Book Close
Book
Close Close
I'd like to book a
Join QT Club
Back

8 Surf Films to get stuck into

words by ben stephens

Cast your mind back to when Taj Burrow released the ‘98 surf classic that was Sabotaj. The thing blew minds all over the place. It was some of the best free surfing of the time fuelled by that classic rebellious larrikin vibe that was surf culture in the late 90’s.

The time capsule that was Sabotaj, put master of surf filmmaker, Jack McCoy to work and he produced the goods. Watching it back now, it’s still a classic, but it does look like it was shot on a potato, compared only to the quality that the surf movie industry producers today.

To help you with the stoke that autumn brings, we here at QTLife have come up with eight of our favourite surf related movies/shorts/cuts.

Here, in no particular order, is a readable listicle of our favourite surf films:

The Endless Summer
The year 1966 and Bruce Brown directs, produces, writes, narrates, edits and looks after the cinematography of a 95-minute long edit. This edit follows Mike Hynson and Robert August a trip around the world, chasing the summer. From California to New Zealand, Australia, Tahiti, Hawaii, Senegal, Ghana and South Africa, the summer actually never ends. To blow your mind just on last time, the whole thing was made on a budget of $50,000US… crazy.

Wipeout 6 Waimea Airlines . #theendlesssummer #wipeout #surfing #brucebrownfilms

A post shared by Bruce Brown Films (@brucebrownfilms) on

The Tempest
Steph Gilmore. There is little more to be said. Steph shreds any wave that she gets on. Team Gilmore up with the production team at Monster Children, fly them to Indonesia, then have Alberto Bof, compose a little Mauruce Ravel and sound design by MKRS Studio and you have The Tempest. It’s 5 minutes and 29 seconds that you won’t need back as you double down on it again. Steph, I know you’re a big QTLife reader, from us to you, all the best in 2017, we have a feeling this is once again, your year – YEW!

A View from a Blue Moon
Just quietly, as far as cinematography and soundtracks go, this was the surf movie for 2015/16. Following John John Florence, the current world number 1, AVFABM takes the classic surf movie to a new height. The team at Brainfarm are behind this little piece of magic, using helicopters over drones, the voice of John C. Reilly for the narration and that soundtrack is stocked with banger after banger. Gather a group of close friends around for this one. It’s incredible.

Distance Between Dreams
When you look at 20 – 30-foot waves, what goes through your mind? Director Rob Bruce shot this masterpiece encapsulating the effects of an El Nino powered swells over the Pacific Ocean. What you need when you are making a big wave film are the stars of the sport and this is where DBD doesn’t disappoint with; Ian Walsh, Grant Baker, Shane Dorian, John John Florence and Greg Long are amongst the strong line-up of maniacs taking on breaks like Jaws.

Surfer Dude
Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson and a list of C-list actors make up the cast if the 2008 surfing classic. It was a weird time for the surf world around this time. It’s like it became mainstream and really boring. Then Hollywood produced rubbish like this to try and garner some of that fad money. The movie is that terrible it comes good. The number of surfing clichés is outstanding and the reference to a culture that was in flux is hard to look away from. It’s got a 4.7 on IMDb… make of it what you will.

Step Into Liquid
Being the son of Bruce Brown, the director of The Endless Summer, Dana Brown went ham with his first ever directorial debut. Using a string of 35 of the world’s most notable surfers to create magic. In one day while in the south of France, two friends and I watched Step into Liquid 3 times in the one-day. It has that kind effect. From Pipeline in Hawaii to Vietnam and Cortes Bank, you’ll be waxing your board before the credits roll for the fourth time.

Sabotaj
We’ve already spoken about this one. It’s Taj Burrow at his grommet best. He’s young, careless and surfs with that je ne sais quoi that so many try to recreate in today. 2016 was Taj’s last year on tour, so watching this, his first bio piece holds a little nostalgia to it. After viewing, watch hTaj’s last heat against John John Florence in Fiji, HEAT OF THE YEAR for sure.

I’m Laura
As far as surf bio series go, Laura Enever’s hits the feels and showcases her insane skill and that of filmmaker Stefan Hunt. Both from the Northern Beaches of Sydney Australia, the I’m Laura series follows Laura’s year on tour, documenting the sh*t year she had in 2013, the travels and the mindset of a young 20 something on the world stage. Once you catch episode one, you’ll feel compelled to sink into the next four episodes.

Food vouchers are life …….

A post shared by LAURA ENEVER (@lauraenever) on

Reckon we’re missing some classics? Which ones make you get the board out of the bag? Or ridicule me for my absolute rubbish taste in the La Mar film genre.


QT Social

Feeling a little social? Follow QT Follow QT
Powered by PGR

We hate to play favourites, but some of our guests are lavished with even more special attention than usual. Want to know what you’re missing out on?

Join The QT Club right now – we’ll keep it just between us.

Enter your details