Deadsun shaping "goes like hell"

On June 15, deadsun, a local shaping brand and emerging artist collective, is holding an exhibition and surf film premiere in Sunderland Bay.

Deadsun is the brainchild of 20-year-old shaper Xavier Ambrosius, who began shaping in his backyard in Melbourne during Covid.

Initially Xavier began shaping in a $100 greenhouse he bought on eBay and "plonked in the backyard".

"That was messed up," Xavier said. "I had about six greenhouses blow away in the wind. I'd come back from a weekend away and my greenhouse is behind the garage in pieces – the whole top ripped off."

But since moving to Phillip Island last year Xavier has established a makeshift shaping bay which he shares with his girlfriend, Pearl Cooper, who makes clothes sold under the deadsun brand.

Along with surfboards and clothing, the exhibition will also include paintings, stonework, sculptures and jewellery made by other Phillip Island artists and friends.

"I wanted deadsun to be something that all my homies can chip in to, a name they can hopefully benefit from one day," Xavier said.

When talking about the work of fellow artists, the passion and pride in Xavier's voice is obvious.

"It'll be a real sick thing for the island to have all the artists in one place. It'll be cool because not many people really know about the scene down here."

Xavier credits "eighty-year-old absolute lord" and artistic mentor, Laurie Miller, with teaching the crew various skills and techniques.

"He calls us all his students. He taught everyone how to do everything."

Surf Film

Xavier recently returned from a surfing trip up the east coast of Australia, where he and his crew spent time filming a movie due to premiere at the exhibition.

The film by Bryden Banks captures the process of shaping and subsequently surfing various boards around the island and on the east coast, set to a uniquely Melbourne punk soundtrack.

Marlow Perrott accompanied Xavier on the trip, telling the Advertiser "dude, it was sick. Sun was rising and it was just blue tubes."

In the weeks leading up to the trip, Xavier helped Marlow to shape his own board.

"Xav's put a lot of time into learning what he does, and he can definitely shape a board. I don't know many people our age who can shape a board start to finish. And make it go so well."

Xavier says he prefers shaping single fins and twin fins; "I prefer that style of surfing and there's not many hand-shapers doing that around here."

Xavier and Marlow agree every board has its own individual personality, with a host of different friends collaborating on bespoke artwork for the boards.

"You don't really see many boards with graphics on them anymore. It's all just your straight up pop-out stuff from Thailand and that looks pretty lame I reckon.

"Each board I do is better than the last. The boards I make, they may not look perfect but they'll go like hell."

The exhibition and film premiere will be held across the afternoon and evening on June 15 at 18 Foam Street, Sunderland Bay. Xavier said his Mum will be cooking dahl.