LIHU‘E — Storm Surfers in 3D will open this week at Kukui Grove Cinema in Lihu‘e. State-of-the-art miniature 3D cameras put the audience inside the barrel for a “visually stunning cinematic adventure unlike any other,” according to film promoters. “Combining
LIHU‘E — Storm Surfers in 3D will open this week at Kukui Grove Cinema in Lihu‘e.
State-of-the-art miniature 3D cameras put the audience inside the barrel for a “visually stunning cinematic adventure unlike any other,” according to film promoters.
“Combining cutting-edge 3D technology and bravura filmmaking, Storm Surfers 3D is the ultimate big-wave thrill ride,” states the movie’s promotional material.
Filmmakers follow legendary Aussie surfers Tom Carroll, 51, and Ross Clarke-Jones, 44, as they chase storms in their quest to ride the Pacific Ocean’s biggest and most dangerous waves, with the help of surf forecaster Ben Matson.
“Braving enormous waves, freezing conditions and near-death experiences, the film follows all of Ross, Tom and Ben’s adventures over the 2011 winter big-wave season,” states the International Movie Database.
Carroll made his name in the surfing world during the 1980s by winning two world surfing titles, and 26 professional surfing contests during this 14 years in the world tour.
But Carroll’s most unforgettable moment was arguably during the 1991 Pipeline Masters, when he went vertical under the lip and pulled what is known to this date as “the snap.”
Clarke-Jones also spent a number of years in the world surfing tour, but it was his surfing outside the tour that made him a legend.
A proven bona-fide big-wave matador, Clarke-Jones has surfed some of the heaviest waves on the planet, either paddling into them or being pulled by a jet ski. In 2001, he won the prestigious Eddie Aikau contest in Waimea, which is held only when waves reach more than 20 feet. He was the first non-Hawaiian to win the Eddie.
The movie also features big-wave chargers Paul Morgan, Mark Mathews and Paul “Antman” Paterson, and includes a special appearance by 11-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater.
“The holy grail for this team of big wave hunters is to discover and ride new waves that have never been surfed,” IMDb states.
Despite a similar title, Storm Surfers doesn’t have much to do with the iconic Storm Riders, released in 1981, and featuring Aussie surfers Mark Richards and Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomeu, and Hawaiian Gerry Lopez, one of the smoothest surfers ever to tame Pipeline.
Since the release of Storm Riders 32 years ago, surfing’s image as a soul-searching sport has changed slowly to become a mainstream sport around the globe.
Carroll and Clarke-Jones surfed professionally during a transition era, when neon shorts and surfboards dominated the sport, but the pay was barely enough to keep surfers on tour. Most professional surfers would go on to different careers before reaching the age of 30.
Today, surfers who grew up during surfing’s soul years are still living the dream, ironically, partly because of surfing becoming a mainstream sport.
A peek on the Storm Surfers 3D website reveals a large amount of merchandise and promotional material available, ranging from an iPhone app to a soundtrack album, and e-books to 3D Bluray disks and DVDs.
Storm Surfers’ awards include: Winner, Best Surf Film, 2013 Australian Surfing Awards; Winner, Best Documentary — 2012 International 3D Society; Winner, Best Feature Documentary — AATCA; First Runner-Up, Best Documentary, 2012 Toronto International Film Festival; Official Selection, 2012 Santa Barbara International Film Festival; and Official Selection, 2012 San Sebastian Film Festival.
Storm Surfers will open Friday on Kaua‘i at Kukui Grove Cinema at 5 p.m., and will be shown until May 16. Visit www.kukuigrovecinema.com for show times.
