10 Day Intermediate to Advanced Surf Coaching and Yoga Retreat in Krui, Sumatra, Indonesia

Head coach Chris and a small group of surfers will chase waves in the remote surf paradise of Krui, home to Indonesia’s best-quality beach break, Mandiri, as well as one of the country’s longest left-hand waves, Ujung Bocur. The area also offers lesser-known, user-friendly barreling waves and long, rippable, mellow point breaks.

Surf level and progression?

This retreat is ideal for low intermediate (L2) through to advanced (L5) surfers. Damara Surf is dedicated to ensuring that each retreat has a well-matched group of surfers. Below, they have outlined the recommended minimum and maximum levels to get the most out of this retreat.

• Minimum level: You can pass through whitewater, broken waves, and catching waves independently. You can ride down the line consistently and are looking to improve basic surf technique.
• Maximum level: You want to progress with barrel riding technique and aerial manoeuvres.

Throughout the week, you’ll work closely with Chris to pinpoint the habits or techniques limiting your performance and refine them to help you break plateaus in your surfing. With Damara Surf’s unique surf progression program, their personalized and professional approach promises to unlock years of potential and take your skills to the next level.

Surf level

Knowing your surf level will help you set achievable goals, focus on the right techniques, and choose the best surf trips to match your progression.

Below is the outline of Damara Surf’s levels for this camp, each with key focus areas to guide your development. They’ve also recommended surfboards, wave sizes, and energy levels for surfing independently at each level. Keep in mind that surf coaches may suggest different boards or conditions to what's suggested below.

With the support of a skilled coach, you can personalize your surf journey, build confidence, and push yourself in more challenging conditions when appropriate, as well as experiment with different types of board-craft when the time comes!

Level 2 - Low intermediate

Focus areas:

• Paddling through broken waves techniques: Turtle roll and push through
• Understanding channels and paddling zones
• Angled take-off
• Trimming
• Wave reading and positioning
• Surf etiquette

Hardboard

• 7’6 - 9’0 softboard

Wave size

• 1 to two ft

Energy

• 50 to 300 kJ

Level 3 - Intermediate

Focus areas:

• Speed pumping
• Basic bottom turn
• Cutback
• Reading forecasts and planning sessions
• Duck diving

Surfboard

• 6’0 to 7’6 hardboard

Wave size

• 1 to four ft

Energy

• 100 to 600 kJ

Level 4 - High intermediate

Focus areas:

• Advanced bottom turn
• Snap
• Floater
• Roundhouse cutback
• Confidence in bigger and hollower waves
• Advanced lineup tactics
• Advanced board design and experimenting with board-craft

Surfboard

• 5’0 to 6’6 shortboard

Wave size

• 2 to six ft

Energy

• 200 - 1,200 kJ

Level 5 - Advanced

Focus areas:

• Re-entries, power carves, tail-slides
• Aerials
• Barrel-riding
• Top-to-bottom surfing

Surfboard

• 5’0 - 6’6 performance shortboard

Wave size

• 2 to 10 ft

Energy

• 200 to 2,000 kJ

Yoga

The yoga classes are designed to fit surfers, with or without a yoga experience. Through dynamic and creative Vinyasa flow, you will target different key movements to improve flexibility and balance. With gentle Hatha, you will focus on stretching muscle groups put under high stress while surfing. Both types of classes will include a meditation / breathing exercise.

Mobility class will provide an upper and lower body mobility routine to help you reach or keep a range of movement essential for your surf practice.

Is this a surf camp or a surf retreat?

Damara Surf's Krui trip is a unique blend of both. While they call it a surf coaching retreat because of the personalized, intensive coaching experience, it also offers the flexibility to participate in activities at your own pace, plus you’ll enjoy a friendly group dynamic and the chance to connect with a like-minded surf community - just like you’d find at a classic surf camp.

Itinerary

• Total number of surf lessons: 10 (one to two per day)
• Duration of each surf lesson: 2 to three hours

The daily plan is flexible to maximize alignment with the best waves. However, here is a general outline of a typical coaching day:

Mornings:

• Morning surf
• Breakfast
• Video analysis
• Surf skate training
• Lunch

Afternoons:

• Afternoon surf
• Yoga
• Dinner