Bali beach forces beginners to surf with an instructor to “minimize accidents in water”

"Beginner surfers/soft-top users who are just learning to surf are not allowed to surf at the point or outside area."

The surf participation boom, which began during the Coronavirus-19 era, is a global problem. Lineups clogged with soft-tops and lacks of awareness in California, Florida, Hawaii, Australia, France, South Africa, New Zealand and beyond. Adult learners dropping in, bailing boards, taking a proverbial sledge hammer to the halcyon days of yore.

While most seasons surfers simply grumble or post rude things on surf websites, a beach in Bali has come up with a novel solution to the kovid kook invasion.

The Medewi Boardriders Club has stipulated that:

Beginner surfers/soft-top users who are just learning to surf are not allowed to surf at the point or outside area. They are only permitted to surf in the inside area/near the fishermen’s boats. All beginners are required to be accompanied by a surf instructor/coach to minimize accidents in the water.

While forcing new surfers to carry a seasoned vet in order to explain rules, regulations etc. seems like a wonderful idea, some are not so certain about the benevolence of the act.

Taking to Instagram, one cynic declared, “Yeah it all sound good but in reality you guys take begginers who can’t even paddle to the point and push them onto set waves disregarding anyone who is paddling there. It seems you only care about people who pay you money and not about respect and safety.”

The Club quickly swung in to explain, “Therefore, it is explained in the last point (15) that if anyone sees someone breaking this rule, whether they are an outsider or a local, then anyone can reprimand them or can immediately coordinate with the local Medewi or MBR administrators so that it can be followed up as soon as possible! Thank you.”

I like reprimanding.