G-Land, also known as Plengkung Beach, is an internationally renowned surf break situated on the Grajagan Bay, Alas Purwo National Park, East Java, about half a day by road from the popular tourist destinations of Bali. G-Land is most commonly reached via boat charter from Bali.
Plengkung beach is one of seven of the best surfing locations in the world . Plengkung shore for the general public may be less well-known or still unfamiliar . People are more familiar with Kuta beach in Bali or Lombok Senggigi Beach than the beach . But for the professional surfers or surfers , beach Plengkung already very salty no longer for them . Some even mentioned that this beach is a paradise for professional surfers .
Plengkung beach is located in the National Park Alas Purwo located in Banyuwangi . This beach is a favorite place for surfers because it has a very high waves . Wave height at the coast can reach 6-8 meters with a length of 2 kilometers . Even at the beach is also an international surfing competition ever held Quicksilver Pro Surf Championship in 1995-1997 . It proves that the beach is indeed a world-class Plengkung .
G - Land name itself is taken from the name of the bay there is the Gulf Grajagan . But there is also a mention of the letter " G " in G - Land means the Great because the waves are big , and take also of the Green because it is located in the forest area .
Waves on the beach Plengkung divided into 3 levels . First to the professional level with waves 6-8 meters . Moderate with wave heights of 5-6 meters . 3-4 and entry-level meter . The best time for surfing at this beach is the month of July to September as the month-on- month peak wave height . Most visitors at this beach is the most foreign tourists a beginner or a professional surfer .
In addition Plengkung Beach , my friend can enjoy the natural scenery Alas Purwo National Park is beautiful with a wide range of wild animals that live there like wild monkeys , peacocks , buffalo and various types of plants . In the National Park there are some that can be visited Goa . One of them is Goa 's Palace which has springs " Spring Sunset " which has ageless .
To reach the beach Plengkung , when we depart from Surabaya city , we headed to the City of Banyuwangi . Of Banyuwangi heading south past Rogojampi district , subdistrict Srono , excl . Muncar , excl . Tegaldlimo , from Banyuwangi to Tegaldlimo can be reached within 2 hours . Of Tegaldlimo further towards the National Park Alas Purwo about 1/2 - 1 hr . Up in the post Perhutani Alas Purwo TN , we have to hire a Jeep to get to the beach with rental costs around $ 25 . Or if you want tracking and can also be fun again .
Discovery
In 1972, a core group of American surfers, organized the first expedition to G-land. A group of three surfers had to carry all their supplies and boards. Another group of 5 surfers went by local transport overland, arrived in Grajagan village near the river mouth and had to walk about 20 km along the beach with their boards. The first group sailed into G-land and beached the boat, which was their base camp for the next 10 days. They had very little fresh water and would have to collect it off the sails when it rained.
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Surf Camps
Soon after the discovery, Mike Boyum helped set up the first surf camp at G-Land, which was possibly the start of the surf camp concept that has since spread across the globe. Balinese surfer Bobby Radiasa took over the operation in the late 70s and still runs it today. From the days of the original Boyum/Bobby's camp other camps have opened at G-Land offering various standards of accommodation and facilities to suit a range of holiday budgets, with G-Land Bobby's Surf Camp - info at www.grajagan.com. there's another surfcamp in the jungle in front of Speedies Reef named Joyo's Surf Camp, info www.g-land.com. The third Surf Camp, located closest to the only viewing tower and the peddle out point, is G-land Surf Camp (www.g-landsurfcamp.com/).
Geomorphology
The south coast of Java faces the Indian Ocean, so it is exposed to large swells generated by low pressure systems circling Antarctica, many thousands of kilometers to the south. G-Land is situated on the eastern side of the Bay of Grajagan, so it has a westerly aspect; i.e. at right angles to the predominant swell direction. As a result, swell wraps around the point and into the eastern side of the bay, producing long, walling left-handers, which peel at a rapid rate along a half kilometer stretch of shallow coral reef, forming perfectly hollow tubes that remain open the whole way.
The wind at G-Land blows offshore between the months of April and September, which also happens to be when the swells are at their largest and most consistent. Since the swells are generated by low pressure systems circling Antarctica, their regularity coincides with the passage of these lows. So, the swell arrive in pulses, each lasting for a couple of days, with a couple of days between each swell.
Waves tend to be bigger and better at high tide, so it's best to plan a surf trip for the week following a full or new moon, since this is when the tide is high during the middle of the day.
Surf Break
A very long, world-class, barreling left hand reef/point break breaks along the east side of Grajagan Bay. It has long been considered one of the world's best left hand waves. The correct name of the point upon which the main wave breaks is "Plengkung." The wave becomes shallower and more critical the further down the point one rides the wave. It is one of the most consistently rideable waves in the world in season, with offshore winds and often plentiful swell between the months of, roughly, mid April to mid October.
The G-Land surf break has been divided up into several sections. The first, at the top of the point, is called "Kongs," which breaks up to several hundred metres in length, and can hold quite large sizes (from about 2 to 12 feet+, Hawaiian scale). It is not usually a barrel, nor genuinely world-class, but more a series of takeoff zones with some long wall sections, although it can also barrel on occasions. This section picks up a lot of swell, and is rarely less than 3 feet, and can be a saviour when the rest of the point is too small. This wave can sometimes link up with the next section called "Moneytrees." Moneytrees works from about 2 to 10 feet (Hawaiian scale, or about 4 to 20 feet wave faces), usually breaking over several hundred metres, and is a long, testing, barreling, world-class wave. The barrels become more critical the lower the tide and the larger the swell. Moneytrees may also occasionally link up with the next section called "Speedies," with an outside takeoff section between the two called "Launching Pads." "Launching Pads" can catch the surfer offguard, as it can break a significant way out to sea in larger swells. "Speedies" is the heaviest wave at G-Land, but can be a perfect, very round barrel for several hundred metres, rideable from about 2 to 8 feet+ (Hawaiian scale). It usually needs larger swells, and low tide can be very dangerous. Most severe injuries at G-Land have occurred at "Speedies."
It is not common to ride a wave more than about 300–400 metres at G-Land, even though the section of the point where rideable waves break is considerably longer (over 1 km long), because the waves usually don't link up with each other.
The dry season (May to October) is far and away the best time to go. That is when the offshore southeast trade winds blow and the swell, pouring out of the Southern Ocean, is at its biggest and most consistent.
Other Nearby Surf Breaks
There are a few other, smaller waves further down and within the bay, which include "Chickens," "20/20," "Tiger Tracks" and a few unnamed others. These waves generally only work on larger swells, but are surprisingly good alternatives when the main point is big. All of these waves can barrel in the right conditions, which generally require higher tides. There are also some right hand waves on the other side of the peninsula at G-Land, but they are fickle, requiring large swells, and no wind or off-season winds.
Another right hand wave is situated about a one hour or more drive, and boat, west of G-Land, which has been featured in Indonesian surf magazines, and dubbed as "Reverse G." It is apparently a quality, long, right hand wave (the 'reverse' of G-Land) but which is very difficult to get to, requiring some boat access, and furthermore only works in off-season winds (about October to April).