A Maroubra surfer has etched his name in the record books by becoming the first person to hydrofoil 92 kilometres across open ocean from Bali to East Java, capturing the spirit of his local surf community far from the familiar breaks of Sydney’s eastern beaches.
On 27 June 2025, Josh Ku, who grew up riding the waves at Maroubra, crossed the treacherous Bali Strait on a hydrofoil board, setting off from Uluwatu in Bali and landing at the legendary surf break G-Land in Java. The daring journey took four and a half hours and pushed him through rough seas, strong currents and the same dangerous waters where a ferry tragedy claimed lives just days later.
Crossing the Bali Strait
Ku shared that he had dreamt of tackling the crossing for over a year, inspired by surf pioneers who explored both Uluwatu and G-Land in the 1970s. He called the Bali Strait the most difficult body of water he had ever faced, comparing it to his past Molokai to Oahu crossing in Hawaii, which he now says felt mild in comparison.
Paddling out of Maroubra as a young surfer gave him the grit for such feats. Known for braving heavy reefs on a standard surfboard, Ku had already made long coastal foiling trips at home, including a run from Maroubra to Wollongong that covered 60 kilometres. The Bali–Java mission was the next step in pushing the limits of what’s possible on a hydrofoil.
A Community Effort
He credited his success to his wife, local sponsors and the mates who supported him when the idea sounded near impossible. California-based filmmaker Dane Wilson followed Ku’s preparation and crossing, with plans to release a film about the journey later this year. Ku said the crossing was more than a personal goal — it was about trusting instinct, skill and the lessons learned growing up with Maroubra’s close-knit surf community.
The magnitude of his achievement struck home when news broke of a ferry sinking in the same strait, a grim reminder of the region’s powerful currents and unpredictable weather. Ku extended his condolences to families affected and stressed that such waters deserve respect.
Home Break, Big Waves
Despite his adventures abroad, Ku keeps returning to Maroubra’s waves, sharing his biggest local rides on social media and reminding followers that his roots are firmly in Sydney’s surf culture. His recent posts show him charging large swells at Maroubra, proving that for all the record-breaking crossings, the local break still feels like home.
The documentary about his Bali–Java crossing is expected to premiere in September at an international watersports event in Oregon, shining a light on an Australian surfer whose ambition was forged in the surf of Maroubra and carried across oceans.
Published 10-July-2025
