Legon Pari Beach, we are coming! To test my brother’s new surfboard, we finally decided to head to Legon Pari Beach in West Java, Indonesia. We left in the middle of the night and arrived early in the morning. The weather was quite hot and sunny, and the waves were at their peak. Since it was our first time surfing, we hired a coach to teach us the basics of surfing.
Legon Pari Beach
Legon Pari Beach is located in Cisolok, Pelabuhan Ratu, Sukabumi, West Java, Indonesia. The surfing spot is right next to the Legon Pari Beach Resort, a 3-star accommodation in Pelabuhan Ratu with room rates ranging from Rp. 300,000 to Rp. 800,000. Legon Pari Beach Resort is the ideal place to stay if you plan to spend a few days surfing here, as it is close to the surfing spot.
Surfing Experience
First, we were taught how to warm up, just like in other physical activities. Then, we learned the proper way to lie face down on the surfboard, how to paddle with our hands, and how to transition from lying down to standing up in a correct and safe way. We were also taught how to fall properly to avoid injury. Honestly, after going through each step, I realized there are so many fundamentals to master. For instance, you need strong leg and core muscles to stand up from a lying position, strong arms and chest muscles to paddle, and balance to maintain your stance on the surfboard.
Surfing at Legon Pari Beach
After practicing the basics, I was ready to hit the water. I made sure to apply sunscreen and wear a rash guard to protect my skin from getting burned since we started in the afternoon when the sun was at its peak. I carried the beginner surfboard, which had a rounded, wide, and long shape made of styrofoam. It was quite heavy due to its size. Once in the water, the surfboard was easily carried by the waves because of its large surface area.
Slowly, we had to head out to the deeper part of the water. First, by carrying the surfboard by hand until it got deep enough, and then paddling with our hands to reach the point break. The waves at the time were not very beginner-friendly but were decent for more advanced surfers. Reaching the point break was exhausting, but thankfully, Legon Pari Beach has a spot with calmer waves due to a large coral barrier, providing a chance to rest after paddling from the shore to the point break.
Once I spotted a suitable wave, I tried to chase it (with the coach assisting, of course). The coach would give the signal for when it was time to stand up, as they are typically better at judging the right wave. Standing on the surfboard turned out to be quite challenging. The way you stand and where you look can greatly influence the direction of the surfboard.
Surfing Evaluation at Legon Pari Beach
One of my mistakes was focusing too much on my feet while standing, trying to ensure my foot placement was correct. Looking down caused the surfboard to dip naturally, resulting in me tumbling under the waves. I only attempted to reach the point break twice. The heat of the afternoon and the stamina required made it incredibly challenging, as paddling with your hands from the shore to the point break takes a lot of energy. Additionally, I realized many of my muscles were underdeveloped for this activity. My arm muscles for paddling, my core for transitioning from lying to standing, and my leg muscles for maintaining balance on the surfboard all needed improvement.
Conclusion
Surfing is quite difficult because the main challenge is battling your own limitations. However, this sport opened my eyes to areas I need to work on in my body. I’ve started going to the gym regularly and am committed to improving myself. Hopefully, I’ll be better prepared next time. Until the next post! I’m not giving up on surfing just yet—maybe I’ll do better on my next try.
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