About JD Surf Lab
Born from a love of Lombok's waves and a belief that surf coaching could be so much more than it usually is.
Built on friendship, waves, and community
Starting as a story of two best friends — a local and a tourist who couldn't stop making each other laugh, both in the water and out — they bonded over their love for the ocean and waves. That friendship grew into something bigger when they partnered together to start JD Surf Lab.
JD started when one of the founders arrived in Lombok and struggled to find a space that could truly house the amazing surf community this Indonesian island has to offer. He also couldn't find anything that genuinely helped with the technicalities of surfing. So JD Surf Lab came about with a clear focus: core fundamentals, consistent progression, and a community where surfers can meet and bond over their love for waves.
We can't wait for you to experience what we've built — and we're so excited for you to meet our powerhouse team.
2022
Founded in Kuta, Lombok
The humans behind the stoke
We're a mix of locals, travelers, and ocean-obsessed humans who came to Lombok and never left. Each of us brings something different — but we all share the same goal: helping you surf better and have a damn good time doing it.
Precision in the pocket
Marouane El Mari
Surf Coach
Hailing from Morocco, running surf schools runs in his family — his family runs one of the oldest surf camps in Morocco. Marouane also owns his own surf shop, helping clients with board repairs, but it's in the water where he truly shines: the most passionate and caring instructor when it comes to his students' progression, ensuring that progress is made every step of the way. He is now in Indonesia running JD Surf Lab and is so excited to meet you all.
Quick fire
Coastline Roots
Morocco — surf runs in the family
Time on the Board
12+ years coaching & shaping
Go-To Break
South Lombok reef breaks
Can't Live Without
A good board repair and a pumping swell
The D in 'JD'
Deo
Head Coach
The D in 'JD' is named after Deo. Some call him unhinged — we just like to call him a wild spirit. He's our Head Coach and the comedian in the ocean. Growing up in Kuta, Lombok and being well known in the surf community, his main priority is not just to have a good time in the water but to ensure his students take the most away from their time with us.
Quick fire
Coastline Roots
Kuta, Lombok — born and raised
Time on the Board
15+ years and counting
Go-To Break
Anywhere the swell's pumping in South Lombok
Can't Live Without
Good waves, good laughs, and a strong coffee
The mastermind in the classroom
Ren
Theory Coach & Conditioning
Rendra is the mastermind in the classroom. Having spent over 10 years working at the top surf camps in Indonesia — including Kima in Bali — he ensures our surfers have the foundational concepts down in the classroom and the physical endurance out of water to be able to perform the best in the ocean.
Quick fire
Coastline Roots
Lombok, Indonesia
Time on the Board
10+ years coaching at top surf camps
Go-To Break
The whiteboard (and then the water)
Can't Live Without
A solid game plan and a sunrise session
Your body's best friend
Nurma
Physio & Recovery
Your body is your most important tool in the water. Our wellness specialist keeps you performing at your peak with on-site physiotherapy, dry needling, stretch sessions, and recovery protocols designed specifically for surfers.
Quick fire
Coastline Roots
Lombok, Indonesia
Time on the Board
8+ years in sports recovery
Go-To Break
Wherever the body needs healing
Can't Live Without
Dry needles and a foam roller
West Coast creative energy
Miles Black
Apparel & Graphic Designer
Miles brings West Coast creative energy to everything we do. From brand identity to apparel design, he's the visual voice of JD Surf Lab. When he's not designing the next drop, you'll find him testing boards and soaking up the Lombok lifestyle.
Quick fire
Coastline Roots
Los Angeles, born & raised
Time on the Board
18 years deep, from mountains to waves
Go-To Break
Venice Beach (when it's doing its thing)
Can't Live Without
A sketchpad and a flat white
Our Values
Surf First
Everything we do is in service of better surfing. The coaching, the food, the recovery — it all exists to help you surf more and surf better.
Community Over Everything
The best surf trips are the ones you share. We've built JD Surf Lab around connection — between guests, coaches, and the local Lombok community.
Respect the Ocean
We take our responsibility to Lombok's environment seriously. Local sourcing, minimal waste, reef-safe products, and support for local conservation efforts.
Local at Heart
We're not a resort that happens to be near the beach. We're part of the Kuta Lombok community — employing locals, supporting local businesses, and giving back.
Local shapers we love
We partner with Lombok's finest board shapers — craftsmen who've been perfecting their art for generations. Every board in our quiver tells a story.
Dani
Free Pig Movement
When we met Dani, we were obsessed with his energy and the history of his family as shapers in Lombok. Free Pig Movement works with the likes of various competitive Indonesian surfers. It's more than a brand — it's a lineage, and every board carries the spirit of these breaks.
High-performance shortboards & custom shapes
Uncle Nano
Local Legend
Uncle Nano is a Bali institution. A master shaper with decades of experience reading the island's breaks, his boards are shaped with an intimate understanding of the waves they'll be ridden on. Working with Uncle Nano means getting a board built by someone who has spent a lifetime in these waters.
Traditional shapes & Bali-tuned customs