Vote for Rasta!

Our good friend Mick Waters has done a collaboration with Dave Rastovich for a short they entered to the new Taylor Steele Innersection video. It is up now. If you are a fan of Dave's or Mick go to the site and vote for them. I love the short becuase it is the only one that I saw that has bodysurfing and classic fluid soul surfing. A huge and needed contrast to all the airs. 

Watch it, enjoy and if you dig it vote for them!

http://innersection.tv/video/394

Manufacturing Stoke Thursday in San Clemente

For those of you in San Clemente there will be a showing of Manufacturing Stoke thursday night at the OC Tavern. We will be there. 

Details:

August 11th, 2011 San Clemente @ the OC Tavern

2369 S. El Camino Real

San Clemente, CA 92672

(949) 542-8877

www.octavern.com

7PM DOORS

8PM SCREENING

21 AND UP...SORRY GROMS

Get tickets online HERE the venue is small and they have been selling out for every show.

Manufacturing Stoke Tonight in Costa Mesa

For those of you in Costa Mesa there will be a showing of Manufacturing Stoke tonight. It is such a good movie and not just because Kipp and I are in it ;) Pierce and Petra Kavanagh did an amazing job with this film. All self funded, all pure indie fly by the seat of your pants. So proud of them!!! See you all there.

Costa Mesa @ The Boathouse Collective

1640 Pomona Avenue

Costa Mesa, CA 92627

(949) 646-3176

www.boathousecollective.com

THURSDAY AUG. 4, 2011

7PM BAND/SEABIRDS FOOD TRUCK

8PM MANUFACTURING STOKE SCREENING

ADULTS $10...GROMS $5

Get tickets online HERE the venue is small and they have been selling out for every show.

What I'm watching - Grey Whale Sessions

I watched Grey Whale Session yesterday. It is a film by Tyler Manson. I like him as a director and I enjoyed the film. It's basically got some of my all time favorites in it with Tyler Warren, Keith Malloy, Chris Christiansen and G-Love who all are very soulful in my opinion.  It's short at only a 30 mins long but had some good energy to it. I could actually feel that feeling of relaxation of when you go on a trip. It was sort of cool. I kind of felt like I was on a road trip. The only thing I wasn't all that stoked on was the constant product placement for the films sponsor. Watch it and you will see what I mean. All and all though I'd recommend it. Enjoy

The Orate Bro's Present Sliding My Days Away

I surf with these guys and they kill it. They have been a good addition to the lineup since moving here. They are making a little film due out Fall this year. Here's the trailer. Enjoy.

What I'm Watching - Riding Waves by Cyrus Sutton

Seven years ago I watched this film when it first came out. It was really good and came from an unknown young filmmaker named Cyrus Sutton. A guy who I 'd never heard of. Watched it and was blown away. First discovered the magic of John Peck and Dane Reynolds in this film. We all know who Cyrus is today. It's fun to watch his early work. Check it out, it's only $7 this week at www.thesurfnetwork.com. 

What I'm watching: Stoked and Broke

Ok, just finished up my second viewing and have to say that I am actually stoked! First off I really want to go surf. Seeing all that local footage made be want a really good northwest swell.  I also learned a lot from the film in terms of some practical knowledge as well as a bit about myself.

I'm actually in a better mood and there are moments when I laughed out loud. (The part about how to dress to go on a hobo staycation was classic.) In full disclosure I have been a part of helping get the word out online so I am not really impartial. I am biased to a degree. But with that said it was actually better than I was expecting it to be. Since I had never seen it I thought it was going to be a basic documentary about their trip but I was really surprised by the social commentary of it all. It really left me thinking about the lives of the people in the film and left me with questions about my own beliefs and priorities. Good job Cyrus.

Here are some stills...

Part of the fun in this film is how they do the trip. The rigs they built are pretty impressive and there is some practical knowledge on how to pull off a trip like this.

One lesson taught, look for families from Colorado in campgrounds. They are nice and will hook you up with food.

 Lot's of classic San Diego surfing. Made me so hungry for surfing.

Cyrus, his bluetooth head gear and his tips on getting dressed for the trip if you look indigenous. This part made me laugh out-loud.

A favorite scene was Cyrus and Ryan at Blacks. Cyrus takes out an old beat up single fin and kills it.

  Two parts in the film of pure raw honesty where Kneeboarder Steve above and Richard Kenvin below. They tell a bit about their lives and it is very interesting. Makes you think about your life and what you think is important.

Richard rips.

Cyrus and his handplane footage was cool. This movie was like when Sprout and Glass Love came out with segments on Fish boards and you finally got to see some footage of something that was more of an underground thing.  

Glen Horn and his wife are pretty amazing. They are inspiring. Saving up enough money to head off into Baja to spend their time surfing, camping and living life as they wish.

What I'm watching: A Fly In the Champagne

As I get older I have to admit that the contest scene doesn't excite me much at all. I'll watch the Eddie but that really isn't the same thing.  I am more turned on by some random backyard board builder or random freesurfer then I am about the guys competing for the world title. At this point in my life it is as if that world doesn't even exist. I did however grow up as a kid watching Kelly evolve into what he is today and was always aware of the rivalry between him and Andy. Me coming from Kelly's generation I must say I did root for him.

In all that competition between the two I was always sort of wondering what it would be like for them to come together as friends. They seemed so caught up in their fight against each other that it seemed impossible.

When this movie first came out I thought I had much better things to watch so I never gave it a second look. But after Andy's passing and Kelly winning his 10th World Title I couldn't help but give it a look. Especially after I read the description...

After a decade of bitter rival status, Kelly Slater and Andy Irons come together and surf off their differences. Nobody was expecting this trip to happen. To get two seemingly mortal enemies to agree to sequester themselves on a tiny island with a half-dozen cameramen, a Hollywood interviewer capable of conjuring up tears during any interview, and an in-the-know magazine staff waiting with bated breath seemed like a ridiculous notion. Despite hectic schedules, preconceived notions, and the most heated rivalry in modern surf history, somehow it all came together. The end result was a ten-day purge of feelings, emotional baggage, dispelling rumors, talking it out, and a burying of the hatchet once and for all. Oh, we nearly forgot to mention that the waves were insane!

After reading this I couldn't help but get it. It seemed very timely indeed. I haven't watched it yet. I'm downloading it now. 

Latest Short by Nathan Oldfield

Our friend Nathan Oldfield shared this clip with us of Dane Peterson doing his thing. I like Nathan's work because it is always inspiring and very dreamy. You get lost in it the way he uses focal points, edits and music. It's like you could check in and live there for a while and be very happy.  Watching Dane on a point break makes me wish I lived in Byron Bay. I could use some nice long right hand points right about now. The kind that you can see bend down the beach as you go down the line. Enjoy.

Double Aussie Feature - Searching for Michael Peterson and Bustin' Down The Door

Two films worth watching. Searching for MP is sort of haunting. A good story as well as classic 70's surfing. Bustin' Down the Door is another great bit of history. If you haven't seen them yet I recommend them. Bustin' Down the Door is on NetFlix as well.

What I'm Watching - Little Black Wheels - Review

I've been taking my time with Little Black Wheels. I think that is what makes surf films so special. It isn't like the latest NetFlix movie you consumed in two hours and spit out never to watch again.  In an age of consumable media, the GOOD surf film is a rare exception to the rule. Instead of watching them once and moving on with your life, you take them in like a fine wine, sipping on them and savoring every flavor and feeling you get from it.

The good surf film is and always has been the way we get to re-experience as surfers what we do, how we look at the world and how we feel about what we are choosing to do with our lives. It's a way to reflect on the beauty and the stoke of what makes us get up in the morning.

Little Black Wheels to me is one of those surf films that is special. It gets better and better with time. It is one of those films that makes you feel great about choosing to spend your life in and around the water. It makes you connect with the special souls that bare themselves in the film and makes you get lost for a few moments of your day to feel completely stoked, inspired and ready to go find a right hander to do some turns on. 

The down and dirty of the film is that it is shot with style and a pure artistic eye. The surfing is great. Tons of soul and lots of barrels. Mick is like a painter with his images. Showing the value of detail in the world and the beauty of perspective. He combines it all with his knack to letting his cast tell their stores, surf their hearts out  and bare their souls for us to be inspired by what  they do is this world. 

The music in the film is down right great. I wish I had a sound track of this film.  I can't stop singing Beau Young's Horse Song. (You have to see it to get it.) Where can I get that CD?!

All and all its a must see. With soul surfing from Johnny Abbeg, Beau Young, Rasta, Kristian Spencer (Beard!), Jimmy McMillan  and a bunch of guys I've never even heard of but made me watch every turn and barrel with an open mouth and sparkle in my eye. It's also narrated in part by Mick's daughter Ruby who steels the show.

You can get it direct from Mick here 

I watched it so much I started taking stills for fun. Here's a few... 

There is always someone new in a film who sneaks up on me, shakes me up and makes me want to know more about them. In this film Kristian Spencer a.k.a. Beard was one of those guys who caught my attention. Beard is a barrel machine and a bad ass in my book. 

Johnny Abbeg and Sea Surfboards where two elements that make this film inspiring to me. Sea Surfboards is a resin tint love'n mans dream and Johnny is flawless in his soul surfing. Two segments that you won't want to miss.

Beau Young is and will always be a huge draw for me in Mick's films. His segment is great and learning about his profession as a children's song writer and singer was cool. The guy is talented for sure. How do I get that horse song?!

Dave Macaulay and his family was inspiring in that the whole lot of them surf. Dave was in the top 3 in the world in 1993 and he still rips. 

Jimmy McMillan was an inspiration. I won't spoil it but it's pretty remarkable he can even do this turn. 

Rasta is always one of my favorites. Seriously, what can you say, the guys just kills it with pure style on anything.

The movie is filled with details and perspectives that make the hard core photographer wish they were there to pull the trigger. It's filled with beauty from start to finish.

Ruby steals the show. 

5 months on the road with your pregnant wife, dog and little girl. Pretty amazing adventure.

What I'm Watching - Musica Surfica

I got the film Musica Surfica the other day and I've already watched it 3 times. I have to admit that this film inspires me. It is shot and edited really well and the surfing and music is amazing. 

The main star of the film is Derek Hynd, who I now think is one of my top 5 favorite surfers of all time. I never knew that much about Derek. After seeing this film I realize how brilliant he is. He is so creative in his surfing he just inspires you to want to go surf. I say that any movie that can do that to me is a keeper.  There are times when we all get into a surf funk.  Having a film that gets the saltwater moving in your veins again is priceless. There is nothing more valuable to our surf souls then getting the stoke back. 

The film is an interesting mix between classical music and finless surfing. I have to admit that I never really saw myself wanting to go finless. I'm intrigued by it all and like to watch it, but I never got the bug to take off my fins and have a go at it. This movie changed that. I found myself wondering if I could ditch the fins on my fish could I pull some 360's like Derek?

When you think of finless you definitely think of Alaia's. They are featured to a degree in this film and have an influence, but it is the modern finless boards that really stole the show for me. Derek, on his experimental boards, is doing things I have never seen on the Alaia's or other finned boards for that matter. It really is amazing to watch. 

All and all it is a great film. It was shot well, has a great sound track and was most definitely inspiring. I got my copy as a download at the thesurfnetwork.com. Enjoy.

Musica Surfica

I received an email with a link to the trailer of this film. It was inspiring and the concept is very different then anything else I've ever seen. I'm a fan of Derrick Hynd as well with his finless experiments.  I haven't seen it yet but if someone has please comment. Enjoy.

Little Black Wheels - Trailer

Here is the trailer for the surf film Little Black Wheels that is currently being worked on by Mick over at Little House Productions. I really liked his film Believe but I have to admit this one looks even better. He said he has been filming a bunch the last two weeks as the surf has been really good in AU. 

Here is some YouTube footage I found of Johnny Abegg, an Austrailian that is super smooth. In this segment he is riding for Sea Surfboards. Take a look at Sea's link. Oh my. Love the resin tents. This segment will be in the film. 

Here is some footage of Mick surfing. He is riding a widow maker made by Kidman. Mick is a humble guy. If you were to ask him he'd say he doesn't rip.  I wish I didn't rip like that. I guess when you hang with all the guys he films you feel a bit humbeled. 

Enjoy.

What I Watched - The Present Premier

So Anne, Kirk and I went to see the premier of The Present.  I don't have any of my own pictures because frankly I got way too excited about the whole thing and left my camera at home. It happens to the best of us. If you want to see some cool shots check out the Sea Layer blog as Maggie is an amazing photographer. 

The event itself was really good. The vibe was amazing and some of my favorite parts were actually not in the movie at all.  I did love the film don't get me wrong, but when you get to sit back in your own home town theater and listen to the Mattson 2 with Ray Barbee live, (How amazing are these guys? Seriously. The drummer blew me away with his closed eye playing and Ray Barbee is just an amazing energy. Then there is how the Mattson 2 play off each other with a telepathic ability. I can't get enough. These guys are gifted.) and sit through it with some of your favorite surfers (Dan Malloy, Chris Del Moro, Rob. Devon Howard etc. etc. ) you start to get to realize that we live in a magical place.  

As for the film,  I can't wait to actually get my hands on a DVD. I realize that when I see films for the first time in a setting like that it is really hard to get the full vibe of it. The experience is so great on a lot of levels that you have a hard time focusing solely on the film, which deserves it's own undivided attention. It has to do with the excitement of the event and the energy around you that makes you walk out with everything a blur.  At least it did for me.  

The thing that I really like about surf films are that the good ones are more like albums then they are like pop culture movies. They get better with  time and the really good ones let you explore new depths as you watch them over and over again. I have films I have watched 20 times. Sprout was like that. When my daughter was born I didn't surf much and the film became a great way to reconnect with surfing.

The film had it's standout moments as well, even with the blur of the evening. I really liked the Tudor segment as it was entertaining and I liked hearing him speak of the guys that influenced him. The other stand out segment was the Rasta, Malloy, Del Moro segment at Sunset and Waimea on the Alaia boards.  It had the same vibe as the Lopez board segments in Sprout, which was a great segment.

The message of the movie was good and Campbell's narration is always a welcome. All and all a great time. Thank you, Thomas!

What I'm Watching - One California Day

I had seen for years on MTV's Cribs all the pop stars who had movie theaters in their mansions. The first thought that always came to mind was how cool it would be to watch surf films in them.  I never thought I'd have the opportunity to have my own personal movie theater until last week when my neighbor went on a trip and his wife was cool enough to loan me their digital video projector. 

After looking around my place I realized that if I pulled one of my paintings down I had a wall that was 12' x 12' and perfect for watching surf films. So far this week I have watched at least 6.

After going through my collection I started to branch out to my friends.  Erik loaned me One California Day which I hadn't seen in a few years.

The first time I saw One California Day it was at the La Palama on opening night.  It was quite the experience.  The film was good the first time but like leftover Leucaida Pizza, it got better with age. 

That is the one thing that is special about surf films. Ninety-nine percent of the movies I watch in pop culture I can watch once and get bord with them after that.  A good surf film is nothing like that.  You can watch them over and over and they become like an old friend who you don't see for a while but think about.  Once back together, you hit it off like you were never apart.

When given the oppertunity to watch the film again I was immediately transported to the opening night and the scene that inspired me the most.  Although they have a ton of great sequences, like Tudor at Big Rock, Joe and Tom Curren in Santa Barbera, Greg Noll in his work shop, and the Malloys in Baja, it was the Alex Knost and Tyler Warren sequences that by far stood out to me in the film.  I remember being blown away by Alex and Tyler and walking out of the theater completely inspired. It was the same this time around as well.

If you haven't seen this film yet it is one that you need to own in your collection.  The DVD is a great set as you get the extra footage of the Greg Noll segment and a lot more which is really cool. If you can't wait they got it in last week at www.thesurfnetwork.com. Enjoy.

What I'm Watching - Ultimate Sessions

This morning I woke up early, heard the rain and decided that it was a good morning for a surf film. 

The one I picked out this morning was Ultimate Sessions.  I originally got the film as a present for my father in law but borrowed it back to watch one day and it has sat on my shelf ever since. (Sorry Klaus! Anytime you want it please let me know.)

The film is great since it takes all the best sections from classics like September Session, Free Ride, Cosmic Children, Fluid Drive,  Morning Of The Earth, Ocean Fever, Amazing Surf Stories and my favorite section Searching For Curren. That alone was why I wanted to watch it.  I had never seen the whole Searching For Curren film and that section when Tom Curren rides the 5 foot something board in huge surf is a cult classic.  It has been talked about for decades and really was the beginning of what is going on with the fish and micro boards of today. 

The film itself is entertaining. It has good music, surf history and documentary style interviews (Which I am a big fan of).  You get a sort of cheat sheet to surf film history and you get a lot of good surf for your money. If you don't have the budget to buy all films you do get the best of each in one package.

The film was produced by Ira Opper, a legend in his own right and the godfather of surf content brought to you on your TV.  

For those of you out there who surfed in the late 80's early 90's you will remember who Ira is from what he provided for you, prime time stoke. Now that we have Fuel TV and 24/7 action spots programming it is hard to imagine that there was a time when you had to scour the TV Guide to find the time spot that Surfer Magazine the TV show was on. In the days of old, you had to be in front of your TV to watch in real time (yes kids there was no DVR in those days) as the magic of watching surfing on your TV for free came to life. Any of you know from that era that to have surfing on network TV was huge. 

In 1986 I used to be a Solana Beach grom.  I'm sure if you surfed Pill Box or hung out at Mitch's Surf Shop you would have seen me and my friends walking around town in our full suits pulled down and our booties still on. (Yes, we were kooks but as stoked as anyone.) The parents of my best friend in Jr. High owned the Hide Away Cafe.  Both of us lived in Mira Mesa and realized quickly that if we got up at 5:30 am and caught a ride with his parents we could surf all day and be back by 3 to nap. Our summers consisted of nonstop days of free breakfast (ahhh Cinnamon Rolls!), surfing (North Reef), free lunch (Chopper Burger!) and surfing (More North Reef). It was quite possibly the best childhood a surf rat could have.

At the ripe old age of 14 my friend and I became friends with Ira.  He was a local at the restaurant and since he was the producer of the Surfer Mag TV show he was our new found idol. He let us hang around and hold up cue cards for Corky Caroll as he did his thing for the show. That was huge at 14. Those memories will always stick with me.

Now 22 years later Ira is still stoking us out. Like he did in the past he has brought us our next surfing fix, the digital surf flix.  Armed with www.thesurfnetwork.com and an expanding library of films he has given us the opportunity to search, preview and download surf films of past and present on a whim. It is the iTunes library of everything surf.  If you haven't checked out the site you should. I think it has been out for a year now and I have been getting all my videos from there. It is priced well and most of all I can download a video in the middle of the night. You gotta love technology.

What I'm Watching- Again - Glass Love

In 2004 Chris Miller was the first guy I knew to buy Glass Love direct from Andrew Kidman's website. I'm not even sure how he knew about it but when he ordered it he got an email from Andrew's dad personally thanking Chris for supporting his son's work.  I remember thinking about how rare that was that his dad took the time to thank him. It was then that I realized what made the Australian filmmakers different, it was the willingness to come from the heart and connect with their audience. 

When we sat down to watch it for the first time we all sat in silence and obsorbed what was to be burned into our minds as an all time great surf film. One that set the standard for films we will seek and buy in the future.  

Since I wasn't the one who bought the film I hadn't watched it for 5 years.  Although it was burned into my mind, the Daize scene, Neal Purchase's back hand barrels, the Curren's green board and the fish scenes. It was all in my mind as I played it over and over again.

Two days ago, after 5 years, I finally got my own copy from www.thesurfnetwork.com.  As I waited for it to download I was almost nervous at whether or not it would be as good as when I remembered it. Would it live up to my memories? Would it let me down? 

As I hit play and sat back to watch I was again inspired like it was the first time I watched it. The images and the energy of the film flowed through me and I was again transported to a place of inspiration and enjoyment.

Believe it of not there are actually people today who I run into that have not seen this film. If you are one of them, buy it today and watch it. It is a part of surf film history that you need to be a part of.

What I'm Watching - Seaworthy

                          

I got this new surf film yesterday called Seaworthy. It is a great film. It has everything I love. Amazing cinematography, great music and surfing.  

My favorite segment in the film is where the narrator talks about the loss of his daughter.  In the wake of the loss he talks about how surfing helped him cope. In his grieving process he shapes a quad fish that he then shoots the cast of the film riding. It is a great segment. The depth of the emotion, combined with the entertainment of watching each surfer ride this board in their own unique style, makes time stand still as you watch. 

Another great segment is the Belinda Baggs segment. If you've seen Glass Love then you remember the segment of Daize. This segment of Belinda reminds me of that. It is sort of a love letter to the beauty of women's longboarding. 

The film is by an Australian by the name of Nathan Oldfield. After watching Believe I decided to write the creator and he turned me on to Nathan's work.  For me this crew of Australian artists, filmmakers and surfers have a special quality that I find refreshing, powerful and soulful. They have a perspective on surfing and life that feels right to me.  It is about the love for the ocean and the love for the beauty of nature.

From start to finish this film is beautiful with a lot of great surfing. I got my copy for $15 at www.thesurfnetwork.com. I highly recommend it. It is the second film by Nathan. His first was Lines From A Poem. I haven't seen it yet but after this it is the next on my list.

What I'm Watching - Believe

                                 

I'm a huge surf film buff and constantly looking for good films.  With the surf flat for a few more days you need some inspiration. There is only so much of this blog you can read before you need to see some video. Here is one of my new favorites that is keeping me going.  The title is Believe and it is filmed and edited in Australia.  Take a look at the trailer. The film is inspiring, you just feel good after watching it.  If you liked Glass Love you'll like this. If you've never seen Glass Love look that up as well.

For those of you who want it, I got mine as a download for $10 at www.thesurfnetwork.com