Living In Bali, She's Singapore's First Competitive Longboard Surfer | Singapore Hour

It is so elegant and it feels like a dance with the ocean. When I catch [music] a good wave, that feeling is really euphoric and I feel like I'm a kid again. I'm Becky and I'm Singapore's first competitive longboard surfer. This is basically my typical day in Bali. I never wake up this early in Singapore, ever. It's 5:47 a.m. now. I am heading to the beach. Weather is not ideal at the moment. Nobody will surf in the morning when it's like raining and it's cloudy and a little windy. But for me, it's like the perfect time because I get to pick any waves that I want. I'm training for my next competition which is in 2 weeks in the Philippines. Last year in 2025, I moved from rank 13 to number nine. So, I'm really happy about that. Even if it's not a good day, I still force myself to go out. I feel like a good surfer can surf in any conditions. So yeah, like I'm trying to practice in every type of condition. When you actually start surfing, it's 80% just paddling and getting over the wave. Days like these are very valuable because you learn how to like manage your emotions. It's learning how like, you know, if you don't catch a good wave, how do we come back from that? The most important thing in competition is actually like the mental strength and determination. Today is pretty frustrating. The wave is really messy because the wind causes the wave to crash faster when it is like a stormy day, windy day. Those sessions are like the most character building because amidst the chaos, like the wind that is like constantly in your face, you're trying to pick a wave. When you do well on it, that to me is like another level of achievement. Surfing is like life in a sense because some days are good, [music] some days are bad. Accepting that the external conditions you cannot control. But what you can control is yourself and your individual efforts and what you can do. When I started getting into surfing in [music] uni, I was already scheming in my head like how can [music] I live in a place where I can surf every day. So I think the only choice was just setting up something for [music] myself. Hello someone. Hello. >> So this is the hikini studio where the magic happens. Hi [music] in Chinese means the sea. So I named it Hi Kini [music] because it's bikinis for the sea. When I was a teenager, [music] I just couldn't really find bikinis that fit. So that's how I started a surf [music] brand. Those are the new Rey. For surf bikinis, fit is number one. And [music] you need the bikinis to be more snug on land. My design [music] philosophy is function first. So it not only looks cute, [music] but also it's supposed to stay on in the water. This is Yuri. She's our studio manager. And this is Yudi, our head sewer. Kuranga. >> Okay. Okay. >> Yeah. for the previous production which was done outside of the studio. It was [music] not to the standard that I expected. So right now I'm just trying to like save this part of the fabric and rework into a different style. I do sometimes see like a lot of trash in [music] the ocean. I don't really want to contribute to that. So like every piece of fabric counts for me. You're shipping to France. >> It's very fun working with her because actually this is a new [music] new thing for me and she really passion to teach me how to organize everything. Every week I'll read out what my thoughts are in Indonesian so that like everyone can better understand me and I also can start learning more Bahasa Indonesia. [music] Uh dan mani what's mantoi met >> metoday. [music] Wow this is a hard one. mental day. I think it's really important to create an environment where people are not afraid to ask you questions, work with kindness, and be open [music] to feedback. >> Okay. Thank you. [laughter] >> Yeah. Let's see what they like to eat. We're going to feed some cows today with my best friends Maddie and Amy. [laughter] They live in Uluatu, which is like 1 hour away from where I live. >> We're like long distance. >> Long distance on the same island. So sad. >> Cow cows. Yum. Yum. Time. >> In Bali, cows are considered sacred animals. >> So cute. >> They love. Maddie and I, we met on the beach in Changangu. >> I didn't have any like surfing friends. [music] You were my first proper friend. >> Amy also started a swimwear brand like same time and we've all been super collaborative and supportive of each other. >> Becky is one of the most supportive people I know. So that's why we love her. >> Thanks. >> Now that I've turned 30, I'm like really just focusing on my relationships. We don't really need a huge amount of friendships or we need like deep meaningful ones. >> Yes. >> We literally like are each other's family here because our actual families don't live here. >> Yeah. So we really lean on each other for support. >> Friends who serve together, stay together. [music] Every time [music] Becky say, "Mommy, I want to eat dumpling." Yeah, we know. She miss us. [music] >> Making dumplings definitely brings me home. >> Pass. >> True. That's good. 85 out of 100. >> Okay. Not bad. >> Yeah. >> I was brought [music] to Singapore at 5 years old from China. I was definitely trying to like assimilate [music] into Singapore culture, learning how to speak English. Now when I do think about it, I [music] think it like helps me to be more adaptable when it comes to like moving into a new environment. >> She's very active. She's not kind of girl always staying at her home. >> Of course, we concerned, but we didn't worry too much because we [music] understand it's worth trying something new. And that's why we do our best to support her. >> At that time, he [music] want to set up her own business >> business. >> So, we just give her some few thousand. >> Yeah. 2,000. >> I think Yeah, she can run her own business. I think it's better than have a MBA course. >> Real life experience lessons. >> Yeah. [music] At least try. >> At least you try. That's true. We only live once. I just want to polish a little bit. Want to make it nice for traveling. The desire to [music] like start competing came about again last year when I was 30 years old. Yeah, you're not getting any younger. This is the time [music] to do it. My first try was back in 2019 when I got the opportunity to represent Singapore in the [music] Sea Games in the Philippines. The most exciting part is just to see that I'm the only Singaporean [music] there. Little Singapore flag with our crescent and five stars and red and white. Yeah. Like, who would have thought that a country with no [music] surf and no waves can be right there with the big names. This is the Launan International Pro World Longboard Tour qualifiers. We've got four ladies trying to battle it out for a spot in that next round. >> Competition surfing [music] is very different from regular surfing. >> During 20 minutes, you have to try to catch two really good waves [music] and then they add up the score. So during that time when the timer starts until the end, my heart is beating [music] out of my chest and I I hate it. Yeah, I absolutely hate it. But when I get a good [music] wave in a competition, like oh my god, I feel alive. >> Beautiful footwork there from Becky. But it's a tricky condition today, actually. Unfortunately, the clock winding down on Becky and Maria. The best wave is yet to come and I try to apply that to life. I don't think I'll ever stop chasing waves. [music] Serving has opened up a new path in front of me and I'm prepared to do it until I'm 80. And when I c my body cannot function anymore, I think I [music] will literally cry if [music] I know what is going to be my last wave. Being in Bali has allowed me the space to think about who I want to be and [music] who I am inside. I just want to bring goodness to the people around me and to this island.

Singapore might not be known for its waves, but that didn’t stop Beckie Liu from becoming the country’s first competitive longboard surfer. Now living in Canggu, Bali to hone her craft full-time, discover how she balances her competitive ambitions with launching her own swimwear brand. WATCH MORE Singapore Hour: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkMf14VQEvTZ3qsadQ4fa_GEgmB8wblj9 0:00 Intro 2:53 Moving To Bali And Starting A Business 5:53 Finding Like-Minded Friends In Bali 7:11 Beckie's Parents Pay A Visit 8:49 Getting Back Into Competitive Surfing ==================== About the show: From street food to smart tech, traditions to trending lifestyles, Singapore Hour is your ultimate insider’s guide to travel, work, and play in the Lion City. ==================== #cna #singaporehourcna #singaporeansabroad #singapore #bali #expatlife #beckieliu #surf #surfing #competition #entrepreneur #business #swimwear For more, SUBSCRIBE to CNA INSIDER! https://cna.asia/insideryoutubesub Follow CNA INSIDER on: Telegram: https://t.me/CNAInsiderSG Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnainsider/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cnainsider/ Website: https://cna.asia/cnainsider