Pitstops
Pitstops is a playful right-hander with a sand and reef bottom in the Playgrounds zone of the Mentawai Islands. The wave is more accessible and forgiving than its neighbours like Kandui and Rifles, making it a great option for intermediate surfers looking for fun tropical waves. It offers rippable walls with occasional tube sections and works well on smaller to medium swells. The Playgrounds area is one of the most wave-rich zones in all of Indonesia.
Today's Conditions
Find FlightsLocation & Conditions
Hourly Forecast, Tide & Strike Windows
Tide times today
Strike Score Breakdown
Plan Your Strike
Return flights to PDG, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
Search Flights on SkyscannerLocation & Conditions
Know when Southeast Asia is about to fire
Get the best strike windows in Southeast Asia — and worldwide — in your inbox every Monday & Thursday. Live Strike Scores, the swell behind them, zero fluff.
Get the full Pitstops trip window
Pro unlocks the 10-day forecast window, unlimited alerts, and custom spot tracking that help turn a good-looking surf report into a better travel decision.
10-day window
See the trip window before flights get expensive.
Unlimited alerts
Let the app watch your score threshold for you.
Custom spots
Track the breaks that actually matter to your travel plans.
Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SW (230°)
- Direction range
- 210° - 250°
- Size range
- 0.9m - 1.8m
- Ideal size
- 1.5m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- ESE (112°)
- Offshore range
- 82° - 142°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- mid to high
- Optimal range
- 0.7m - 1.8m
Water temp
28°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Difficulty
5/10
Crowd level
4/10
Access: Charter boat from Padang (~10hr) or speedboat (~4hr)
Frequently Asked Questions
What tide is best at Pitstops?
Pitstops works best on a mid to high tide, ideally between 0.7m and 1.8m on the local tide chart. The tide chart above shows today’s strike window.
What wind direction is offshore at Pitstops?
Offshore wind at Pitstops blows from the ESE (112°). Anything in the 82° to 142° range grooms the faces; outside it, expect chop or bumpy conditions.
What swell size and direction work best at Pitstops?
Pitstops wants SW swell (210° to 250°) between 0.9m and 1.8m, with a period of 14s or more for quality waves.
When is the best time of year to surf Pitstops?
The main season at Pitstops is Apr-Oct. A secondary window runs Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar. Best Apr-Oct (dry season, SE trades offshore). Swells year-round but wet season brings onshore winds.
How do I get to Pitstops?
Fly into PDG, then allow about 0 minutes by road, plus a boat transfer (around $200 USD). Charter boat from Padang (~10hr) or speedboat (~4hr)
What kind of wave is Pitstops?
Pitstops is a reef break, a right-hander. Difficulty is rated 5/10.
Best Season
Peak: Apr-Oct
Secondary: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Best Apr-Oct (dry season, SE trades offshore). Swells year-round but wet season brings onshore winds.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
4 Bobs
🌊 Playgrounds fun right • Almond barrels • Two-turn combos
Playgrounds Left
🌊 Many names, one zone • Playgrounds barrels • Mentawai spectacle
Rifles
🎯 200m flawless rights • Precision swell angle • Mentawai crown jewel
Pistols
🌊 Playgrounds right • Short barrels, nice turns • Fun warm-up wave
Burgerworld
🌊 Most exposed Mentawai • Low-season barrels • Sculpted right tubes
Hideaways
🌊 Secret Mentawai left • Barrel opportunities • Less crowds