In the early days of Deus Indonesia, Ellis Ericson was a staple at the Temple of Enthusiasm in Canggu. Jumping on some of the first Deus bikes out of Indonesia to chase swells in Bali and along the archipelago, riding waves with a certain fervour, and shaping boards in our bay during momentary lulls.
Then we went our separate ways. Ellis headed back to the northern NSW, Australia, setting up his own shaping bay to begin the pursuit of purifying the boards he rode, in a bit to produce something that fitted his idea of perfection. Lines and curves refined over and over again. Length, width, volume - even materials - all variables in a dance along his learning curve.
Earlier this year Ellis came back to Bali, returning to the Deus Temple, bringing with him his hard won knowledge and experience. Set up in our shaping bay, Ellis emerged with models reflecting what he had been producing back home. Totally different to what we’re used to, and certainly more than an arm’s length from the mainstream and yet, these crafts of conveyance performed brilliantly, leaving a truly satisfying smile on our dials (and a somewhat smug on Ellis’).Jared Mell, our resident pundit on all things of the sea, couldn’t resist the urge to tap into Ellis’s ideas and direction, with the two of them venturing off to the east coast and down south chasing waves, eating at local warungs and spitballing ideas. Of course, we just happened to be there with our handheld.
