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Deus ex Machina presents: DUST

May 12, 2016

Life has a habit of going full circle, coming back around to give us what we gave it, echoes of the past rippling ever onwards. Forrest Minchinton was born to a surfer, shaper and traveller father in Huntington Beach, California, a global Mecca for the surfing community, but before he took his first cross-steps on water, his parents found their calling south of the border: “My parents relocated to Playa Tamarindo, Costa Rica in search of good, un-crowded waves and warm water,” Forrest, now 24 years old, explains. “I spent the first 5 years of my life in Costa Rica, caught my first wave at 3 years old and quit surfing by the age of 7 - the moment I rode my first motorcycle.” Breaking the mould, Forrest poured his passion into riding dirt, not water, and whether with his father, now back in California, or his mother in Costa Rica, it was the hills and the deserts that were his calling. Living next to the Robert August factory in Huntington Beach, his dad a shaper there for over 30 years, the young petrol-head swept foam, made coffee and filled the gaps to earn a few bucks to pour into his bikes and racing. “At age 12 I started racing in the National Hare and Hound series in California and won my first event,” he recalls. “I then went on to dabble in all different kinds of racing - National Hare and Hound, Grand Prix, Motocross - which took me all over the country including a Hare and Hound on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu.” But the infectious salts of the ocean had not left his veins, and the young teen ventured back into the realm of surfing, competing for the Huntington Beach High School surf team with some impressive results. It was around this time that Forrest’s path crossed the footsteps of Dustin Humphrey, then an enthusiastic longboarder and budding photographer, before becoming director of Deus Indonesia. Joining his father in the shaping bay, Forrest began building his own boards and funding his insatiable bike habit, developing a covert reputation in both fields. And so his life continued to turn. Forrest reached out to Dustin, on his way to Bali and keen to reconnect with the good friend of his old man. Forrest’s lifestyle reflected the Deus ethos in mirror-like perfection: surfer-shaper-meets motorcycle addict, and a symbiosis emerged. Filming the closing segments of the Deus project, South to Sian, Dustin invited Forrest along for the ride. The Deus team didn’t know what to expect of the young Californian, but he proceeded to blow their minds with his proficiency on a dirt bike on sand. His consummate talents were reiterated in the Deus Temple of Enthusiasm’s shaping bay, and with these two facets realised, an idea emerged. That idea became the Dust project. Returning to Bali in February of this year, Forrest immersed himself the dust of both of his passions, the foam dust of the shaping bay and the dust kicked up by the back wheel of his dirt bike. Dust follows Forrest’s return to the Deus Temple of Enthusiasm in Canggu, Bali, tracing his journey through the Indonesian archipelago, the shaping of a diverse quiver from 5’4” fish, through performance shortboards and mid lengths to 9’6” logs, and joining with newfound and long lost friends in an indulgence of passion for boards and bikes. Joining Harrison Roach, Agi Agassi, Matt Cuddihy and Zye Norris, Forrest collaborates on bikes and boards, surfs the innumerable breaks of Indo and lays tracks in the dust of Mount Bromo, Lombok and Batur. “As soon as I met Harry, Zye and the whole crew I knew we were in for a good time with good friends,” he says. “We got some amazing footage and did some amazing riding in one of the most unique places on earth to ride a motorcycle.” This is Dust – a union of friends and mindsets, kicking spray in dirt and water, a creation of dust in myriad form and a life come full circle. Dust premieres globally at The Deus Residence of Impermanence, Harajuku, Japan, on Saturday 14th May at 6pm - live online on Sunday 15th. Check social media for more information and links.

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!