Deus Surf Swap & Film Night

Mar 17, 2022

The Surf Swap has become a consistent member in the Deus realm of fun provoking, event shenanigans. For those of you who live under a rock, or maybe you’re just new here, a Deus Surf Swap Meet is where the volume knob of surf enthusiasm is turned up to 11. It’s a celebration of yellow foam, old school skateboards and anything vintage which calls upon the blissful exuberance of pre 90’s fun.

Modern designs, informed by the past. It's an idea which permeates everything we do at Deus, from clothing design to surfboard construction. We celebrate all that has come before and have a jolly time bringing old ideas to life, in new and interesting ways. Thats the basis of inspiration right?

Last weekend was no different, with plenty to be inspired about. Stacks of beautiful vintage boards, people from all walks of life and tables overflowing with every type of surf paraphernalia, perused and purchased by their fellow barefoot brethren.

Our friend Darryl Homan (the vintage foam celebrity from a blog last week) made it down with a quiver of beautiful old single fins for all to toggle over. The Sam Hawk rounded pin tail was a crowd favourite. Darryl was smack bang in the middle of surfboard progression and lived to design, build and ride them all – so naturally, he became the star orator of the afternoon. He filled us in on why that Dick Brewer has such square rails, why that Hayden has its fin so far back and how “that board there” was Terry Fitzgerald’s first shape at such and such’s factory.

It was a glorious congregation of classic, well aged surf nuts who wagged their chins, shared their stories and passed on the flaming hot torch of knowledge, amongst their assortment of surf oddities with a bevy in hand.

As the sun filtered down through the trees, bringing the day to an end, our crew drew closer to the Deus Film night and the screening of the long awaited Deus flick; Death Rides a Horse.

At 7pm sharp the theatre doors swung wide and the crew swarmed in. Some of the crew were made up from interested geezers who just had a lesson in modern historical surf, and other attendees who were just eager to catch a glimpse of a true surf and moto adventure, through the dusty Mexican desert.

As it should be with any good surf movie; the crowd hooted and hollered at all the right moments, wishing it was them tearing up the the big screen. If you were lucky enough to plant a seat next to one of the film stars, it was unreal to get the inside scoop on all the bloopers that took place behind the scenes of this great adventure in such a unique place. Death Rides A Horse outtakes coming soon? We’d love to see it.

Walking out of the theatre, most conversations had turned to the good old, "we gotta go on surf trip”, “when are we going back to Mexico” , “lets buy motorbikes and get out of here”. And thats the highest compliment anyone could ever give, that our story has inspired someone to go out, live their own adventures and have a great time in an unexpected place.

We have to say a big thank you to The J Theatre who housed us for the evening and our drinks sponsors Stone & Wood and White Claw who quenched thirsts all afternoon and through the night. Now I think about it… Maybe the film wasn’t that good? Maybe Darryls stories weren’t true at all? Perhaps we were just starry eyed from the tin can recycling supplied by our booze buds? Either way, it doesn’t matter – because our memories of the night were of the fun and awe we all experienced together.

Photos by Kenyon Batterson.

ENGLISH TEXT BELOW

Setiap tahun, teman-teman kita Tasix Adventure—penyelenggara petualangan ban berlumpur dan adrenalin berbahan bakar terbaik di Bali—mengadakan acara akhir pekan berkemah yang sangat dinanti-nantikan. Mereka menamakannya “ The Wild,” dan jujur saja, tidak ada kata yang lebih pas dari itu.

Ini bukan sekadar acara; ini adalah petualangan wajib bagi siapa saja yang mencintai tanah, tantangan, dan persahabatan yang hanya bisa terjalin saat tertawa melihat teman lain terjatuh.

Hal tentang The Wild adalah misterinya. Kamu tidak tahu ke mana akan pergi, bagaimana sampai di sana, atau apa yang akan kamu temui—seperti hidup, tapi dengan lebih banyak asap knalpot.

Tahun ini, The Wild yang berlangsung pada 7 Desember 2024, mengumpulkan 135 pecinta motor enduro, trail, dan cross di Desa Kopi, Tabanan. Tepat pukul 9 pagi, kami berangkat menuju Desa Gesing, Singaraja. Rute tetap dirahasiakan hingga hari acara, meningkatkan sensasi penasaran dan antusiasme. Dengan dibagi menjadi beberapa kelompok kecil, kami melengkapi diri dengan perlengkapan motocross lengkap untuk menghadapi tantangan musim hujan.

Perjalanan? Murni magis. Jalur berkelok melalui permata tersembunyi Bali, di mana setiap tikungan menawarkan pemandangan yang memukau atau hampir membuat jantung berhenti. Rute tahun ini menghadirkan medan tanah liat merah—dijuluki tanah "keramik" karena teksturnya yang licin dan keras saat basah. Untuk melintasinya, diperlukan teknik khusus yang disebut “paddling the throttle,” sebuah manuver yang mendebarkan dengan motor yang sering bergoyang liar. Dari kejauhan, mungkin terlihat lucu, tetapi saat di atas motor? Ceritanya berbeda.

Setelah menempuh 68 kilometer petualangan liar, kami tiba di perkemahan di puncak bukit yang sudah dipenuhi tenda-tenda peserta lain dan deru knalpot. Destinasi selalu mencuri perhatian, dan yang satu ini tidak terkecuali—tempat tinggi dengan pemandangan 360 derajat yang menakjubkan dari laut, gunung, hingga kota.

Saat hujan turun, tenda-tenda didirikan, dan malam itu diisi dengan berbagi cerita tentang penyelamatan heroik dan kecelakaan yang menggelikan. Dan tentu saja, ada balapan. Bayangkan sekelompok pengendara penuh semangat meluncur di perbukitan dalam kekacauan yang terkontrol. Balapan tahun ini termasuk duel 1 lawan 1 yang seru di sekitar puncak bukit, dengan peserta menyelesaikan dua putaran penuh adrenalin.

Bukan soal menang; ini tentang hadir, tertawa, dan menikmati momen. Para pemenang dan peserta tercepat yang mencapai puncak bukit dirayakan dengan hadiah, tetapi senyuman, persahabatan, dan kebersamaan membuat semua orang merasa seperti juara.

The Wild tahun ini benar-benar sesuai namanya, bahkan lebih. Petualangan, tawa, dan cukup banyak tanah di gigi untuk menyebutnya otentik—kami tidak akan menginginkannya dengan cara lain. Terima kasih yang sebesar-besarnya kepada semua peserta yang menjadikannya pengalaman tak terlupakan. Sampai jumpa di petualangan berikutnya!

Every year, our mates over at Tasix Adventure—Bali’s finest purveyors of muddy tyres and fuel-driven adrenaline—host their much-anticipated camp-out weekend. They’ve named it “Wild,” and honestly, there’s no better word for it.

It’s not just an event; it’s a pilgrimage for anyone who loves dirt, daring, and the kind of camaraderie you can only forge while laughing at someone else’s wipeout.

The thing about Wild is that it’s shrouded in mystery. You don’t know where you’re going, how you’ll get there, or what you’ll find—kind of like life, but with more exhaust fumes.

This year’s Wild, held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, brought together 135 enthusiasts of enduro, trail, and cross motorcycles at Desa Kopi, Tabanan. The route was kept a secret until the event day, heightening the thrill of the unknown. At exactly 9 am, they shared the destination, Desa Gesing, Singaraja, Divided into small groups, we geared up with full motocross kits to tackle the rainy season’s challenges.

The ride? Pure magic. Twisting trails through Bali’s hidden gems, where every turn promised either breathtaking views or breathtaking near-misses. This year’s route featured red clay terrain—nicknamed "ceramic" soil for its slick, hard texture when wet. Navigating it required a special technique called “paddling the throttle,” a nerve-wracking maneuver that had bikes swaying wildly. From a distance, it might have looked hilarious, but on the bike? It was a whole other story.

After 68 kilometres of this wild adventure, we arrived at the hilltop campsite already alive with the buzz of activity and the roar of exhausts. The destination always steals the spotlight, and this one was no exception—a high-altitude perch offering stunning 360-degree views of the sea, mountains, and city.

As the rain came down, tents went up, and the evening was all about swapping stories of heroic saves and laughable crashes. And then there were the races. Picture a pack of overexcited riders tearing up the hillside in what can only be described as controlled chaos. This year’s races included thrilling 1-on-1 duels around the hilltop, with participants pushing through two laps of sheer adrenaline.

It wasn’t just about winning; it was about showing up, laughing, and embracing the moment. The race winners and the fastest hilltop arrivals were celebrated with prizes, but the smiles, the camaraderie, and the shared triumphs made everyone feel like champions.

This year’s Wild lived up to its name and then some. Adventure, laughter, and just enough dirt in your teeth to call it authentic—we wouldn’t have it any other way. A massive thank you to all the participants who made it unforgettable. See you on the next adventure!