Learning Curve - Ellis Ericson's progression as a Surfboard Shaper

In the early days of Deus Indonesia, Ellis Ericson was a staple at the Temple of Enthusiasm in Canggu. He rode that wave of fervour we all caressed, jumping on those initial Deus bikes to chase swells in Bali and along the archipelago, he shaped boards in our bay during the lulls and partook in the shenanigans of the period.

Then we all went our separate ways. Ellis headed back to the northern parts of NSW. He moved out of town, set up his own shaping bay and began the pursuit to purify the boards he rode, to produce something that fitted his idea of perfect. Lines and curves refined over and over again. Less fins became more and then more again. Length, width, volume, even materials, all variables in a dance along his learning curve.

Earlier this year Ellis came back to Bali and more importantly for us, came back to the Deus Temple bringing with him his hard won knowledge and experience. He set up shop in the Deus shaping bay and came out with some models of what he’s been producing. Totally different from what we are into, more than an arm’s length from main stream and yet these curt crafts of conveyance couldn’t help but perform brilliantly and leave that satisfying, and rather smug, smile on our dials.

Jared Mell our resident guru in the key of surf, couldn’t resist the urge to tap into Ellis’s ideas and direction, the two ventured off to the east coast and down south chasing waves, eating warung food and spit balling ideas… and of course we just happened to be there with our handheld.