Surftime Magazine

Nostalgia is not a simple recall of facts but an emotional state tied to an idealized past, where emotion, not memory, is the key. It is a mix of positive and negative emotions. Joy from the memory, but sadness because it can’t be relived. The positive effect often prevails, but the yearning is always present. Nostalgia can act as an existential intervention, helping us find meaning in our lives by connecting our past, present, and future and inspiring a sense of self-continuity. Nostalgia can be a source of hope for change, strengthening us during difficult times and propelling us toward the future. While personal, nostalgia is also deeply social, fostering a sense of belonging and connection to others through shared experiences and cultural touchstones. This nostalgic emotion is frequently exploited by marketers to sell products, music, and other goods by tapping into a desire for a past era. But nostalgia can also be a force for positive change. But then again it can also be ...

Bingin 1985-2025 Rest In Peace In remembrance from when its people allowed her to became a surfer’s place.

It’s a meeting point of music, craft, and community. The name reflects a double meaning: from the English “second” and from the Balinese “seken” (meaning wholehearted). True to its name, Seken is built on second chances, genuine effort, and real hospitality. Behind Seken is a collective of creatives, bartenders, and music lovers who saw the need for a jazz-driven venue in Seminyak. At the helm of the bar program is Charles Richard, Founding Bartender and winner of Diageo World Class Indonesia 2025, who brings 20 years of experience to cocktails that are bold, soulful, and full of story. At Seken, cocktails move with a jazz rhythm, layered, unexpected, and built on rare spirits, local botanicals, and minimalist precision. Among the Signature Cocktails, highlights include the Salak Serenade (white rum, fermented salak purée, calamansi, mace, egg white), a tropical sour that spotlights Bali’s unique snake fruit; and the Late Night Riff (dark rum, Kintamani cold brew, dark crème de c...

Finals Day of the Bintang Liga Surfing Indonesia 2025 presented by Earth Island delivered a historic finish at Pererenan River Mouth, as clean morning conditions greeted athletes and spectators for the final showdown of Indonesia’s premier national surf series. With the swell easing and the tide lining up perfectly, competition kicked off at 9:00 AM on a single peak—setting the stage for an unforgettable day of surfing. The Masters Division opened the action, showcasing timeless style and experience from Indonesia’s veteran surfers. Cheers erupted from the local crowd as hometown favorite Made Aru (I Made Nuada) claimed the win with calm, precise surfing, securing the first-ever national title for Pererenan Surf Club. In the Junior Women’s Shortboard, tricky winds challenged the field, but Jasmine Studer (Legian Boardriders Club) rose above the pack. Her powerful backside surfing carried her through both the Semifinal and Final, earning her a well-deserved national crown. The Juni...

The Rip Curl GromSearch National Final 2025 returned with electrifying energy on Kuta Beach. Over two days of intense competition and high-performance surfing, Indonesia’s brightest young athletes battled fiercely for national titles and the chance of a lifetime. With the stakes higher than ever Rip Curl awarded the U-16 Boys and Girls champions an exclusive ticket to represent Indonesia at the prestigious International Final in France. This year, Aditya Somiya and Jasmine Studer claimed the national titles in the U-16 Boys and Girls divisions, securing their place to proudly carry the Indonesian flag at the Rip Curl GromSearch International Final 2025. “Rip Curl Indonesia is proud to support the next generation of Indonesian surfers, said Harrison Mann, Head of Marketing at Rip Curl. “This year’s National Final, celebrated talent, dedication, and the spirit of surfing.” The Rip Curl GromSearch International has proven to be a launching pad for surfing’s biggest names, two-third...

Uluwatu proved once again why it stands as one of the world’s most iconic surf arenas, as the 6th Annual Single Fin Classic turned the cliffs into a festival of surf, music, and community. Over the weekend, fans, surfers, and locals came together to celebrate the timeless spirit of surfing, with flawless waves and an electric atmosphere from start to finish. The energy kicked off with Friday’s opening ceremony before rolling straight into two days of non-stop action. From sunrise to sunset, the reef came alive with clean, powerful sets that tested both style and grit. Spectators lined the cliffs, cheering every drop, carve, and wipeout, while Single Fin’s decks became a hub of music, laughter, and stories shared between heats. The stoke carried through each moment, blending competition with the unmistakable laid-back vibe of Uluwatu. The highlight of the weekend, as always, was the surfing itself. The Masters division saw Joe De Santis claim the win with smooth, powerful lines, ...

By Rio Waida (The following is the entire narration transcript for PERTAMA, the new short film featuring the life of Rio Waida. After a number of popular premieres on the island, Surftime is honored to offer these heartfelt words from Rio in hopes that they will inspire the next generation). “I am Rio Waida. The first Indonesian surfer in history to make it to the world stage of professional competition surfing”. “I knew pro surfing. Would happen to me. My dreams were too powerful for it not to happen”. “I never dreamed that I would carry the Olympic flag for my country on the biggest athletic stage in the world”. “Entering the Olympic stadium. I felt like I was walking on a cloud. But I also felt the weight of Indonesia on my shoulders. And all I could think of was to stand up straight and try not to weep with pride”. “I know that I must carry the spirit of my past into the future. The spirit of my struggles, the spirit of my family, of my dreams, of my island, of my country....

Photography by Pete Frieden • Words by Michael Ciaramella What was the moment in your 2025 championship year where you felt the most doubt? Yago : I think it was at Pipe at the beginning of the year. I had all the preparation. I was feeling ready. And then going into that event, which is one I really like, I love surfing Pipe, the waves were terrible for my first few rounds and I ended up losing in the elimination round. It’s just tough to start like that after preparing so well and feeling so ready to start the season. It was bad, but I think it also set me up for the rest of the year in a weird way. What was the moment where you thought, “This is my year to become the best in the world”? Yago : I felt like that before the year even started. But during this season, I think it was after the Portugal win. I didn’t start the season that well in the past, but I’d have some really big results in the back half of the season. But to start the season with the win and a couple othe...

Photography by Pete Frieden World Champion Bronson Meidy is not listening. Not to anyone. Anyone that tells him what is possible and what is not. He is not quietly defining what is possible, he is screaming what is possible every time he paddles out. Has he turned the wipe-out into a maneuver? With his whiplash turns that start out unlikely, then progress to the misunderstood and then finish with the insane? Is it about not ever giving up on the maneuver, or is it about not giving up on oneself? Small wave performance is a vital to today’s surfing scene as any big wave antics. The greats are tuberiding as deep as it can go. So what is the new frontier? Limitless surfing in smaller waves? Remember, it’s the small wave maneuvers that find themselves eventually into the big stuff. Is what Bronson is doing at lightning speed going to find itself on the face of heavy water in the future? It feels inevitable. And what can be said is that Bronson is on to something here. He...

As told by Tai Buddha Graham • Photography by Harve There’s a particular kind of freedom that only comes from loading up a boat with a pile of boards, a few of your closest mates, and a loose plan built around tides, wind lines, and gut instinct. You step onboard, switch the world off (or try too), look at the horizon, and feel that little spark flick on inside your chest again. This trip was that spark, turned into a fire. THE IDEA WAS SIMPLE Take a hand-selected crew of friends who each know waves and equipment inside-out, take thirty-odd JS surfboards, jump aboard the infamous MV Bintang, and point the bow toward the Mentawai. Not to film a clip. Not to tick off a bucket list. But to ask a single question: What is the ultimate quiver for the Ments? SETTING SAIL The Bintang vessel is a beast. A big monohull sailing sloop with soul, history and enough character to fill a book. When she’s loaded with boards and pointing west, you can feel a sense of score certainty. Day one ...

Photography by Manu Miguelez and Pete Frieden Words by Matt George So far their lives have not been measured by clocks, but by the tides. Our free range youth of the Indonesian surf culture. But the thing is kids think they know better. And they don’t. Think they are in control. And they’re not. And they think they have all the time in the world. And they don’t. In reality, time has them. And the clock is ticking. And if they do not use the brief power of youth wisely, that ticking becomes the sound of a time bomb. It is one of the premiere issues of the free range children conundrum of the surfing scene in Bali. With perfect surf year round, rides to the beach from single mom’s since birth, new boards on tap, club contests every weekend, vague parental supervision and no real thought toward any formal education, paradise becomes a paradox. A situation that appears self-contradictory but may hold a deeper truth. The truth of what reality awaits these young surfers when they...

In honor of the 2025 Rip Curl Cup, Surftime asked Bali’s resident surfing artist Gene Kreyd for a spontaneous take on a surf spot he has been calling home for many years: “I’ve been surfing Padang since 1985. I first came to Bali to experience the Padang Padang tube and the Bali vibe. I met so many great lifelong friends surfing this wave. Having beers on the beach after the surf and watching the sunset. So many beautiful experiences. I was blessed to have so many amazing, mind-altering rides over the years. And even though I don’t surf as much like before, I am still in love with the Queen of the Coast. The world changed big time, and so has Bali, but “The song Remains The Same”. The Padang Padang magic is as strong as ever. Mystical, beautiful, and timeless. This sacred place will be in our hearts forever. I really enjoy the contests at Padang Padang and watching some of the world best tube riders get barreled. The 2025 event was unreal. Padang Padang generously offers the gifts...

Photography by Pyzel Archives Jon Pyzel’s pedigree runs much deeper than just being the shaper for the best surfer on the planet. You gotta go back a bit. As a teen surfer kid in Santa Barbara, Jon Pyzel was close witness to the birth of the 80’s Tommy Curren era and Al Merrick’s subsequent global design dominance. A powerful influence that caused Jon to pivot his dreams from a pro surfing career to an underground shaping career. At first mentored by shaper Matt Moore of the famed Rincon Designs surf shop (that was within sight of California’s best point break), Jon upped stakes when he moved to the North Shore in 1992. It was there, now mentored by maestro shaper Jeff Bushman and possessing a keen interest in modernizing the Hawaiian designs that came before his time, that Jon Pyzel developed a reputation as a shaper for the future. As it happened, John John Florence and his family lived right next door. A lifelong friendship with the Florence family grew and soon Jon Pyzel was ...

It’s a rare move within the surfing industry when a sponsor sets out to make a high quality, dramatic short film about one of their team riders. And not just a clip of his latest action in the water, but a very personal profile of what makes a certain surfer click. His very personal story, his motivations, his inner thoughts. But that is exactly what Nusa Cana, Indonesia’s leading rum company, set out to do with Pertama, the Rio Waida movie. Sparing no expense, Nusa Cana, who are also “bringing back the forgotten story of Indonesian rum”, wanted to highlight the rise of Rio Waida as a metaphor for their own company’s rise within its industry. And provide a re-invigorated passion for the beauty of Indonesia and its surfers. And indeed, something very special happened. Shooting between Australia, Bali and Abu Dhabi with four RED cameras and the best shooters behind the lenses, not only is the footage of this film remarkable, but a strong sense of purpose comes through. Never do...

Photography Courtesy of Snapt 5 In today’s online surf media glutted world, it is not often that an honest voice arises. With endless surf clips at our beckon and call it seems as if everybody is just having a hell of a good time out there without having to offer any perspective or context on the vanguard performances of our sport. The meaning of it. It’s almost inhuman in a way. Scrolled. Disposable. Designed to simply be consumed without any nutritional value in regards to the soul of surfing. But now and then a saving grace occurs. That feature surf film that comes along. One created with concept and forethought. The one that barnstorms around to live audiences and inspires mass gatherings on big screens that swerve our attention away from our phones and back to the visual wonder that surfing is. Where we as a tribe can look on together and hoot ourselves hoarse at just how great surfing makes us all feel. How much it means to us. And see just how outrageous what we do in...

Westen Hirst and Jasmine Studer Triumph at the Queen of the Bukit Photography by Nate Lawrence and Joey Griffiths • Words by Trent Cohune “It’s on when it’s on,” as the saying goes here in Bali. Surf competitions, as we know, can be a long and gruelling process, dragging on for days waiting for Mother Nature to produce adequate conditions. That agonizing wait is exactly what the locals endured through the month of July, which was meant to host the local trials for the Rip Curl Cup at Padang Padang. The Indian Ocean lay dormant as Indonesia’s best young surfers from across the archipelago waited on the cliffs of the Bukit for a chance to prove themselves on the global stage. The trial window was their shot, a moment to showcase a lifetime of love for one of the planet’s most iconic and technical tuberiding waves. But Mother Nature didn’t deliver. It was in fact, not on, and the fate of these young hopefuls hung in the balance as the opening ceremony kicked off on August 3rd. Th...

In Canggu, movement is more than motion, it’s the heartbeat of the island. At Holiday Inn Resort Bali Canggu, Where Movement Meets the Moment is a way of life, where the rhythm of the waves and the glow of each sunset shape your stay. Just a three-minute walk from the iconic Batu Bolong Beach, you’re perfectly placed to paddle out at first light or watch the surf roll in from the shore. After the ride, retreat to your sanctuary, with warm wood tones, plush bedding, a private balcony, and ocean-inspired design that carries the calm of the coast indoors. Couples and friends gather at the rooftop pool bar to toast Bali’s legendary sunsets with 180-degree Indian Ocean views, while families enjoy the Family Suite and the “Kids Stay & Eat Free” promise. Here, energy flows easily. Start your morning with a surf, explore Canggu’s vibrant streets by day, and unwind with yoga, boxing, or simply a crafted cocktail as evening falls. Whether you’re chasing the thrill of the swell or savour...

Nestled less than a kilometer from Padang Padang, the spiritual heart of Indonesian surfing, Rip Curl Uluwatu isn’t just a store; it’s a statement. Inspired by The Search, this flagship space celebrates Rip Curl’s deep roots in the Bukit and beyond. Step inside and you’ll feel the soul of surfing: teakwood interiors, murals by local artists, and walls lined with boards from the pioneers to today’s world champions. At its core lies a dedicated Rip Curl museum, a tribute to 22 years of the iconic Rip Curl Cup and countless Search trips that shaped Indonesia’s surf history. It’s more than retail; it’s a home base for the community, a venue for athlete film screenings, and a canvas for Balinese art and culture. Exclusive to Uluwatu? The chance to meet legends like former CT winner Dean Morrison in the boardroom and immerse yourself in virtual experiences of the Search and Padang Cup. Every corner tells a story meant to inspire your next adventure. Whether it’s chasing waves across th...

Uluwatu proved once again why it stands as one of the world’s most iconic surf arenas, as the 6th Annual Single Fin Classic turned the cliffs into a festival of surf, music, and community. Over the weekend, fans, surfers, and locals came together to celebrate the timeless spirit of surfing, with flawless waves and an electric atmosphere from start to finish. The energy kicked off with Friday’s opening ceremony before rolling straight into two days of non-stop action. From sunrise to sunset, the reef came alive with clean, powerful sets that tested both style and grit. Spectators lined the cliffs, cheering every drop, carve, and wipeout, while Single Fin’s decks became a hub of music, laughter, and stories shared between heats. The stoke carried through each moment, blending competition with the unmistakable laid-back vibe of Uluwatu. The highlight of the weekend, as always, was the surfing itself. The Masters division saw Joe De Santis claim the win with smooth, powerful lines,...

A familiar figure on any beach at any time is photographer Antonio Vargas. He remains a tireless chronicler of surfing in Bali and quite often finds himself turning his lens to the surfing of the younger generation. Hardly a local contest can pass without “Tono” on the beach, pacing back and forth with his tripod and camera, looking for the best angles as heat after heat unfolds. One day Canggu, the next Halfway and then the next Uluwatu. Active and always positive. And yet his motivation is so simple. Certainly not monetary, Tono shoots for the love of it. The love of surfing, of our island and of its surfers, both young and old. As this portfolio will attest, we are lucky to have him.