Koki Hendrawan, a surfer from Pecatu, Badung, caught attention with his performance at Padang-Padang Beach in Bali, Indonesia.
He took to the waves wearing traditional Balinese clothing, a striking mix of culture and sport.
As seen in the video, the midday sun was blazing, but Koki remained undeterred. He carried his surfboard confidently down to the shore and stepped into the water.
What drew the most interest, however, was not just his surfing, but his attire. Koki appeared in a kamen, a traditional Balinese sarong, paired with an udeng, a ceremonial headdress.
@infodenpasarterkini.idTerik matahari tak menyurutkan langkah Koki Hendrawan menuju bibir Pantai Padang-padang, Bali. Bukan sekadar aksi di atas ombak, namun busana yang dia kenakan membuat decak kagum. Saat itu, dia mengenakan kamen lengkap dengan udeng, pakaian adat Bali. Saat beraksi mengenakan pakaian adat Koki Hendrawan berselancar itu seolah tidak membatasi ruang geraknya. Source : [ @glandfilms @Lempehsurfphotography @kokihendrawan ]
Suprisingly, his outfit did not restrict his style. Despite wearing layers more suited for temple ceremonies than the ocean, he manoeuvred across the waves with ease.
Of course, this sight of a surfer riding Padang-Padang’s swells in cultural attire was unusual. But it bring awe to many people, Indonesian and foreign national.
Spectators at Padang-Padang admired the unusual sight. His balancing act on the waves was beautiful. While modern surf culture has often been associated with casual dress and global trends, Koki reminded onlookers that local traditions can shape the way sport is experienced.
When Tradition Meets Surf Culture
Surfing in traditional clothing is not new in Indonesia. In earlier this year, Flora Christin Butar Butar, a 33-year-old woman from North Sumatra, drew headlines when she rode the waves in a kebaya in Bali, Indonesia.
“Wearing a kebaya while surfing was actually for a project shoot called the Pearl Project,” Flora explained in March 2025.
“An artist from the Philippines approached me to join the project. The concept was surfing while wearing traditional clothing. So it wasn’t just a whim, surfing in a kebaya.”
Like Flora, Koki’s performance reflected the blending of heritage and self-expression. By choosing to surf in a balinese attire, he presented a visual reminder of Bali’s cultural roots. Even in the middle of a sport usually seen as modern and global.
More about Balinese Traditional Attire
Traditional Balinese men’s attire is known as payas agung for major ceremonies and payas alit for regular events. It typically consists of an udeng (headband), a safari or white shirt, a kamen (sarong), and a saput (an additional cloth worn over the kamen).
Each element carries meaning. The udeng represents clarity of thought, the saput symbolises the balance between worldly desires and spiritual awareness. And the white shirt stands for purity.
By wearing this attire while surfing, Koki offered a living portrait of cultural continuity in Bali.
Bali continues to attract attention for how culture and modern life intersect. In this island, tradition and modernity walk together in harmony.
You can see religious ceremonies in Ubud, or clubbing in a beach club in Canggu, the island remains a place where heritage lives alongside creativity.
