Planning an epic surf trip and getting ready for a surf session does not have to be difficult. Whether you’re surfing in Bal with Kima Surf or if you are just surfing at home, surf-focused apps are an essential tool to make surfing more enjoyable! Instead of having to do a wave check ourselves at the beach, we can now have all the information and resources at our fingertips. You can use this selection of apps to check the surf forecast, improve your surf fitness, track your sessions, stay up to date with competitions and even stay safe in the water. Here are eight of the best surf apps we recommend, the same ones our experienced surf guides use to make your surf trip with Kima Surf unforgettable!
Use the WSL app to stay up-to-date with the major surf league competitions. You can watch live surf competitions all over the world, and if you miss it, you can use the app to watch highlights of the best waves in the heat. Other than the live streaming feature, you can also access surfer rankings, schedules, live heat scores, interviews with your favourite surfers and news on the surfing world. Watching pro surfers is also a great way to learn! By studying how world-class surfers approach the waves, you can bring the lessons you’ve learnt from them into your surf sessions.
The second app that is excellent for finding epic surf videos for improvement or inspiration is Nobody Surf. This app is comparable to a library of surf clips and is a great platform to allow surfers to create and inspire! Watch videos, learn new techniques, discover new surfers and dive into a whole world of surfing. A helpful feature of this app is being able to filter by surfer, location, manoeuvre, wave size and board type, so you are able to customise your search to exactly what you are looking for. Use this alongside Kima Surf’s Instagram, where you can find inspirational and educational videos to improve your surfing.
Dawn Patrol is perfect for those of you who have an Apple Watch and enjoy tracking your sessions or progress over time. This app, in conjunction with your Apple Watch, logs your wave count, distance and speed, paddle distances and ride time. Over time, you can use this data to track how you’ve improved, set surfing goals and compare sessions with different conditions. Use this app when you join Kima Surf Camp in Bali to see how you improve during your daily sessions.
Surfline is Kima Surf’s go-to surf forecasting app that is used by our surf guides to decide which spot will have the best waves for our guests. It provides live HD surf cams at hundreds of breaks around the world, along with in-depth surf reports that include wave height, wind, tide, wave energy and weather information, as well as long-range forecasts up to 16 days. Additionally, Surfline provides regional analysis by its journalists to give you a full picture of what to expect. A feature to note is the seven-point condition rating from very poor to epic, so if you aren’t familiar with how to read the forecast, you can still get an idea of whether the surf will be good or bad. If you’d like to learn a little bit more about the surf forecast, join Kima Surf for a theory session included in your stay.
If you want to dive deeper into the weather and wind conditions, Windy is just the app for you! This app offers advanced wind maps, radar and satellite imagery as well as wind and weather forecasts up to ten days. By having a look at how the wind interacts with the direction of the swell and wave shape, Windy can help you better understand how the conditions will impact your favourite surf breaks. This means that you surf at the right time, avoid sessions that are blown out and plan in advance for your upcoming surf trips.
Fitness and strength play a big part in surfing, and that’s where the next must-have app, Surf Athlete, comes in. This app provides surf-specific training programs to improve your strength, mobility and endurance for surfing. Choose from a range of programs, including bodyweight surfing athletes, endless paddling endurance, free surf training and many more. The courses range from a singular workout to a twelve-week course. In preparation for your next surf trip to a surf camp in Bali, consider doing their surf trip preparation course. When you arrive at Kima Surf in Bali, you will also have access to our gym and daily yoga sessions to keep you fit outside of the water, too.
For those of you surfing in places like Australia or the USA, you may need to be aware of sharks during your surf sessions. Dorsal helps keep you safe in the water, with features allowing you to report shark sightings, view reports in your area, and receive shark alerts. This app receives reports from aerial surveillance partners, media outlets and the local community, making your surf sessions much safer and more peaceful. This is not something to stress about when on your surf trip to Bali, since sharks are not common in either location.
When you’re not near the ocean or when the waves aren’t working in your favour, you can turn to another app called True Surf. True Surf is a surf simulation game using realistic wave models and physics to simulate a surf session all on your phone! Use this app to explore different surf breaks around the world and practice your favourite manoeuvres. We know it doesn’t come close to the epic feeling of catching a real wave, but it does keep your surfing brain active and allows you to experiment with different techniques and styles!
Surfing is a lifestyle, and having the right tools can make the experience even more fun! Download these eight apps and you’ll have the full package. You’ll have the tools to read the forecast, track your sessions, improve your surf fitness, stay up to date with surf news and competitions, find inspiration and learn new epic techniques and styles!
When paired with an experience of a surf camp like Kima Surf, these apps become even more useful. Download these apps before joining us for an epic surf trip at our surf camps in Bali!