Blog · By Gervas, surf coach at Nelayan Beach · 6 min read

Surf lesson or board rental in Canggu?

For a complete beginner, a surf lesson is the better start. Once you can paddle out, catch waves on your own and understand who has priority on a wave, renting a board is usually enough. The awkward bit is the middle: people who've had one or two lessons somewhere else. For them, it depends on how confident they feel in the water and how busy the beach is.

Here's how I'd decide between a lesson and a rental board, and how to tell which stage you're at.

When board rental is enough

Rental makes sense when you can already:

• paddle out on your own, which you usually need to do at Batu Bolong
• catch waves by yourself and stand up most of the time
• see where the currents are and where the other surfers are riding
• understand the basic rules, like not dropping in, which means taking a wave someone else is already riding

If that sounds like you, you'll find board rentals at Batu Bolong and at Nelayan. Ask the rental about the price and which board suits the conditions and your experience. The locals know the conditions well, so their advice is worth listening to.

When you should take a lesson

Take a lesson if it's your first time, if you haven't surfed for a long time, or if you're nervous in the sea. A lesson also makes sense when you've been stuck at the same level for a while and can't work out why.

In Canggu there's one more reason. Batu Bolong can be crowded, and a first-timer on a rental board in a busy line-up (the area where surfers wait for waves) is a risk to themselves and to others. An instructor finds you a good spot, so you can catch waves without worrying about collisions. My article on surf safety in Canggu explains the main risks.

Can you teach yourself to surf?

Some people do. It takes longer, and it's harder to stay safe, especially at a busy beach where the conditions change a lot during the day. Without feedback, you tend to repeat mistakes until they become habits.

My honest view: teaching yourself works better as the second stage. Learn the basics with an instructor, then practise alone.

What beginners miss when learning alone

Most of the things beginners miss are small, and you can't see them yourself:

• lying too far back or too far forward on the board
• kneeling before standing up
• looking down at your feet instead of where you're going
• paddling for waves too late or too early
• sitting in the wrong spot, where waves either pass you or break on you

An instructor can usually spot these within a few waves. On your own, it can take days to work out why you keep falling.

Understanding the conditions

The bigger gap is knowledge of the conditions. Knowing when the tide suits beginners, when the waves are too big and where the current pulls you takes time to learn. It's also what keeps you safe. At Batu Bolong, for example, mid and low tide are usually the easiest for beginners, and the depth changes a lot during the day.

When you rent a board and go out alone, you're making all those decisions yourself. With a lesson, your instructor makes them, and ideally explains why, so you learn how to do it later. My article on Canggu surf tides for beginners is a good introduction.

Choosing the right board

Rental stands have all sorts of boards, and it's tempting to pick one that looks like what the good surfers use. For beginners, that's usually a mistake. You want a big soft-top board, sometimes called a foamie, with plenty of volume. Volume is the amount of foam that makes a board float, and more of it means more stability and easier paddling.

Before you take a rental board out, check that the leash (the cord that connects the board to your ankle) isn't damaged and that the fins are firmly attached. My beginner surfboard guide explains board size in more detail.

With a lesson, you don't need to think about this. I bring a big soft-top for first lessons and choose the board based on your experience and the conditions.

Cost of renting vs taking a lesson

Renting is cheaper. You pay for the board and that's it. Ask the rental about their prices.

A lesson costs more because you’re paying for the instructor as well. With me, a lesson takes two hours and includes theory and pop-up practice on the beach, the board, a rash vest (a thin top that protects your skin), zinc sunscreen and water after the surf. The pop-up is the move from lying on the board to standing, and I describe the whole session in your first surf lesson in Canggu. At Batu Bolong and Nelayan, lesson prices are agreed within the local community. With me, a beginner lesson is Rp 350.000 per person semi-private or Rp 400.000 private, and an intermediate lesson is Rp 450.000. I explain more in how much surf lessons in Canggu cost.

For many travellers, the best value is a mix: a few lessons at the start, then rental for practice between or after them.

When to switch from lessons to independent practice

You're probably ready to rent and surf alone when you can:

• choose a sensible time to surf by yourself
• paddle out and back in without help
• catch whitewater and some small green waves (waves that haven't broken yet) on your own
• stay out of other surfers' way and follow the basic rules

Until then, a lesson every few sessions helps you check your progress. I teach private and semi-private lessons for beginners and intermediate surfers, so I can pick up exactly where you left off. Coming with a partner or friend? Book a semi-private lesson and learn together.

Surf lesson vs board rental in Canggu: common questions

Where can I rent a surfboard in Canggu?

At Batu Bolong and at Nelayan. Ask the rental about the price and the right board for the conditions and your level.

Is it cheaper to rent a board or take a surf lesson?

Renting is cheaper. A lesson includes the board as well as instruction, safety and help choosing the right time.

How many lessons should I take before renting a board?

Enough to catch whitewater on your own, paddle out safely and understand the basic rules. For most beginners, that's more than one session. See how many surf lessons you need.

What board should a beginner rent in Canggu?

A big soft-top (a board with a soft foam surface) with plenty of volume. Small boards are much harder to paddle and balance on.

Lesson first, then rental

A lesson and a rental board do different jobs. A lesson gets you safely through the confusing first stage and gives you good habits. Rental gives you time in the water to practise them. Most beginners get the best of both by starting with a lesson and renting once they're comfortable.

Never surfed before? Start with a lesson. Already comfortable catching waves yourself? Rental may be enough. Either way, send me a WhatsApp on +62 813-3684-866 if you'd like advice on your level. Asking is free. More about my surf lessons in Canggu.