Catching up with Husni Part 1

Aug 29, 2012

With Salsa departing Bali for a little Mexico soirée, and a slice of time before the arrive of Ozzie Wright and co. My work commitments opened up presenting me with a little hole to go exploring. Where to go…I checked the swell report and noticed a nice little pulse feeding into West Java. What a perfect opportunity to catch up with Husni and the rest of guys in Batukaras. So I packed my bag and grabbed Andre, our man behind the lens of the motion pieces we produce and set off on the unfortunately long and rather convoluted trip to that spot on the coast over a thousand miles away. Arriving first thing in the morning it was fantastic to see that there wasn’t the usual swarm of tourists that tended to be attrached to this magnificent piece of coast. We’d slipped in a week prior to when the herds of Java locals that flock to these perfect azure waters like ants to jam were expected. We were rewarded by having none of the loud speed boats or banana boats plowing the place. Peaceful. Perfect. Prime time of year to be here. With little or no messing about, though after a quick reunion and catch up. We headed surf side, Husni, like most days was itching to get in the water. As he paddled out that morning I noticed, not for the first time. His stature. His presence in the water. The alpha male, something of a leader watching over his pack. Never aggressive nor greedy to catch every wave, instead picking off waves instinctively. The right one. The perfect place. Always one step ahead. Knowing every crag and cracks along the way. Fine-tuning his board with fast footwork and catlike balance. Style and elegance personified. We weren’t the only visitors in town. Our good friend and local Canggu artist, Andrew Wellman had also decided to pay a visit to this longboard friendly community. It was his first time and by the look on his face, every time I saw him in or near the water, I’d say he was not disappointed. A rider and owner of a vast array of craft. Basically Andrew likes to slide. Long short and so many in between. I think he’s mesmerized by forward motion. And in a place like this, why wouldn’t you be. After surfing the point break for the first two days we decided it was time to poke ours heads around the corner to see what else was lurking about. Setting off before sunrise we made our way over hill and dale. This is where having our good mate Husni pays dividends. Without his local knowledge we’d have never found the place. Nor do I think I could again. Conditions looked near enough perfect, with warm orange sunrise, sweet clean waters, small perfect waves breaking across a reef bottom and best of all. Not another person in sight. Before I could even pull my camera out Husni had already made his way to the line up. Wave after wave came through, each one at his disposal. It’s the situation every surfer dreams of. You could tell it was something he enjoyed often. Once again looking through the lens I was amazed at his sparse movements he made it all look so damn effortless. Stay tuned for Part 2 of my Java hideaway We’ve got more waves, a heavy dose of lifestyle and even a dash of drag racing local style. Don’t miss it!

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!