Why You Should Have an Indo Quiver
Indonesia is an intermediate surfer’s perfect playground, but packing the wrong surfboards can turn a dream trip into a frustrating paddle marathon.
For intermediate surfers specifically, it is vital to strike a balance between progression and practicality. You don’t want to be stuck on a shortboard that will hinder you from paddling into double overhead sets in Uluwatu, but also don’t want to be lugging around a huge quiver of boards on your scooter from Krui to Lakey Peak. This is why it is essential to take time in considering the best travel board setups before embarking on your Indo wave adventure.
This guide will cut through the generic “take your favourite board” advice and will dive into the surfboard quiver combinations that will actually work for you as an individual, and highlight key considerations specific to Indonesia’s beautiful waves. By the end, you’ll have a clear idea of exactly which boards will help you progress, feel comfortable, and how best to travel with them through the surf towns of Indonesia.
Indonesia’s Wave Variety & Matching Your Quiver
Across Indonesia’s wave-rich archipelago, you’ll find some of the best surf breaks in the world. Everything from mellow rollers to punchy tubes, from 3-foot fun to 8-foot freight trains.
The waves in Indonesia are nothing like the peaky beach breaks of California, or the raw, heavy slabs of Western Australia. Here, the waves are shaped by long-period groundswells, perfect offshore or glassy conditions, and more often than not, break over coral reefs and lava rocks.
This means more predictable wave shapes, sections, and take-off points, longer rides, and waves with power. All of which gives you the chance to work on your flow, positioning, barrel riding, and expand the variety of your turns and manoeuvres.
So what’s the key to unlocking all of this? You guessed it: your Indonesia surfboard travel quiver.
In order to surf the best waves and surf at your best, you’ll need boards that can handle the extra power, size, and hold a clean line when waves get hollow, but can also still keep it fun when things get a bit smaller. The boards that excel in Indonesian waves may be very different from the boards that work at your home break.
Thus, matching your boards to your chosen destination ensures the perfect balance of improvement and enjoyment!
How Many Boards Should You Bring on Your Indonesian Surf Trip?
There are pros and cons to bringing 1 board, 2 boards, or 3 on your surf trip to Indonesia. In my personal experience, bringing just 1 board is the most convenient option for short week-long trips to less critical waves, such as a trip to Kuta Lombok.
Travelling with 2 boards is the most practical option if you’re planning on taking risks on a short surf trip, like a strike mission to Desert Point. But, a 3-board quiver is the best setup if you’re planning on spending some time in an area with a large variety of waves and forecasts on the horizon, AKA a trip to the Mentawais.
Use the table below to help you decide on the best quiver option for your Indo surf adventure.
1, 2 and 3 Surfboard Quiver Comparison for Indonesia
| Boards | Pros | Cons | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-board quiver | Lightest option in terms of carrying and travel Cheapest option in terms of excess baggage fees for flights | Limited potential for surfing a large variety of waves No backup in case your board breaks or gets a ding | Though this is the most convenient travel option, a 1 board quiver means choosing the best all-round surfboard you have. It means choosing a board that will work well on both smaller and bigger days. Though there are some decent options for 1-board quivers, there is no board that will work perfectly in all conditions. Thus, you will be limiting your potential to enjoy surfing a wide variety of wave shapes and sizes. Furthermore, a 1-board quiver also leaves you dry if it needs to be repaired, or has you renting boards temporarily if that service is available to you. |
| 2-board quiver | 1 backup board Lighter and cheaper than a 3-board quiver | Some potential for wave-specific boards, however, is still more limited than a 3-board quiver | For practical reasons, a 2-board quiver can include an all-rounder and a step-up (board for bigger waves). This gives you the chance to have a board ready for fun-sized days as well as charge the bigger swells. However, in the case that one breaks, you are again limited to either your all-rounder or surfing small waves with your step-up, which is no fun. |
| 3-board quiver | 2 backup boards The largest choice of surfboards for different kinds of waves | The heaviest and most expensive option | An ideal 3-board quiver should include one all-rounder, one step up, and one groveller or fun board (board for smaller and less powerful waves). This option leaves you with 2 back-ups in case of any dings or snaps. A 3-board quiver provides you with more options for wave-specific boards that will allow you to maximise your fun and improvement over a wider range of wave types. |
At the end of the day, it’s all about what you think is worth your time, effort, and money.
If you’re wondering about airline fees when travelling with surfboards, check out Flying with Surfboards: A Digital Nomad Surfer’s Guide to Airline Fees and Regulations.
Key questions to ask yourself before packing:
- Where are you going and for how long?
- Are there rentals or surf towns nearby?
- What kinds of waves do you want to surf?
- Are you aiming to improve or just cruise?
- Are you chasing swells?
- How prone are you to breaking boards?
These are the questions to ask yourself when determining how many boards to bring on your next surf trip to Indonesia.
Board Selection for Intermediate Surfers in Indonesia
The Best All-Round Surfboards for Intermediate Surfers
This board by Lost Surfboards is commonly advertised as a 1-board quiver for Indo trips. It’s easy to paddle, effortlessly glides over less powerful sections, and works in anything from shoulder-high to double overhead surf. It’s a prime choice if you’re not feeling as fit as you would like and want that extra volume to help you get into waves early.
One of the best boards I’ve ever ridden is Daniel Thomson’s Sci Fi 2.0. It’s a slightly more responsive and high-performance option than the Quiver Killer, but has just as much range and stability. I highly recommend this board if your surfing aspirations include working on your turns and snaps.
The Best Step-Ups for Intermediate Surfers in Indonesia
Channel Island’s Happy Traveller is the perfect board for Indonesia’s big and powerful groundswells. It works magic at catching waves early, making it safely down steep faces, and controlling speed on big waves that want to send you flying.
-> Bonus tip: Your step-up should normally be between 3-4 inches longer than your go-to all-rounder.
The Best Fun-Board Option for Intermediate Surfers
Channel Island’s G-Skate is the board I have seen the most people have the most fun on in all sorts of waves around Indonesia. It works in everything from waist-high mush to overhead barrels.
This board has a wide distribution of volume, which allows you to paddle into waves early and maintain speed, but also has just enough rocker to keep you from nose-diving on steeper and hollower waves – something that most volume-heavy egg-shaped boards miss.
Your Perfect Indonesia Surf Trip Starts with the Right Quiver
With such a diverse range of waves to play with, matching your quiver to the spots you plan to surf can make or break your trip. Think about the conditions you’ll most likely encounter, the skills you’re aiming to improve, the waves you’ll have the most fun on, and pack according to that!
With the right surfboard quiver for Indonesia, you’ll be able to enjoy everything that Indonesia’s waves have to offer.
