Special Interest Page

JAWS, PE'AHI, MAUI - MONSTER SURF

Filmed By: ?

Year of Production: ?

Duration: about 30 minutes

Rating (out of 10): 4

Available Through: EBay

This is a home-made flick filmed from the cliffs in front of Jaws. No narrative. El-Cheapo backing track. Noise from people standing near the camera. Waves were huge. Rides were great.

UNSALTED

Filmed By: Vince Deur

Year of Production: 2007

Duration: 57 minutes

Rating (out of 10): 6½

Available Through: EBay

Bit of an odd movie. Surfing the Great Lakes in the USA. Synopsis is: one part obsession, one part addiction, and an unending quest for adventure. Forty knot winds, 10-foot waves, frigid temperatures to a storm ravenged freshwater sea.

BONDI TSUNAMI

Filmed By: ???

Year of Production: 2004

Duration: 90 minutes

Rating (out of 10): 4

Available Through: Various On-Line Auction Sites

This film is not easy to describe. It is written up as thus ... "Bondi Tsunami is the first Japanese Road Movie in Australia. It follows the psychedelic adventures of four punked up Manga inspired Japanese characters, Shark, Yuto, Kiniko and Gunja Man as they travel up the east coast of Australia in a 1961 EK Holden". This was actually filmed using a MiniCam Camera. It is something like a Japanese view of Surfing Australia. Unfortunately there isn't that much surfing, instead the film seems to focus more on the characters, with some very bizarre photography. There are some funny bits in it, but the (lack of) surfing is disappointing.

BIG WEDNESDAY

Year of Production: Originally came out in 1978. On DVD around 2003

Rating (out of 10): 7

Running Time: 115 minutes

Available through: EBay.

Directed by surfer, John Milius, this was a complete departure from the Beach Blanket Bingo movies of the time. Pretty lame story-line. But some great surf shots. Starring William Katt and Jan-Michael Vincent, both of whom are accomplished surfers in their own right. Also starring Gary Busey who had to learn to surf for the role. Follows the life of these 3 buds from 1962 to 1974 when the coast finally gets hit by the ever elusive 20-foot swell.

IN SEARCH OF GRACE

Year of Production: 2004

Rating (out of 10): 7½

Running Time: 42 minutes

Available through: EBay.

This was co-named "Endless Summer, African Style. Good little short, sharp doco-type flick about 5 guys from Cape Town who share their favourite local surf spots as well astake an amazing surf trip up the West Coast where the desert seems endless, the locals are seals, the water is like ice and the waves are unbelieveable.

SOLID

The Two Days that Teahupoo Blew Minds

Year of Production: 2004

Rating (out of 10): 9

Available through: EBay. Your local surf shop.

May 1st & 2nd 2005, the Pacific Ocean lets loose with some fantastic waves just prior to the Billabong Tahiti Pro. See the best in the world challenge the best in the ocean.

SUMMER CITY

Year of Production: Mid-70's. DVD produced late 90's

Rating (out of 10): 8

Running Time: 83 minutes

Available through: EBay.

Originally made in mid-70's. See a VERY young Mel Gibson, Steve Bisley, John Jarrat in their first major film roles, and even the late Ward "Pally" Austin. Story-line involves four friends who hit the road in search of chicks, surf and as much fun as they can pack in. Filmed around the Catherine Hill Bay area. Great times being had until enter the psychotic ex-vietnam vet who doesn't take too kindly to these surf bums taking liberties with his daughter.

RIDING GIANTS

Year of Production: 2004

Rating (out of 10): 9

Running Time: 97 minutes

Available through: EBay and your local surf shop.

This movie features that unbelieveable ride that Laird Hamilton took at Teahupoo which many said changed the boundaries of surfing forever. Features Greg Noll, Jeff Clark and of course Laird Hamilton who many now claim is the greatest big wave rider ever. Some great surfing action and interviews with the men who charge mountains.

BILLABONG ODYSSEY

Year of Production: 2004

Rating (out of 10): 9

Running Time: 87 minutes

Available through: Your local surf shop, Surf Magazine

Layne Beachley said it all about this movie when she said, "it's a feeling only a surfer knows". And some of these surfers know the feeling BIG time - like 60+ foot walls of water 100 miles out to sea. The basic premise of the movie is a three-year quest to find and ride the biggest waves on the planet. It's a bottler, mate!!

STEP INTO LIQUID

This DVD has been produced, edited & directed by Dana Brown (son of legendary Bruce Brown). It's a great little movie which spans a lot of eras and has a lot of characters (in typical Brown fashion). One interesting little snippet in this movie is the story of a guy who has surfed EVERY DAY without fail for something like 25 years???? I think the whole movie can be summed up by one of it's female surf stars who said that "the best surfer in the water is the one having the most fun". Right one!!!

Available through: Your local surf shop, EBay Auction Sites or from www.ulu32.com.au

If you are a devotee of Morning Of The Earth, you will probably know of the producer of this DVD. His name is Steve Cooney. He is someone I met back in the mid-80's. But back in 1971, at the age of 15, he was, as far as can be established, the first surfer to ride a wave at Uluwatu in Bali. He has been going back to the region ever since. This DVD is a culmination of all those years. There is a combination of old footage, including the aforementioned "first wave", plus up-to-date footage from a number of surf videographers. No longboarding, unfortunately. Steve does the limited narration on the DVD himself, but it's the pictures that tell the story.

That's Surfing unlocks the Australian passion for the sport of surfing. Hear Midget Farrelly and Nat Young view their opinions on each other, and find out why they haven't, even to this day, reconcilled their differences.

See the revolution that surfing sparked during the 1960's with the Beach Parties, The Stomp, Little Pattie and the wars between the Surfies and the Rockers.

Uncover the history, the power and the pleasures, because afterall, "That's Surfing"

"Condition Black" is an official Civil Defence Alert that declares the ocean off limits to everyone. Everyone, even the world's best big wave surfers, are legally bound to remain ashore.

Except for a select number of Big Wave Maniacs, Maui's Jaws and Oahu's North Shore proved too good to let pass.

And so it was... See footage of the BIGGEST SURF EVER RIDDEN. Surfers are towed into 30 - 50 foot Walls of Death.

Outside Log Cabins on Oahu's North Shore was surfed for the first time EVER and was claimed as NOW the biggest rideable wave.

This is a short movie which follows the lives of three of the best surf photographers of all time. Bud Browne, Greg Noll and John Severson

It tells their story from their perspective. Shows some of the equipment they used and some of the greatest shots they ever took.

It is interesting to note that Bruce Brown didn't get in there. Nor was there any mention of George Greenough at all through this entire vid.

See the wave that killed Mark Foo!! Not a very good way to advertise a video flick, but that’s the way it goes when surfers challenge mother nature. Although not very long at 47 minutes, this video is packed with some unbelievable big wave action. See the most mind-blowing surf to pound Mavericks in Southern California. Listen to the person who first rode it. A fairly unique feature of this video is the live action sound from both on shore and out in the water. Hear the people in the camera boats as each surfer takes the drop. See each ride and all the wipeouts. Also watch the Hawaiian action from the Winter of 94/95 as well as some radical surfing in the land of Oz.

Available Through: Dick Hoole at Byron Bay or via your favourite surfing mag.

As the name implies, this is a History of Australian Surfing, and is narrated by one of the best known Australian surfers, Nat Young.

It takes a look at the past, present and future of the sport of surfing as seen through the eyes of it's innovators and imitators.

This is a video version of a book that was written by Nat Young on the same subject, and is well worth a look in.

Available Through: Dick Hoole at Byron Bay or via your favourite surfing mag.

Great surfing married to the thoughts of some of the best in the business come together in this flick which typifies the success of the Australian surfer.

It captures true legends at home in their environment. Fast moving surfing action, environmental issues and the growing threat of the American dominance of the surfing scene are all looked at from the people who are / were there.

Available Through: Dick Hoole at Byron Bay or via your favourite surfing mag.

Set up as something of an environmental awareness movie, this futuristic story is supposed to bring out the "let's save the planet" in us all.

Surf with dolphins in Western Australia. Discover perfect uncrowded waves in Baja, Indonesia, South Australia, Northern California and Hawaii's Outer Islands.

Available Through: Dick Hoole at Byron Bay or via your favourite surfing mag.

This movie incorporates forty years of the best surfing footage and splices it together with an array of interviews with surfing's most colourful characters.

See some of the latest footage of (The Late) Micky Dora surfing alongside the likes of Martin Potter, Tom Carroll and Tom Curren.

There's a bit of footage of the 1989 Triple Crown for you contest buffs out there as well.

Sometimes bogs down a little with some of the interviews, but the surfing makes up for it.

Music is by some of the greats including Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley and Neil Young.

This is another one of those video versions of Surfer Magazine, and in this one you get to travel with Tom Curren to the isolated waves of Costa Rica. Visit with Lance Carson, one of the true legends of Malibu, plus a couple of other bits 'n pieces.

This is a mini-flick which goes into the history of one of the greatest and well-known point breaks in the world - Malibu.

From the personalities to the waves themselves, everything and everyone gets the once over.

With Corky Carroll doing the narration, you can tell it's not going to be too serious.

I guess it had to happen. The Endless Summer now has a distant cousin - THE ENDLESS WINTER. Interesting piece of video this one. No pristine little beach breaks with bikini-clad maidens romping around the place. This one features some full-on cold water surfing. See Big Mavericks - including some of Jeff Clark's (he's the first maniac to ride that place) personal footage.

Sub-titled Baja To Canada In 4 Years. There is an abundance of Hot Young Talent, Luke Warm Old Talent and Burnt Out No Talent. Guess there's something for everyone here.

Now whether that's a bit too transendental or "hippified" for you is up to you I guess, but this is a pretty good flick.

The distributors lay the description on a bit thick, but don't let that deter you from having a watch or even buying a copy.

The story goes like this ... "Follow four world-class surfers as they live the lifestyle most only dream about - for three months these adventurers drive their customised Chevy Suburban from the dusty Baja Peninsula to the tropical mainland's Puerto Escondido. Between the exhilaration of riding pristine waves, these men search for the next perfect beach discovering Mexico's warmth and beauty along the way. Siestas and Olas, Spanish for naps and waves beautifully captures the true travel experience through its complimentary use of rich visual imagery, traditional Mexican music, and insight into local cultures. Visit traditional town squares filled with amiable old gentlemen, savor hand pressed tortillas grilled under the shade of palm lined restaurants, taste freshly cooked lobsters cooked over a wood buring adobe stove, take a jungle boat ride where crocodiles are within arm's reach, and watch spectacular surfing on incredible waves.

Love 'em or Loathe 'em, the Jet Ski and Toe-In Surfing is part & parcel of the surfing scene. Whether it is necessary to toe into 8 foot Coolangatta swells or just a way of showing off, remains for the indvidual to decide, but this film isn't about wimpy little 8 foot Coolangatta or even 20 foot Waimea. It is about riding 40+ foot ocean swells. This is not a documentary, but rather a film about what goes into turning a mere surfer into an extreme surfer. There are a number of "real" surfers in this movie, including Shaun Tomson, Mike Stewart, Matt George, plus a host of other top big wave riders. The storyline isn't too flash, but the surfing and the overall content will keep genuine surfers interested for the 94 minutes.

If you have stereo speakers on your VCR, then turn it up loud. In the theatre that I saw it in originally, you could "feel" the waves breaking.

See the latest 2005 action from a couple of huge days at Teahupo'o - Sept 11 & Oct 2.

Also see what has been claimed to be the biggest wave ever surfed at Teahupo'o

Although this flick has some unbelieveable shots, there are only so many shots you view of this wave, because, let's face it, it can only really be filmed from one angle, before you start looking through your collection for another flick to put on after this one finishes.