Bali's first urban resort, Mamaka by Ovolo, is excited to announce their partnership with Quiksilver Bali Surf Academy – the island's most renowned surfing school. As official partners, the Academy will be nestled within the resort and provide the finest surfing lessons to those keen on learning the sport.  

Quiksilver Bali Surf Academy's proven track record and ISA-certified instructors will complement Mamaka's prime location perfectly well, as Kuta's long stretch of golden sand and phenomenal sunsets has become a globally recognised surfer's paradise. It goes without saying that the Academy will be an exceptional addition to the urban resort. 

Quiksilver Bali Surf Academy is locally and family-owned by Made Switra and his Australian wife, Holly Monkman. Made is one of Bali's most legendary surfing pioneers and one of the most successful and respected locals, having travelled the world and surfing as a sponsored Quiksilver team rider. He made history as the first Balinese surfer to travel to Hawaii, making his mark by surfing Hawaii's famed Pipeline surf break. Likewise, Holly has over twenty years of experience both in professional surfing, as well as in the surf industry. In her youth, she was a sponsored professional surfer, and later helped develop the careers of several world tour surfer champions as Roxy's Global Sports Marketing Manager. 

“Kuta has long been known as a surfing hotspot, and to be in partnership with Mamaka and be a part of the Ovolo family is exciting as it will certainly attract surfers from around the globe to ride the waves of the Kuta Beach once more.” said Made Switra, Co-Founder of Quiksilver Bali Surf Academy. 

Surfing was first introduced in Indonesia by an American couple, Bob and Louis Koke. Around the mid-1930s, they embarked on a trip to Bali and decided to settle on the exotic island. Bob, an avid surfer who first experienced surf culture during his time in Hawaii, became the first person to surf the waves of Kuta Beach. He taught some of the locals to surf, which sparked the beginning of the island's long and unique surf history. Back then, surfboards were commonly crafted out of hollowed-out teak wood, which was heavy and quite difficult to manoeuvre.  

In the late 1930s, Made Switra's grandfather, who had a penchant for shaping wooden boards, discovered Bob Koke's abandoned surfboard and decided to bring it home. It was then that he created the first-ever handmade surfboard in Bali, which was carved to an iconic shape made out of wood from local trees. This legendary surfboard is now showcased in all its glory in Mamaka's lobby. 

On the partnership, Joel Bartlett, General Manager of Mamaka by Ovolo says “At Mamaka, we aim to provide guests with good vibrations and enjoy the ultimate Bali experience. To have Quiksilver Bali Surf Academy as our official partner, our goal is we aim to give guests an exceptional surfing experience through the surf academy's outstanding surf lessons, given all within our prime location ast the birthplace of Bali's surf culture.” 

For more information and booking, please visit ovolohotels.com/mamaka/mamaka-bali-surf-academy/ 

-ENDS- 

Press images: HERE 

Pricing and booklet can be downloaded HERE 

For further information and imagery requests, please contact:  

Jonathan Jeremy 
Marketing Communications Manager, MAMAKA by Ovolo – Bali 
t: +62 361 849 6500   m: +62 818 701 507 
e: comms.bali@ovolohotels.com 

Stephen Howard  
Group Director of Marketing, Ovolo Group 
t: +61 2 9331 9068   m (AUS): +61 435 106 187   
e: stephen.howard@ovologroup.com 

About MAMAKA by Ovolo 

Good Soul. Good Times. Good Vibrations are at Kuta Beach. 

MAMAKA by Ovolo is a beach-front urban resort for modern travellers, foodies and social-surfers alike, perfectly positioned in the thriving neighbourhood of Kuta Legian. With a refreshing take on design and experience, it's an escape embodying Ovolo's mantra of staying connected with our guests. 

Featuring 191 playfully and effortlessly designed rooms and suites with interiors subtly reflecting Bali's cultural heartbeat and relationship with nature. The hotel consists of 74 Bali High rooms, 74 Kokomo rooms, 28 Summer Garden Terrace rooms, and 12 Swagger Suites rooms and 3 Top Gun Suites. Room sizes range from the Bali High and Kokomo at 25 sqm, whilst the Summer Garden Terrace, the same size has the addition of a private terrace overlooking the gardens. The Swagger Suites are a spacious 50 sqm, while our expansive 2-bedroom Top Gun suites are 91 sqm with all suites boasting views of iconic Kuta beach. 

About Ovolo Group 

The Ovolo Group was founded by entrepreneur Girish Jhunjhnuwala and first entered the real estate market in 2002; then further expanded into the hotel industry in 2010. Ovolo Hotels quickly became one of Hong Kong and Australia's most dynamic independent owner operated hospitality firms by providing guests with the best in effortless living across hotels and food and beverage outlets. In 2022, Dave Baswal was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer, while Girish remains as an Executive Chairman to focus on branding, development, and strategic growth of the business. Aligned by a belief in endless opportunity, the Ovolo Group pride themselves on having an unrivalled company vision.   

The Ovolo Group is a collection of contemporary hotels that keep you connected to the little luxuries you love, all effortlessly included. The company prides itself on being in touch with the modern traveller through award-winning interior designs, detail-driven comforts, complimentary value-added services like the mini bar and breakfast, with cutting-edge technology. Ovolo Hotels have been acknowledged for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence, receiving the accolade “Hotel Brand of the Year”, at the 2019 and 2020 HM Awards.  

A proud Hong Kong brand, Ovolo Group remains a family-owned and privately-operated business operating four hotels and three restaurants in Hong Kong, and eight hotels and seven restaurants across Australia in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane.   

Ovolo also has the By Ovolo Collective within its portfolio of hotels, a distinctive collection of four hotels each one unique, each one special, the more guests explore, the more they'll find. These include Nishi Apartments in Canberra Australia, The Sheung Wan by Ovolo and The Aberdeen Harbour in Hong Kong, and Mamaka Kuta Beach in Bali Indonesia.  

As of March 2021, Dash Living collaborated with Ovolo Hotels to launch two new generation of serviced rental solutions in Hong Kong. A total of 135 rooms and suites that form part of a new generation of serviced rental solutions for hyper-mobile millennials will be available for booking. The Aberdeen by Dash Living, soon-to-be converted from Mojo Nomad By Ovolo, offers 79 rooms ranging from studios to executive suites. The 56-room The Sheung Wan By Ovolo, only remaining under Ovolo's management for stays under 7 days, will offer units from studio, one bedroom, to family room options.  

Ovolo acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we are located. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.