Your 2017 Guide to Surfing Events and Championships in Bali

Beautiful Bali plays host to a number of exciting surfing events, trials, cups and festivals, and you won’t want to miss any of it. The events calendar below will allow you to keep up to date with all the surf events of 2017 that Bali has to offer. These incredible events give enthusiasts and competitors the chance to see excellent local, national and international groms (amateur surfers) and professionals dominating the island of Bali’s legendary and infamous surf paradise. Also listed below are a few surf-related events in Bali for wave-riders and enthusiasts where competitors, spectators and movie aficionados gather to experience, admire and engage with the film crews and their skilled subjects, while viewing some epic footage on massive open-air cinema screens. 2017 in Bali certainly has a little bit of something for everyone!

surfing Indonesia

 

April 2017

The Mad Hueys Komune Bali Pro

Location: Keramas Beach, Gianyar
Date: April 23 – April 27, 2017

Pop down to Keramas Beach to catch sight of some of the world’s finest competing in this legendary World Surf League event. Cheer on your favorite, or witness the underdogs defeating the usual board leaders. This is a definite top pick for a jaw-dropping surf experience.

Rip Curl GromSearch

Location: Padma Beach, Legian
Date: April 15 – April 16, 2017 (TBC)

Set to begin mid-April this year, this series will consist of a number of thrilling tournaments at multiple beaches and surf spots in Bali and other Indonesian islands. The annual GromSearch provides promising young amateurs their shot at making a big name for themselves and gain recognition in the surfing world.

padma bali surfing

 

May 2017

Volcom Stone Totally Crustaceous Tour [trials]

Location: Berawa Beach
Date:  May 2017 (TBC)

Join in on this classic surf event that has been going on for 18 years! Volcom’s Totally Crustaceous Tour 2017 is one of the best exhibitions of the young talent in the international surf community; the youngsters will compete for some exciting prizes and, if all goes to plan, you will get to see the winners again during the TCT Indonesian finals. Set to include another record-breaking number of contestants, you will actually witness history being made!

July 2017

Rip Curl Cup Trials

Location: Padang Padang, Uluwatu
Date: July 2017 (TBC)

The Rip Curl Cup trials are definitely where you can expect high adrenalin, fast-paced surfing action! This year, the event will once again be taking place on the scenic Padang Padang beach. Be a part of this year’s specialty event and experience what promises to be another tight and exhilarating battle between the best Indonesian competitors, fighting for their spot in the finals that are set to take place in August.

uluwatu buckets

Billabong Grommet Attack

Location: Padma Beach, Legian (TBC)
Date: July 2017 (TBC)

Amateur surfers, affectionately known as grommets, get to battle against their peers in a bid to win the title of series champion! The Billabong Grommet Attack is an annual ASC-sanctioned event, the series kicking off this year at Padma and Kuta Beach in July all the way through August. Victorious grommets will compete for the champion’s trophy as well as assorted goodies from the sponsors.

padma beach

 

August 2017

Volcom Stone Totally Crustaceous Tour [Finals]

Location: Kuta Beach
Date:  August 2017 (TBC)

With the trials kicking off in either April or May of 2017 at Lembeng and/or Barawa Beach (waves permitting of course), the Volcom Stone TCT sees hundreds of contestants competing for a spot in this finale which will take place sometime in August – an epic show which is not to be missed.

Kuta

Ombak Bali International Surf Film Festival 9th Edition

Location: La Plancha, Jalan Mesari Beach, Seminyak
Date:  August 11 – August 13, 2017 (TBC)

In between all these non-stop surfing tournaments of the season, the 9th Edition of the Ombak Bali International Surf Film Festival is a three day festival where attendees can take a break from the waves and soak up an experience of film, music and art, with a surf and sunshine feel. The Ombak Bali film screenings, which always draw huge crowds, are free to everyone. The aim of the festival is not only to entertain, but to educate, inform and spread their message. The films cover social and environmental topics through their motivational works.

Seminyak surfing

Rip Curl Cup

Location: Padang Padang, Uluwatu
Date:  August (TBC)

Are you ready for the best surfing event of 2017? The annual Rip Curl Cup is the one to look out for. You had better be poised to get your tickets as soon as the dates are confirmed, as you won’t want to miss the world’s finest surfers doing exactly what they do best – battling head-to-head against the formidable and world-famous breaks of Padang Padang beach.

padang padang

Quiksilver Uluwatu Challenge

Location: Uluwatu
Date: August 17, 2017 (TBC)

The Bali Surf calendar is incomplete without the Quicksilver Uluwatu Challenge, which forms part of ‘Bali’s Big Eco Weekend”. The event begins on the 17th of August, and continues throughout the week, in celebration of all things surf-related. The social aim of this event is to highlight the importance of the environment as well as the benefits of positive and pro-active lifestyles. The stakes are high, and competitors in this event have to have extreme skills in both agility and flexibility to be able to endure the challenges they will have to face, board first!

uluwatu-bali

 

November 2017

Surf Jam Bali

Location: Balian Beach, West Bali
Date: November (TBC)

Ending off the surf season in Bali is the Surf Jam, which is great fun and entertainment for the whole family. This is the 6th year for this Russian surfing festival. This annual surfing highlight and definite crowd-pleaser sees participants donning weird and wonderful costumes while tackling the waves. After the festivities and somewhat comical entertainment, the real competitions begin, with both long and short board events, where surfers compete in the hopes of winning some impressive awards!

Balian Beach

References: 1. http://www.worldsurfleague.com/asset/12044/2017WSLScheduleProposedWeb.pdf 2. http://www.bali-indonesia.com/surfing/bali-surfing-championship-calendar.htm