DVD Review: One California Day

Surfers Path, the distributors of a new surf film "One California Day" have kindly supplied a DVD copy to Extremehorizon HQ to review on our blog and I'm pleased they did.

One California day is a grounded surf film which immerses the viewer into the vivid, rich colours of the Californian landscape and its ever evolving surf culture. The makers acheive this by featuring surfers like the Malloys, Tom and Jimmy Curren, Joel Tudor, Dane Perlee, Jimmy Gamboa and more who all embrace the west coast's vast natural beauty and influential surf history and use this to form the face of modern day Californian surfing.

The film explores how the diversity of California's reef, point and beach breaks have given birth over the years to a huge range of surfboard shapes and designs which in turn have lead to developments in unique surfing styles. The film is part documentary and part travelogue woven together with stunning 16mm cinematography both on land and in the ocean.

One California day is an evocotive, rootsy and soulful film which has captured the essence of one of the worlds most influential surfing regions. Its a DVD to buy, keep and watch again and again.

Check out the trailer below or visit http://www.onecaliforniaday.com/ for more info.

Announcing the Extremehorizon Surf photo competition

Announcing the Extremehorizon Surf photo competition

To all budding surf photographers out there, we are running a competition up until Christmas 2008 to find the very best surfing pictures, with the chance to win some great surf prizes and the opportunity to have you work seen by visitors across the world.

Photographers and images can be from any location on the planet as long as they are surf related.

All you need to do to enter is register on the Extremehorizon image gallery and start uploading your pictures. Please note that images cant be any larger than 1024KB each (if you need to resize your pictures try some free software like PIXresizer via download.com). Once registered drop us an email and we'll track your uploads

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND UPLOAD SURF IMAGES

The winner will receive and Extremehorizon Surf goody bag which will include: Northcore hardware, Matunas wax, a copy of Surfers Path magazine, stickers and more.

Winners will be chosen based upon a combination of the number of public views and ratings images receive via the gallery. However judges reserve the right for their decision to be final. The closing date is 20th Dec with winners being notified via email before 24th Dec 08

www.extremehorizon.com

Punta De Lobos Chile: APT 2008 Big wave tow in surfing

The Association of Professional Tow surfers (APT) has announced the green light for the 2008 Punta de Lobos, Pichilemu Chile World Cup Tow-In Surfing Championship to begin this Saturday, October 25th, and just in time before the holding period comes to a final close at the end of the month. Event officials are stating that the surf forecast should be in the 30'-35' face height range with the possibility of a larger swell around the 27th Oct.

Tim Davies interview: Producer of brand new surf film "Seven Stops"

Tim Davies, British surf film maker kindly provided an interview for Extremehorizon, telling us about his latest film release "Seven Stops"

"When your a British surfer there is nothing more enjoyable and invigorating than travelling around the world with a camera in your hand and a surfboard under your arm. From 6 lane freeways in California, hopping over coral reefs in Lombok, bbq’s in Australia or maybe just the people you meet and the cultures you can experience. This is an insight to surfing the world! " -Tim Davies

Q- So Seven Stops in now on sale, how long did the production take to create and which counties are involved?

The film took about 14 months to film and edit and incorporates 7 surf destinations. California, Central America, Hawaii, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia



Q- Where was the most impressive surfing?

Hawaii is a fantastic place to film and just observe. We stayed on the North shore right by pipeline so all sorts of surfers would walk past our house like Occy, Andy irons, Jack Johnson and many more. Hawaii during the Winter/pipe masters time is a beacon for all pro surfers which enabled me to hook up and get good sections with Joel Parkinson, Jordy Smith and AI plus many more of the worlds elite. The waves here are so heavy and its amazing to see the top guys pushing the limits!




Q- Which country did you spend the longest filming?

Central America was a 3 month duration and with the like of Alan Stokes staying the same amount of time meant I could work a lot with him and get a British surfer a solid section in the movie. It was a fantastic place to visit because as soon as we would finish filming and step off the beach it felt like you were deep in the jungle! A large abundance of insects, snakes, cats and monkeys would turn up on a regular basis which left me with a great tropical/jungle feel to the section.

Q- Which were your favourite destinations?

Fiji has some of the friendliest people you can find and also some of the best waves in the world. Speeding out on boats to the coral reefs at 6am with a long range swell and glassy conditions is enough to make you explode! Also Indonesia as the waves are so perfect, the people are friendly and its cheap living. There is always a high standard of surfing out at the main spots in Bali with the local crew like Betet and Garut surfing really technical.

Q-Your previous surf film was ‘Step into the realm’ which features all the top brits and was really successful, how does this film compare?

My previous film was a surf amp film for Britain which was great but this film has a far higher standard of surfing as all the surfers involved are of an international standard and are performing in the worlds best waves! This film is more informative with interviews with top surfers discussing the pro’s and cons of each surfing area. It’s a travel surf film and I hope you enjoy!

www.extremehorizon.com

CLICK HERE TO BUY SEVEN STOPS ONLINE

Layne Beachley announces retirement

Layne Beachly officially announced her retirement from competitive surfing effective at the end of the year. Beachley is iconic in womens surfing, as well as having won 7 world titles she's been involved in pushing the boundries of womens big wave and tow surfing, inspiring the next generation and in no small part has played an integral role in raising the profile of and legitimising surfing for women.

Beachley announced “I feel like now is a really good time, even though I am in my career best form, because I am an all-or-nothing kind of girl and to achieve the goals I set for myself in surfing, I have to give it my all and I’m not,” Beachley said. “I have to be honest with myself – I’m not commiting 100% time and energy and effort and focus into winning world titles."

As part of my involvement in an ongoing film project devilcountyfilms.com, I was fortunate to meet with Layne in Cornwall and interview her (check out the short film below).

Mavericks season kicks off in style

Whilst our local North Sea breaks were stirred into Autumnal life on Sat 04th Oct with a solid 6ft groundswell, hours later and across the other side of the world, Mavicks Fall season was also kicking into action. A 15-18ft swell with 12 second period crashed into Northern California the same day-not a classic by Mavericks standards but a big day for most mere mortals!

photo www.towsurfer.com

Kelly Slater makes it 9 times world champ in Mundaka

Kelly Slater has just won his heat at around 11.30am local time this morning, in Mundaka Spain, which means that he has secured an incredible 9th World title!

Given the talent on the WCT at present it makes it an even more remarkable acheivement for a man who won his first title way back in 1992. After 17years on the tour Kelly was non-commital in his post heat interview as to his return to the tour next year to go for number ten, but he did say he was interested if someone was to put up the $10m prize for 10 titles which has been rumoured ( a fairly strong incentive!)

Congratulations Kelly