The post COVID surfing boom has definately changed the dynamics in surf lineups accross the world. Industry data indicates that beginners and lower-intermediate surfers currently make up roughly 50% to 65% of the total active surfing population. Popular destinations like Bali and the Mentawais having seen surges of 35%. This shift is now hitting the Krui area with noticeably more beginners filling the lineups of Ujung Bocur and Krui Left.

The changing demographics of Krui surfers

For those who've been visiting Krui for over a decade recent years have certainly felt like a changing of the guard. Iconic figures of the surf community have sadly passed away and once familiar faces dissapeared from the lineup. For you the dinosaurs of the past Golden Days remember these words you have heard before:

65% of the lineup at Krui surfbreaks are now beginner to intermediate Millennials and Gen Zs (ages 25-44) fresh from the streets of Bali.

But what's the point when you have three kooks continually dropping in on you? Realistically scoring good uncrowded waves is becoming limited to those lined-up days when the surfable wave face is 3mtrs plus and the reef is dry.

Kooks on the loose

Yesterday was an eye opener watching a foreign surf "instructors" literally push their students into waves far beyond their skill level. Judging from their gleeful laughter as their clients catapult face first onto the reef, I'm guessing they were paid up front.

At Krui Left
Every second wave was a party wave while the lineup dodged flying boards and bodies. One SUP rider continually ditched their craft at the sign of any white water totally devoid of any concern for others safety.

At Ujung Bocur
Packs of Kamakazi Kooks snaked the line-up before launching themselves off the lip of double overhead waves, heads purposefully aimed toward the reef. Meanwhile back at the beach the broken boards were piling up as fast as the empty Bintangs. White faced, wide eyed and bloodied the kooks staggered out of the water anxious to see if their personal photographer had immortalised their epic wipeout.

Back at the bar
The self declared Heros Of Way Jambu shared images of themselves dropping off the lip. When asked if they made any of the waves past the first 10 mtrs their answer was "Nah .. !?" as though such a concept had not even occured to them.

"If you've got the costume and the attitude you'll always succeed."
~ visting USA surfer 2023

If this is any indication of things to come we predict it won't be long before the Krui surf community awakes in shock to an avoidable tragedy. Or a visiting surfer finds themselves in a world of pain after running down a local surfer. Is it time for leading figures of Krui's surf community to liase with local government and provide some guiding safety principals as is taking place in Bali?

If your reaction to the above paragraph is a smirk you might want to inform yourself about the mess you'll find yourself in if you injure a local.

Neo-colonial tourists

Unfortunately the narcissism is not limited to the lineup. During the night drunken Australians wander Tanjung Setia's Jl Pantai Wisata, pounding on losman gates, destroying property and looking for trouble. And when the sun rises a steady procession of women in bikinis and bare chested men ride around displaying their total disrespect for the community. 80% of those we've questioned on the matter made it clear they don't give a damn, 10% were unaware of local customs, the final 10% live in a world where the locals don't exist at all.

Has Bali arrived in town?

When extreme violence exploded in Tanjung Setia after the closing night of the 2024 WSL Krui Pro there was much talk of the tourism sector showing more consideration for the local community. Two years later it's obvious no one is willing to place any expectations on the new arrivals (in or out of the water) and local community concerns will remain financial in nature or go unheard.

Does the surf community really care?

You just have to check out the lineup to realize the Krui area doesn't have a grass roots local surfing community. Most of the local surfers began and continue surfing for financial reasons and understandably need to keep their customers happy.

Unfortunately they have no idea who they are really dealing with and by the time they find out it may be too late.

The next two years will be a defining moment for the area. Will the means and resolve be found to save Krui surf breaks and the local community from what happened to Bali? One things for sure, noone can ever say they weren't warned.

We'll close this article with a well known inspirational quote.