In weather that could only be described as ideal, the type that has lured visitors to the island paradise for decades, a total 125 eager participants ventured into the tropical, two-to-three foot (1m) waves, and made five attempts to ride the same wave together with the third and fifth, final attempts looking like record breakers. 

Riders hooted and screamed with enthusiasm as they rode each wave and their cheers were echoed by hundreds of supportive spectators who crammed Kuta’s palm fringed shoreline. The record requires all surfers to be riding together for a minimum of five seconds, with the current official record set at 44 surfers in Lahinchi, Ireland in May.  

The record attempt was organised at the prompting of local surfers as a way of attracting an international audience to Bali and to remind the world why Bali became a favourite destination for so many. Not least the island’s amazing surf and beautiful beaches, but also the incredible kindness and generosity of the Balinese and their willingness to share their unique island paradise. 

Ketut Menda, a famous local surfer who participated in the record attempt today said it was important people were reminded of the ‘real’ Bali.

“To come together today is very positive, and we have shown that as a community we can work together to remind people what makes Bali such a special place for so many. Surfers have come from all over the world for years and years, and they will always come back. We want all the surfers to come to Bali and enjoy their holidays." 

Pre-record attempt : photo Tim Hain

The record attempt was made possible by the assistance of Australian founded surfwear company, Quiksilver, and the locally established Quiksilver Boardriding School (QBS). Quiksilver donated the use of over 50 surfboards and helped coordinate the feat with 10 instructors hitting the waves with the other surfers and, hopefully, also the record books. 

“I hope by breaking, or at least attempting to break this world record we will shed some positive light – internationally - onto Bali and I hope this world record helps remind the world what a special place Bali is for many people” said Brad Cunningham, Marketing and Sales Manager of Quiksilver SE Asia. 

The local surfing community of Bali extends a big thank-you to all the international visitors who joined to help create history and to share the beauty of the Balinese community throughout the world. An unofficial attempt on the record for the most surfers to ride a single wave simultaneously was also made at Manly Beach in Sydney, Australia on May 31st. 

Guinness officials will now analyze the DVD evidence from Bali, a process which can take anywhere up to eight weeks; before approval is given. “If we have broken the world record, I’ll be interested to see if Australia will try for the record again!” added Cunningham.

Another try : photo Tim Hain

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