lagoon with the big swells and is
more suitable for the less experienced surfer.
Lakey Left - Across the channel from the peak. With
right size swell and direction this normally
sectiony wave can line up and provide deep, lined-up
barrels.
Lakey Right - A few hundred meters down the beach. A
short, bowling righthander that breaks into a deep
water dent in the reef. Some fun barrels. Holds only
to about 8’.
Cobblestones is another popular wave within walking
distance of the hotels.
Nungas - The big left across from Periscopes. Under
8’ the wave breaks down into several sections of 50
meters or so, one or all may be surfable. But at 8’
the sections start to connect offering rides of 200
meters or more, with flat spots, hot-dog walls,
full-on barrels all thrown into one ride. Best
take-off spot is determined on an hourly basis. Can
handle a crowd and swells as big as they come.
Periscopes - A fun Righthander wave at the eastern
end of a long reef that sticks way out into the bay,
Periscopes can offer a high, tight barrel over a
relatively safe reef platform, and a clean exit into
a channel. A short paddle out . Better at high tides
with glassy or N (offshore) winds. Blown out by dry
season trades. Holds only to about 8’. About a mile
walk up the beach from the surf camp.
SURF ALL YEAR ROUND
The Peak Swell period is from April to September.
Late and Early season October to March can offer
perfect clean conditions with light winds.
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Sumbawa Surfing |
Sumbawa Surfing |
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Sumbawa Surfing |
Sumbawa Surfing |
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