RIDING GIANTS

The Sport: Surfing

The Arena: Bali, Indonesia

Your Adventure: The sport of surfing is as much about the mind as it is about the body. But surfing in Bali—where dramatic volcanoes, terraced rice paddies, and Hindu temples face the lacy waves—is plain mind-blowing. For beginners, the tame beach breaks around the bustling town of Kuta are best—Pro Surf School guarantees you'll stand on your first lesson. (And a quiet bungalow at the Legian Beach Hotel in nearby Denpasar guarantees a good night's sleep.) Experienced surfers head south to Uluwatu, where six- to eight-foot reef breaks crash in from the Indian Ocean. Book with surfing travel company Wavehunters, and a guide will ferry you between gnarly waves and good lodging at the cliff-top Uluwatu Resort, which has canopied bamboo beds and flat-screen TVs. When you get home, you'll be able to honestly say that the beaches in Bali spirited you away.

Pro Surf School
Tel: 62 361 744 1466
Surfing lessons $50

Legian Beach Hotel
Tel: 62 361 751 711
Doubles from $95

Wavehunters
Tel: 888 899 8823
$1,500 per person for seven nights, including airfare, ocean-view room, and surf guide