Our Noosa Surf Festival Champions

Mar 17, 2022

Its not often in life you can have your cake and eat it too, but this Deus trip to Noosa was one of those special times. Now, as much as we love to tell a good story and lay things out nice a slow, this time around we are jumping straight into the deep end, before our excitement and happiness boil over.

Deus family members and team riders Sierra Lerback and Matt Cuddihy ripped through the weeks competition at this years Noosa Festival Of Surfing to emerge champions of the Deus Old Mal and the Logger Pro respectively, and we could not be more stoked!!

In a final stacked full of men, some of whom are previous Old Mal champions & some of whom are current wsl longboard competitors, Sierra rode her vintage Keyo to perfection, sliding to victory and marking her place in the history books as the first woman to defeat a field of professional male surfers in such a prestigious event.

Her final comprised of well respected long boarding legends such as Jared Mell, Jack Norton, Byron Chadwick, Matt Chojnacki and Harrison Roach, and being apart of the party watching Sierra make history, in front of family, friends and hundred of spectators, was simply electrifying. It was a moment which had the entire beach smiling ear to ear, with voices hoarse in happiness.

But still, despite everyones elation about Sierra’s graceful performance on the waves, the scores being with held for the last five minutes of the final did have us all a bit nervous. Had she done enough? Was Harrison’s juicy hang ten enough to dethrone the our queen of the slide?

Well you now know, the nervous jitters were void and any doubts quashed. Upon the stunning backdrop of the Noosa points at sunset Sierra was crowned the very first female champion of the Noosa Festival of Surfing, Old Mal, and boy oh boy did the crowd just love to see it.

Still riding on a high, and dizzy from the bubbles falling from the surf gods above, the afternoon gave us even more to celebrate – as Matt Cuddihy was rung in as the winner of the Logger division.

This is an achievement Matt has been working towards since the divisions inception less than a decade ago. Having won several other divisions over the years the Logger is yet another grand feather in Matts wide brimmed hat. For anyone sitting on the beach, Matts performance in the Logger final left no doubt as to who had won. With no need to wait for the official presentations Cuddles was showered in beer and bubbles right there on the waters edge.

Two from two, and what an absolutely unreal celebration it was.

Our intention with this trip was absolutely simple. Let's get the Deus family back together and have as much fun as humanly possible, and damn – the good times, did they roll, and damn – the trophies, did we win.

An absolutely stellar week could not have been culminated in a more joyous and heartwarming way. To see two of our favourite people surf their way to victories upon the glorious sunshine coast. Goose Bumps. Elation. Euphoria.

Getting involved with the festival as sponsors for the Old Mal division was a no brainer. It is, and has been since its inception regarded as the most prestigious division on the festivals roster. Trends come and go, but the skill, technique and grace required to slide those old archaic foam sculptures is a never changing discipline.

To Sierra and Matt, congratulations. We could honestly not be more proud.

Photos by Kenyon Batterson & Beatriz Ryder.

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!