Deus Swank Rally Wheels & Waves 2019

Jun 21, 2019

Wheels and Waves once again played host to the Deus Swank Rally; and although this year’s forecast was kinder to us, the day still ended as a muddy mess of vintage two strokes, burnt out riders, and a whole lot of fun. Part of the fun was seeing so many different people rolling in; rusty vans, hire cars, expensive trucks … but most importantly all carrying prized vintage dirt bikes. Riders from all over the world, a hundred vintage bikes singing the same anthem and thousands of spectators, all there for the same reason and united by a “I love the smell of mixture in the morning” kind of feeling. Guest riders, Deus builder and humble Frenchman, Jeremy Tagand kicked off proceedings by explaining the barrel and stopwatch system (in French and English) to a crowd of eager riders. This year’s Swank track had it all, a helter-skelter of rocky paths, deep muddy tracks, moto-cross jumps and the occasional hairpin turn to keep it all under control. The air you breathe at Wheels & Waves - the air that convinced us to repeat the event – is something unique (it could be the petrol) but it’s a world revolving around bikes and boards, where Deus feel’s right at home. Once the Swank Rally was wrapped up for the day, we headed to our home in Biarritz, the Tenement of Tenacity, to share a few beers and swap stories with other riders. The Deus France team did their darnedest to welcome us for the whole week, with events every day and night, including the opportunity to see Deus’ first four-wheel project with Cool’n’vintage, a Jeremy Tagand build exhibition, a Death Rides a Horse film premiere, live music every night and a decent amount of French wine and hot-dogs, which kept us all happy. It’s exciting to see so many people smiling and enthusiastic, amazed by all the things the Wheels & Waves festival carries with it. This is what makes the 4-day festival so damn awesome, and we’re honoured to be a part of it. Photos: Marco Renieri --------------------------------------------------------- Il Wheels and Waves ha ospitato ancora una volta lo Swank Rally e, nonostante il tempo sia stato più clemente quest’anno, la giornata è finita lo stesso per essere una rissa fangosa di vecchi due tempi, rider scoppiati e tanto divertimento. Parte dello spettacolo è stato vedere arrivare così tante persone totalmente diverse l’una dall’altra. Alcuni con furgoni scassati, altri con macchine a noleggio, altri con pickup scintillanti, ma tutti con dietro vecchie e spettacolari moto da enduro. Sono arrivati partecipanti da tutto il mondo, centinaia di moto vintage che cantavano lo stesso inno al cielo, tutti lì per lo stesso motivo e accomunati dalla stessa faccia che diceva solo: “adoro l’odore della miscela di prima mattina”. Ospite d’onore per l’occasione il costomizzatore Deus e buon francese, Jeremy Tagand, che ha aperto le danze spiegando a una folla di famelici riders il sistema Swank con bidoni e cronometri (in francese e inglese) Il percorso non mancava di nulla, un‘altalena di sentieri sassosi, tracciati in profonda melma, salti da motocross e qualche ben pensato tornante che ha tenuto tutti con i piedi a terra. L’aria che si respira al Wheels and Waves – quella che ci ha conviti a ripetere questo evento - è qualcosa di unico (sarà l’odore di miscela bruciata). E’ un mondo che gira attorno alla motocicletta e al surf e dove si sente a casa. Il team francese di Deus ha fatto il possibile per dare il benvenuto a tutti per tutta la settimana. Con eventi notte e giorno, tra cui l’opportunità di vedere il primo progetto a quattro ruote di Deus in collaborazione con Cool’n’Vintage, un’esibizione fotografica delle costruzioni di Jeremy, la premiere di Death Rides A Horse - ultimo cortometraggio di Deus, tanta musica live, hot dog e una cospicua quantità di vino francese per tenere tutti sempre allegri. E’ sempre eccitante vedere così tante persone sorridere e emozionarsi, esaltate per tutto quello che il Wheels and Waves si porta dietro. Questo è ciò che fa questi quattro gironi di festival così dannatamente divertenti e siamo onorati di averne fatto parte. Photos: Marco Renieri

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!