The 400-metre peeling left-handers that roll in across Impossibles reef draw the attention of onlookers. Unfortunately, Impossibles Bali, like its name suggests, is often impossible to keep up with. Expect short parts that will leave surfers feeling defeated. Under optimum conditions (mid-low tide and more over 5 ft), Impossibles can open up and provide a near-perfect ride. The crowd is usually nice and welcoming, but each swell brings a new crowd!
Impossibles is extremely tough to ride, as it travels at Mach II speeds down the line, presenting a plethora of barrels, lengthy walls, and bowls. The wave is usually divided into two portions, uppers and lowers, although it’s worth noting that you may take off anywhere along the reef and enjoy a wonderful ride.
Uppers break off the reef’s very tip and rifles down the line. Pulling into the barrels and maintaining a high line are the keys to making this wave. Every wave behaves differently, and on larger days with low tides, it is feasible to connect the upper section all the way to the inside. However, most of the time the wave will outpace even the fastest surfers.
A portion in the middle draws in the larger swinging sets and breaks out a little further from the reef. The broader waves peel a little slower, making them a lot more makeable, but they may not strike the reef as hard or give as many barrel opportunities as their near counterparts. However, the wave will eventually catch up with you.
A throng may often gather at the tail of the wave as everyone continues paddling farther down the reef in search of the magical small piece of coral that is not running too fast on that particular day.
Impossibles Wave and Best Condition
Impossibles is well renowned for its long tunnels that are more than likely to lock you out. While there doesn’t appear to be a perfect science to anticipating waves at impossibles, the break is known to line up on larger swells (5 ft +) and notably low tides. At Impossibles, there are usually two take-off zones to select from: the top and bottom areas.
The upper section may work on a lesser swell, but the lower half is noted for its predictably hollow sections.
On the correct day, under ideal conditions, you may spot a set breaking from the top end of the reef near Padang Padang that will hold up through blocked, barreling, and long shoulder sections for up to 400 meters. These will drop you down at the top of Bingin, directly in front of the lagoon.
It’s a short paddle from Padang’s beach out through the canal between Padang-Padang and Padang-Padang rights to Impossibles. Then, drift down until you discover a part of reef you like. If you don’t have booties, coming in on a low tide can be a lengthy and unpleasant walk across the reef, but coming in on a high tide can offer a wonderful little current under the cliffs that will rocket you back to Padang.
How to Get Here
There are other options to get into the Impossible:
Option 1: Paddle over from Padang Padang beach, Impossibles is only on the northern end of the beach.
Option 2: You can also get to Impossibles from Bingin, but be prepared to descend all of the steps to Bingin, followed by a traverse through the lagoon and a long paddle up the reef.
Option 3: A third option is to use the Anantara Resort Elevator to descend to the center of the reef. Keep in mind that you’ll have to paddle across a shallow area of the reef while being buffeted by strong currents. Keep an eye out for slower areas of the wave while choosing your takeoff zone; this is generally your best bet.
source: surfindonesia
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