Riding one of the best flat water spots in Indo with ultra-reliable conditions!
THE SET-UP
At Jeneponto in South Sulawesi you’ll find a two kilometre-wide lagoon with clear, glassy, flat water at low tide and small kickers and chop on high tide.
There’s a large beach with lots of space to launch and land from and this is a superb place for progressing riders, whether you’re in the early stages of getting up on the board or are working on unhooked tricks and going big.
It’s not a wave spot, but if you’re looking for unfettered kiteboarding conditions then it’s seriously worth a look because the steady, side-onshore winds are more or less non-stop during the season – particularly from July to September. Like other kite destinations in Indonesia, Jeneponto hasn’t yet made its way into the kite community’s collective consciousness, so it’s nice and quiet.
WIND, WEATHER & WATER
Indonesia gets its best wind during the dry season and is particularly reliable thanks to a thermic effect rising from the mountains inland. The wind is very dependable from April through to October, regularly hitting 20-35 knots in season. In fact it’s so consistent that this area is now the home to the biggest independent wind farm in the Asian Pacific.
The wind usually starts up in the mid to late morning and blows until dusk. Eight to ten metre kites are the most commonly used, with the occasional 12 metre day. In season from April to October the wind blows from the east / southeast and from November to March it switches to the northwest, becoming a little less reliable at the same time. The wind stats you’ll find online for Jeneponto are promising, but you can usually add five to ten knots to the average readings because of the thermals.
During the season the water averages around 24°C / 75°F so you won’t need a wetsuit while air temps are around 27°C / 80°F from May to August, making it very pleasant on land. A rash vest is worth bringing for protection from the sun and windchill on really strong days.
SCHOOLS
JENEPONTO KITESURFING are open all year and run lessons in front of the Batikite Resort at a max ratio of 3:1. They teach with the latest F-One and Manera gear, which is also available for hire or sale, and you can store your kite at the centre where the beach boys will even clean it down and rig it up for you! Languages: English, French and Indonesian
There’s just one place to stay close to the spot, Batikite Resort, which has stylish Balinese bungalows and its own restaurant. Being beachside it’s ideal for maximizing your session count! You could stay in nearby towns, but the closest one is 30 minutes away, so Batikite is a good choice.
BATIKITE RESORT is located right on the shore facing the lagoon, and overlooking the kitesurfing action on the water. There are 12 bungalows, restaurant, bar, lounge, swimming pool and a kite centre surrounded by a beautiful tropical garden. They offer a variety of accommodation options from budget with shared facilities to more premium lodgings.
Jeneponto gives a glimpse of the real rural Indonesia where many people still live in tune with the land and sea as they always have. Relatively untouched by tourism there’s much to explore and the local people are very friendly, having not been exposed to some of the less-salubrious behavior that some people display when they visit other areas in Indonesia.
If there’s no wind then SUPing and snorkelling are popular activities and you can visit the local villages and coastal seaweed farms, which provide a key form of income for local people. There’s incredible diving around nearby Selayar Island and you can go whale and dolphin watching around Wakatobi, Bunaken and Gorontalo.
There’s just one place to stay close to the spot, Batikite Resort, which has stylish Balinese bungalows and its own restaurant. Being beachside it’s ideal for maximizing your session count! You could stay in nearby towns, but the closest one is 30 minutes away, so Batikite is a good choice.
You’ll pass ATMs and shops on the way from the airport but there’s not much around the beach itself, so it’s best to stock up on cash and anything you might need on the way there. You can rent a car or motorbike for getting around (although be aware: the Indonesian driving style takes some adapting too). There are also buses, but no fixed timetable.
PRACTICALITIES
AIRPORT
Sultan Hasanuddin International (UPG) Airport in Makassar gets daily flights from the larger Indonesian airports in Jakarta, Bali and Lombok and there are also direct flights from international hubs, like Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
It’s a 90 minute drive from the airport to Jeneponto.
