When I was 7, I caught my very first wave on a long board in Batukaras. I remember wobbling as I popped up, arms flapping, and falling straight into the whitewash. The wave didn’t care that I was tiny. Or nervous. Or that I barely knew what I was doing. It just picked me up and carried me anyway.
That moment—right there—is when I realized something important: surfing doesn’t have a rulebook for who’s allowed to try.
You don’t need a fancy board, pro-level muscles, or a perfect body. You don’t need to speak the surfer lingo, live by the beach, or even know how to swim that well (yet!). What you do need? Just a little courage. A lot of curiosity. And maybe a buddy to cheer you on from the sand.
Surfing is for everyone.
Here’s why I believe that with my whole surfer heart.
🌊 The Ocean Doesn’t Judge You
You can stand in the lineup beside a pro, a grandma, a total beginner, or a 5-year-old on a boogie board—and the ocean will give all of you a wave.
I’ve surfed with local kids from the village, tourists from faraway countries, and adaptive surfers riding special boards. Some surf with one arm. Some are in their sixties. Some are little girls like me.
The wave doesn’t ask for your resume. It doesn’t care about your style or speed. It just rolls in and gives you a shot.
🌀 Pullquote:
“The wave doesn’t care how old you are. It lifts everyone the same.”
That’s the magic of surfing: it belongs to nobody and everybody at the same time.
🏄♀️ There’s More Than One Way to Surf
Some people think surfing only looks one way: sharp turns, shortboards, huge airs. But that’s just one slice of it.
In Batukaras, I’ve seen all kinds of surf styles. Some people cruise on longboards with their toes over the nose. Some carve turns. Some just lie down and ride belly-first with the biggest grins you’ve ever seen.
And honestly? The smiles matter more than the moves.
💡 Callout Tip:
If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not a real surfer,” just remember: if you ride a wave and feel joy, you are one.
There are no “rules” for how to express yourself on a wave. That’s why it’s for everyone.
🌍 Surfing Creates a Global Family
I’ve met surfers from Japan, Australia, the U.S., South America, even Germany—all right here in Batukaras. Some didn’t speak Bahasa. I didn’t speak their language. But we all spoke surf.
We paddled out together, shared the set waves, smiled at each other after wipeouts. That kind of connection doesn’t need translation.
One of my favorite memories was catching waves beside a woman in her forties from Japan. She told me she didn’t learn to surf until she turned 30—and now she travels the world for it. “I never thought this was something for me,” she said. “But the ocean changed my mind.”
That stuck with me.
💬 True Story:
I once gave a thumbs up to a kid visiting from Japan after we both wiped out. He laughed, gave one back, and we ended up riding waves together the rest of the session. Zero words. Pure connection.
🤍 It’s About Progress, Not Perfection
One reason a lot of people feel like surfing isn’t for them is because they think they have to be “good.”
But what even is “good”?
I fall all the time. I nosedive. I miss waves. I get frustrated. But I also keep getting better. That’s what makes it beautiful.
In surfing, every small improvement feels like a big win. Your first paddle out without help. Your first stand. Your first turn. Every little step deserves a celebration.
🗯️ Reminder to Beginners:
Nobody starts perfect. Every pro surfer you admire once stood up for the first time and wiped out hard. And they kept coming back.
So don’t worry about how you look. Worry about how it feels. And if it feels like stoke, you’re doing it right.
💪 It Builds Confidence for Everyone
I used to think surfers had to be fearless. But I learned that real confidence is built by showing up even when you’re scared.
One time the waves were bigger than I was used to. I almost didn’t paddle out. But my coach, Coach Budi, gave me a pep talk. I paddled out. I got tossed. But I also caught the wave of the day.
That’s the thing about surfing—it teaches you to face challenges. Not just on the water, but in life too.
No matter your age or background, surfing helps you feel strong, capable, and brave. That’s something everyone deserves to feel.
💖 A Special Note for Girls and Women
I want to say this loud: girls belong in the lineup.
When I first started surfing, I didn’t see many girls out there. Sometimes I felt like I had to prove I deserved my spot. But now, I know that surfing isn’t just for boys. It’s for us too.
The ocean doesn’t care what gender you are. And we shouldn’t either.
Check out my story on why girls deserve bigger waves too. We’re here. We’re strong. We surf.
🧘♂️ Surfing Is Therapy (Without the Couch)
Some people surf for fun. Some surf for sport. But a lot of people surf because it heals them.
There’s something about being in the water that makes you feel calm, centered, and alive. I’ve seen it in grown-ups who come out of the water smiling like little kids. I’ve felt it myself after a bad day.
Surfing gives your mind a break. You stop thinking about school stress or life stuff. You just breathe, paddle, and flow.
No matter what your life looks like, a wave can make it feel lighter.
🏄♂️ A Sport That’s Always Waiting for You
Some sports have age limits. Or cost limits. Or rules that make it hard to jump in.
But surfing? The ocean is free. The waves keep coming. Whether you’re 6, 16, or 60—when you’re ready, the waves are too.
In fact, it’s never too late to start.
💬 Final Thoughts: See You in the Lineup
So here’s what I want you to take from this:
You don’t need to be a certain type of person to surf. You just need to try.
Whether you ride big waves or tiny peelers, whether you stand or belly ride, whether you fall a lot or ride like a pro—if you love the ocean, you belong.
Surfing is for everyone.
It’s for the loud ones and the quiet ones. The goofy-footers and the regulars. The daring, the nervous, the young, the old, the curious. It’s for YOU.
And if you ever come to Batukaras, look for the little girl in pink wax and a big smile—I’ll be the first to share a wave with you 🤙🏽