It’s been a tradition since the first San Luis Obispo International Film Festival 30 years ago, and will probably continue for another three decades. Surf Nite—mixing great live music with awesome surf footage and compelling stories staged in a historic theater—remains a recipe for good times.
And that’s exactly what the nearly sold-out Fremont Theater crowd got on a festive Friday night for day two of our annual hometown event.
Everyone was in a good mood after getting drinks, schmoozing, then settling into their seats to catch the vocals, melodies, and instrumentals from local surf rock band Riff Tide, featuring lead guitarist extraordinaire Steve Conrad.
A short but authentic glimpse into the essence of surfing and its obsessively tight hold on those who board the water.”
They were the ideal warm-up for two very different but equally wonderful films that perfectly captured the spirit and ethos of this often-misunderstood sport.
Still, it’s not so much a sport as a way of life for millions who often battle hardship and treacherous conditions in search of the perfect wave. As surfing’s popularity grows, so do the exploits and mythology of its legendary figures and big wave spots around the world.
For many, surfing is passion filled with humility and respect for nature’s beauty—where everyday people like Frank Paine, the focus of documentary short To Be Frank that preceded the feature film, become iconic peers of their fellow watermen. Frank is a local institution in Hermosa Beach who has surfed for a half-century, an easygoing happy dude who’s befriended, nurtured, and taught generations of surfers.
The 21-minute film offers a short but authentic glimpse into the essence of surfing and its obsessively tight hold on those who board the water.
Once the ocean gets in your blood, you can never stray too far from it.”
Growing up in San Diego, I could totally relate even as a mostly ball sports guy. I had brothers and friends take up surfing, so I spent endless summer days at the beach boogie boarding and playing frisbee along the shoreline.
The feature presentation, Trilogy: New Wave (which is a sequel of sorts), didn’t disappoint either. Interesting human interest, scenic remote locales, and amazing visuals drive the 74-minute film’s narrative of three young pro surfers competing on the rigorous World Surf League Tour. Their friendship forged surfing together between tour events ultimately helps them achieve greater success in official WSL competition.
For the Trilogy surfing protagonists, it’s not just a job but an adventure. And an exciting, joyous one when it’s just them, their trusty board and a beautiful wave just waiting to be ridden.
If nothing else, Surf Nite and life on the California coast show that once the ocean gets in your blood, you can never stray too far from it.
:: Colin Jones