WAVEFEST

Features

• Wild & Scenic

  Save the Waves Film Festival Fundraiser in Berkeley on Thursday, October 23, 2008Join Save The Waves Coalition for a membership drive and fundraiser, when we host the Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival On Tour at Clif Bar Headquarters on October 23rd at 5:00 PM. Clif Bar HQ is located at 1610 Fifth St., Berkeley, CA, 94710.The festival features award-winning environmental activism short films, portraying initiatives for coastal protection and ecological solutions woven into scenic footage of our world's natural resources.As the festival connects grassroots organizations with local communities to inspire activism, the evening offers a unique opportunity to meet film director Seth Warren of Oil Water Project, as well as Save The Waves Coalition's founder William Henry and emcee'd by your's truly.The night's entertainment also includes live music from The Dung Beetles, along with big raffle prizes such as surfboards, outdoor gear, restaurant gift certificates, surf lessons and Tahoe ski passes.Proceeds benefit Save The Waves Coalition's coastal protection programs.National Sponsors of the Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival On Tour include:Patagonia, Tom's of Maine, Clif Bar, Earth Cinema Circle, Whole Foods, and BrighterPlanet.Product Donations provided by: Full Moon Surfboards, Las Olas Surfboards, Keen, Sports Basement, Adventure Out, Carve Designs, Volcom, Kavu, Lark Creek Steakhouse, SurfAddict, Icer Air, Microsoft, Mark Grissom Photography.Non-Profit Partners include: International Rivers, Catalog Choice, GreenSurf and Surfrider Foundation.Concessions provided by: New Belgium Brewery, Trouble Coffee, Clif Family Winery, Whole Foods, and Gioia Pizzeria.

• Bustin’ Down The Door

   

  It’s always a treat to see a surf film get a proper theatrical release.  There are clearly many stories in our sport’s history that deserve solid documentary treatment, and I was thrilled to see that one such film was coming to town.

  In Bustin’ Down The Door, we delve into the lore of the Aussie and South African invasion of Oahu in ‘75.  Brothers Shaun and Michael Tomson, Ian Cairns, Rabbit and MR descended upon the North Shore like rabid puppies, hitting every surf break they could, and blazing trails on waves that they found to their liking with intense and brilliant style.  They completely ruled it that winter, and pushed each other’s skills as far as they could.  And the magazines began to take note, highlighting the exploits of the brash surfers – frothing at the bit to expose them even more.

  Weaving in epic footage from surf films of the time, and hilarious interviews with the subjects (Rabbit’s wicked smile and Cairns’ present day attitude are epic), you see how these haole rippers truly had it made.  Though it was a simpler time in surfing, there was not the money and the professional circuit that exists today for them to maintain their lifestyle.  Without giving too much away, after a couple years of slumming it, living it up, and incensing the locals (i.e.- Da Hui), the Hemmings/Rarick formation of a professional surfing circuit allowed these surfers and many more to reap the benefits of their skills, and permit people like Shaun Tomson to avoid going to Law School.

  The film lives up to the adage that if you want something then you gotta go for it.  But it also left me wonder of the surfing world if these guys hadn’t pushed so hard for this industry.  Would it have progressed into today’s billion-dollar surf industry, or could it have remained a subculture?  Knowing what we know now it would likely have been just a matter of time.

  I sat down with Shaun after the screening of the film at San Francisco’s Bridge Theatre on August 6, 2008.  As an aside, I will admit that one of the more thrilling moments in my life was paddling out at Rincon on a Skip Frye fish that my Dad somehow had shaped for me (the one thing I’d grab in a fire).  The surf wasn’t big, maybe 4’, and I lucked into a nice little wave with a solid wall.  I did an epic carve on this wave on this really special board, and Shaun paddles by as I’m riding and hoots at me.  Was such a great gesture from one of my heroes, I’ll never forget it.

  Anyhow, I have edited this interview down, for as eloquent and friendly as Shaun is, his soft-spoken voice and my entry level skills with a recorder made it tough to transcribe:

  Wavefest – So, right off the bat, I just want to know the details of the last time you went out surfing

  (VERY long pause, like 20 seconds.  Seriously)

  Shaun – My last trip was Jeffrey’s Bay, 2 weeks ago.  It was a great session.  Had a great wave, on a board that Spider Murphy made. 

  W – That’s great, I always love asking that question!  So, in doing this website I often talk with filmmakers, and not so often the surfers in the film’s themselves.  But in this case, you’re both.  I’d like to ask you to rewind to the 70s when you were actually in these surf films, and describe what it was like to not only watch surf films in a theater then, but what it was like being on-screen.

  S – You know, where I grew up in S. Africa, we grew up in a country that was a world away from the center of the surfing universe, which was essentially Hawaii.  Our only connection with modern surfing was when we went to see a surf movie, which was basically every 6 months.  Every single person in the town would crowd into that YMCA.  The next day we’d be down there and try to imitate everything we’ve seen, and that was really our connection and that whole notion of cultural meeting place, it’s very important what happened in those walls of the auditorium.  It was like sitting in a temple, for surfing.  It doesn’t happen that much anymore, or like it was.  It was much more of an emotional experience, drawing you into another world.

  W – What was it like when you first started seeing yourself in surf movies.

  S – Ah, I remember the first time was in Free Ride. 

  W – A pretty good first movie to see yourself in…

  (Laughs)

  S – I remember going with my girlfriend at the time in Hawaii, and there were like 3 people in the theater that time.  (more laughs)

  W – What’s going on with this film now, I know you said you wanted to show it in more collegiate type places. 

  S – We want to show this in as many places as we can, but you know, it all depends on the box office.  The DVD sales is one thing, but it’s really important for me to show this theatrically, for that specific experience.  It was so important for me as a kid [seeing in theater -ed], and we’re trying to do as much as college places as we can.  I’d like to try distributing in novel markets, like Chicago or Indianapolis.  Get to markets like that.  I think there’s an opportunity there.

  W – I agree, you’d definitely be surprised about the allure of surfing, and that message crossing over into other audiences.  I know you mentioned that this was just your first film, and that you have others in your head.  Can you share with us what you’re thinking?

  S –  A few films, actually.  But one specifically about tube riding, the technical aspects of it. 

   

  I encourage you all to check out Bustin’ Down The Door, especially in a theater if you get the chance.  And whether you’re one of the lucky ones who benefit from the creation of the professional circuit or not, you can respect the fully committed drive and pursuit from these talented surfers.

  Check out the film's website http://www.bustindownthedoor.com/ for more information about screenings and to read Shaun Tomson's blog.

• Aqua’s new site

  Check out Aqua Surf Shop new website HERE!