Despite the challenges 2020 presented, some of surfing's most talented filmmakers still managed to get their work out to the masses. And while the online premieres may not have been as raucous as you're typical night at the surf theater, the movies that came out this year offered us plenty to hoot and holler about.
And there was something for everyone. For those that love the fast-paced action of a surf video to pump them up before a session, Vans' "Pentacoastal" does just the trick. If you wanted to laugh a little, "Postcards From Morgs" offered some much-needed comic relief, and when it comes to confronting challenges, the films put out by John John Florence and Laura Enever were made to inspire.
So, while you're hanging around the house this holiday season waiting for the surf to pick back up, here are a few of our favorite surf movies that kept us stoked in a year where stoke was a much-needed commodity:
Vans: Pentacoastal
This year Wade Goodall and Vans dropped the film "Pentacoastal" that's guaranteed to get you pumped to go surf. Starring Dane Reynolds, Harry Bryant, Patrick Gudauskas and plenty of other rippers from the Vans team, Goodall hit it out of the park with this project. Styled as a "recollection of Australasian exploration," just be warned, it'll have you longing for that road life.
John John Florence: Tokyo Rising
John John Florence was steamrolling through the 2019 Championship Tour when he suffered a tragic, season-ending knee injury at the Oi Rio Pro. With a torn ACL and his shot at a third World Title dashed, he underwent surgery and the long, painful process of regaining his champion form, and ultimately, qualifying for the inaugural U.S. Olympic Surf Team. Florence's new film, "Tokyo Rising," tells the story of this journey and how the two-time World Champ has dealt with it ever step of the way. If you want to watch the full cut you'll have to hop over Amazon Prime.
Laura Enever: Undone
A documentary project released mid-way through the year, "Undone" is Laura Enever telling her own story of how she rose from Narrabeen grom to one of the most influential female surfers in the world -- and charging ledgy slabs like The Box in Western Australia, this next chapter of her already colorful career could be the most amazing yet.
Rip Curl: Postcards From Morgs
A much-enjoyed addition to Rip Curl's Search catalog, "Postcards From Morgs" captures a ten-day Aussie road trip with a handful of Rip Curl surfers, including Mick Fanning, Tyler and Owen Wright, Matthew McGillivray, Molly Picklum, and of course, Morgan Cibilic.
Volcom: Psychic Migrations
Over a year and a half in the making, Psychic Migrations kept things weird. Directed by longtime surf filmmaker Ryan Thomas and shot on location in the West Indies, East Indies, Australia, Polynesia, and the Americas, the film "weaves the physical expression of riding a rousing score of waves with a cerebral odyssey through the scapes and textures traveled to find them." Among the stars are Yago Dora, Mitch Coleborn, Ozzie Wright , and the GOAT himself, Kelly Slater.
Binge-Worthy Surf Movies To Stoke You Out This Holiday Season
Jake Howard
Despite the challenges 2020 presented, some of surfing's most talented filmmakers still managed to get their work out to the masses. And while the online premieres may not have been as raucous as you're typical night at the surf theater, the movies that came out this year offered us plenty to hoot and holler about.
And there was something for everyone. For those that love the fast-paced action of a surf video to pump them up before a session, Vans' "Pentacoastal" does just the trick. If you wanted to laugh a little, "Postcards From Morgs" offered some much-needed comic relief, and when it comes to confronting challenges, the films put out by John John Florence and Laura Enever were made to inspire.
So, while you're hanging around the house this holiday season waiting for the surf to pick back up, here are a few of our favorite surf movies that kept us stoked in a year where stoke was a much-needed commodity:
Vans: Pentacoastal
This year Wade Goodall and Vans dropped the film "Pentacoastal" that's guaranteed to get you pumped to go surf. Starring Dane Reynolds, Harry Bryant, Patrick Gudauskas and plenty of other rippers from the Vans team, Goodall hit it out of the park with this project. Styled as a "recollection of Australasian exploration," just be warned, it'll have you longing for that road life.
John John Florence: Tokyo Rising
John John Florence was steamrolling through the 2019 Championship Tour when he suffered a tragic, season-ending knee injury at the Oi Rio Pro. With a torn ACL and his shot at a third World Title dashed, he underwent surgery and the long, painful process of regaining his champion form, and ultimately, qualifying for the inaugural U.S. Olympic Surf Team. Florence's new film, "Tokyo Rising," tells the story of this journey and how the two-time World Champ has dealt with it ever step of the way. If you want to watch the full cut you'll have to hop over Amazon Prime.
Laura Enever: Undone
A documentary project released mid-way through the year, "Undone" is Laura Enever telling her own story of how she rose from Narrabeen grom to one of the most influential female surfers in the world -- and charging ledgy slabs like The Box in Western Australia, this next chapter of her already colorful career could be the most amazing yet.
Rip Curl: Postcards From Morgs
A much-enjoyed addition to Rip Curl's Search catalog, "Postcards From Morgs" captures a ten-day Aussie road trip with a handful of Rip Curl surfers, including Mick Fanning, Tyler and Owen Wright, Matthew McGillivray, Molly Picklum, and of course, Morgan Cibilic.
Volcom: Psychic Migrations
Over a year and a half in the making, Psychic Migrations kept things weird. Directed by longtime surf filmmaker Ryan Thomas and shot on location in the West Indies, East Indies, Australia, Polynesia, and the Americas, the film "weaves the physical expression of riding a rousing score of waves with a cerebral odyssey through the scapes and textures traveled to find them." Among the stars are Yago Dora, Mitch Coleborn, Ozzie Wright , and the GOAT himself, Kelly Slater.
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