Return to Ceylon
Sri Lanka, a magical land that means a lot to us here at From Earth - a place that carved the direction of our personal lives and etched lifetime memories that are fondly remembered. A few weeks ago we headed back, this time with a healthy stock of longboards in tow and a group of stoked friends and team riders.
We were warmly welcomed by our dear friends at Ceylon Sliders and Sunshine Stories, familiar faces that made us feel right at home as soon as we arrived. With only five days at our disposal, we made sure to make the most of every day. Sunshine Stories made this easy for us, with nourishing Sri Lankan food to fuel us for the day (rice and curry will always be a favourite), tuk-tuks readily available to zoom us to the surf, and the beautiful and calming space of the surf camp to relax in between our adventures.
The week would not have been the same without the local legend Kavi - a surf instructor at Sunshine Stories who guided us to the best surf spots all week, always with a smile and good energy. We loved hanging out with Kavi and watching him longboard with style, so much so that he is now a team rider. We really couldn’t be happier to have him join our family.
Speaking of team riders, we also welcomed Tara to the club, a warm soul that we connected with right off the bat. Her friendly energy and quirky humour clicked instantly with us, and not to mention her elegant style in the water is a pleasure to watch. Originally from Thailand, Tara resides mostly in Sri Lanka, and we look forward to surfing and hanging out with her plenty more in the future.
When it comes to waves, we can’t say we scored perfect conditions. With the swell and winds not playing ball, we opted for plenty of novelty surfs along the Southern coastline. This didn’t dampen our spirits though, as surfing with friends in a place we love was more than enough to fill our cup with joy. Early mornings were spent in tuk-tuks or crossing railways in golden light to get to the surf, and early evenings were spent around the communal dining table at Sunshine Stories, laughing and trading stories over yummy meals. In-between we would lounge by the pool, floating on rubber rings under the tropical sun, or sipping on a brew at Ceylon Sliders. It was five days of simple routine, a very welcome rest that we didn’t realize how much we needed.
On our last night, we threw a casual launch evening at Ceylon Sliders, showcasing our surf craft and hanging out to chat boards and design. Our talented friend Chloe painted our stamp on the wall next to a rack of earthy-coloured longboards. Thanks to all those who joined, and a shout-out to the talented local photographers/filmmakers Luenzo and Anuka, who took some amazing content during our stay. The trip came to a close with one final meal, reflecting on a truly magical and heart-warming time in a land that we love. Ceylon Sliders are now officially the distributors of From Earth in Sri Lanka, so if you are there and want to check out some fresh boards, head over to their Ahangama store to see the range and try out a few demos.
Until next time, Ceylon - we’ll be back soon.
