RIDING GIANTS

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dogtown

climber
Cheyenne,Wyoming
Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 12, 2009 - 11:45pm PT
Is the sickest surf film ever.

Don't you think? I just saw it for the first time on HD discovery. It's Crazy !! Heres a clip.






http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcaZarxilJQ&feature=related


Bruce
Off White

climber
Tenino, WA
Jan 13, 2009 - 12:04am PT
That documentary made my 15 year old daughter sad that all those guys had to go and get all old & ugly.

Edit: oops, my mistake. I realized it was Dogtown & Z Boys that made the daughter person all sad & wistful. In this one, all that vintage footage was just stunning, amazing to have it around.
J. Werlin

climber
Cedaredge
Jan 13, 2009 - 12:10am PT
A brilliant, heart stopping film.

Unbelievable footage and camera work.

Five Stars for sure.
drljefe

climber
Toostoned, AZ
Jan 13, 2009 - 12:13am PT
Awesome movie!
I prefer smaller waves, myself.
Dogtown, did you get my message? If not- thanks bro.
Scared Silly

Trad climber
UT
Jan 13, 2009 - 12:21am PT
Funny, I think what those guys and gals do is nuts (and I have done some surfing). I got lots of respect for it though. At the same time some of them look at what we do as climbers and think the same thing.
apogee

climber
Jan 13, 2009 - 12:28am PT
Yah, that's a great flick- so is Dogtown & Z-Boys. Love the footage of surfing b/w the pilings of the old Santa Monica pier, and talk of finding carburetors and sh*t laying all over the place.
Rudder

Trad climber
Santa Rosa, CA
Jan 13, 2009 - 01:03am PT
"""A brilliant, heart stopping film.

Unbelievable footage and camera work.

Five Stars for sure."""

Ditto that!
nutjob

Stoked OW climber
San Jose, CA
Jan 13, 2009 - 01:10am PT
I've had the stuffing beat out of me in 7 foot waves, been totally hammered bloody in 10 foot waves on deep sandy bottoms, and just can't imagine the power of waves 20+ feet. It seems like so much force that people should just plain die if they don't make the bottom turn. That is some sketchy business.

And yes, Riding Giants is a stirring and awesome film. For a totally different surf film experience, check out the original Endless Summer or the sequel.
drljefe

climber
Toostoned, AZ
Jan 13, 2009 - 01:14am PT
The cool thing about big wave riding, and especially tow surfing, is that it's a team effort now. Where as "normal" surfing is kind of a selfish pursuit, those guys' lifes are in eachothers hands, from take-off to rescue- and the consequences are heavier. Definitely more like climbing. It doesn't help that many of the big wave spots are totally sharky! Nuff respect for all those guys, especially the paddlers.

Edit- true, nutjob.
also there are some really nice soulful surf films-
Thicker Than Water
September Sessions
-With the Malloy Brothers and Jeff Johnson, who is a climber. They just did the NA Wall.
dogtown

climber
Cheyenne,Wyoming
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 13, 2009 - 01:19am PT
Drljefe; I did. It's cool, I'm glad you have a new dog. Good luck with him or her.

Apogee; The shots I think you are talking about on Z-boys are at the old P.O.P (Pacific Ocean Park) pier which is no longer there. Burned down in the late 70's for the final time. P.O.P. was between Santa Monica and Venice which is Dogtown.I surfed and lived there back in those days. Hence my nickname. A real ghetto back then.

Where the debris meets the sea. Bah ha ha ha

Bruce
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
Jan 13, 2009 - 01:34am PT
Foil surfing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDt-T1KEOgY&feature=related

makes sense in a way
MisterE

Trad climber
Raising Arizona
Jan 13, 2009 - 01:45am PT
That is rippin' footage - thanks.
Wonder

climber
WA
Jan 13, 2009 - 01:48am PT
When the filmed Lords they build a copy of the old POP and the dogbowl.

Now Riding Giants I saw at IMax. That was the best.
east side underground

Trad climber
Hilton crk,ca
Jan 13, 2009 - 10:50am PT
another cool surf flick- the far shore- great movie about surf exploration. Naughton& peterson discover many famous breaks in their travels.
J. Werlin

climber
Cedaredge
Jan 13, 2009 - 01:23pm PT
Another must see, Billabong Odyssey:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1n5tPTc1dQ

Maybe the best opening 2 minutes of any surf flick.
poop_tube

Big Wall climber
33° 45' N 117° 52' W
Jan 13, 2009 - 01:32pm PT
Strong swell coming in this weekend in SOCAL!!!!

Ooooooohhhh
steelmnkey

climber
Vision man...ya gotta have vision...
Jan 13, 2009 - 02:19pm PT
Have never surfed and I'm not really much of a water guy, but I actually went out and bought that movie after seeing it. It's pretty awesome.
ontheedgeandscaredtodeath

Trad climber
San Francisco, Ca
Jan 13, 2009 - 02:33pm PT
Cool movie.

Litmus is good (sorta artsy)- awesome footage of guy ripping 2x overhead, and heavy, surf in rural Ireland.
Gunkie

climber
East Coast US
Jan 13, 2009 - 03:23pm PT
I liked 'September Sessions' better. But 'riding GIANTS' is a great film and it's sitting on my desk right now. Maybe I should watch it again.
Jingy

Social climber
Flatland, Ca
Jan 13, 2009 - 03:32pm PT
Louie Louie.....

We gotta go!!!
bluNgoldhornet6

Big Wall climber
Tampa, Fl
Jan 13, 2009 - 04:26pm PT
Step into Liquid is pretty rad too! but yes, Riding Giants is an epic film.
Fletcher

Trad climber
the campfire just a ways past Chris' Taco stand
Jan 13, 2009 - 06:12pm PT
Yeah, Riding Giants has been on my list. Gotta get around to that. Nice clip... "oh... my.... god..."

The opening two minutes of Billabong Odyssey is beyond anything. From the Micro to the Macro. What a sense of scale.

Also recommend the Endless Summer flicks... a different pace alright. Good stuff.

One of these days I gotta really get on a board... need to move closer to the coast.... might happen.

Fletch
bvb

Social climber
flagstaff arizona
Jan 13, 2009 - 06:18pm PT
for a real treat watch "lords of dogtown" with the commentary turned on. stacy peralta and tony alva do a running commentary that really resonates, especially if you had even a peripheral association with the socal skate scene during the mid '70's (watusi's older brother dave was a figure of some repute during that era).

riding giants is a phenominally good film. of all the people and places profiled, jeff clark and his experiences with maverick's seemed extraordinary.

if i could do my whole life over, i definately would have learned how to surf.
Lambone

Ice climber
Ashland, Or
Jan 13, 2009 - 06:21pm PT
Foot straps are aid.



just kiddin =)
drljefe

climber
Toostoned, AZ
Jan 13, 2009 - 06:31pm PT
bvb-
it's never too late.
Largo

Sport climber
Venice, Ca
Jan 13, 2009 - 06:52pm PT
Another must see, Billabong Odyssey:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1n5tPTc1dQ

Maybe the best opening 2 minutes of any surf flick.

NOT MAYBE - FOR SURE. THAT'S ACTUAL FILM MAKING, AND THAT'S ONE HELL OF A TAKE ON THAT MONSTER WAVE. THAT ONE SHOT LASTS FOR A LONG TIME. ONLY THIHNG THEY MUFFED (IMO) IS IN SLOWING IT DOWN, BECAUSE THE SOUND DESIGN NO LONGER FITS.

JL
dogtown

climber
Cheyenne,Wyoming
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 13, 2009 - 10:13pm PT
I love Greg Noll's comment; Ahhh Man,That sh!t is impossible!

Billabong Odyssey: well that ones on the list,looks pretty good.

Bruce
john hansen

climber
Jan 13, 2009 - 11:17pm PT
great vid's


The Eddie Aikau might go down this next week, some big stuff coming into the Islands. Thirty feet plus ,, we will see.

Aloha
dogtown

climber
Cheyenne,Wyoming
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 13, 2009 - 11:25pm PT
Airfare from Denver is off the hook right now or I would be gone!


Even from here to SoCal its just Ridicules.

Bruce

Double D

climber
Jan 14, 2009 - 12:11am PT
Riding Giants, Stepping into Liquid and Billabong Odyssey all rock. But my favorite for just getting me psyched to go out... Endless Summer II. I, know, kinda lame but it always gets me stoked. Plus it’s dedicated to one of our own, Bev Johnson (she and Mike Hoover were involved in the filming around the time she died). Riding Giants just gets me scared.

I've had the privilege to attend two of the Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards. The footage and stories were unreal. My bro-in-law (Eddie Guzman) chases Ghost Trees and Mavericks when it's on. He says that tow-in surfing is the "crack-cocaine" of surfing...just way addicting. Down right scary looking if you ask me.


Talking with a climbing friend about the similar cultures and characters as the climbing industry he quickly corrected the assessment with, "yeah, the only difference is there's actually some money and it's rampant with babes." Maybe that’s why my neck was sore the following day. (-;

marty(r)

climber
beneath the valley of ultravegans
Jan 14, 2009 - 12:36am PT
The Dogtown book that Glen E. Friedman and Craig Stecyk did is absolutely worth your time. Glen's 'burning flags' site has some old video (BETA?) footage posted (http://www.burningflags.com/rarevideo/); as well some great stills (http://www.burningflags.com/classicgems/classicgems_skate.php);.

Roy--did you know Glen or Craig? Any good stories?
Largo

Sport climber
Venice, Ca
Jan 14, 2009 - 12:48am PT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcaZarxilJQ&feature=related

Right there with the best ever.

JL
dogtown

climber
Cheyenne,Wyoming
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 14, 2009 - 01:22am PT
Yeah john;

That wave at Teahupoo is amazing,To paddle in on that thing would be suicide for sure.It sucks out and throws like no where else.

Tow in or die! (maybe die anyway)

Cool shot DD

ok one more sick Clip of Teahupoo oUCH!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzATyPSsDV4&feature=related




J. Werlin

climber
Cedaredge
Jan 14, 2009 - 10:53am PT
JL-- I've thought the same about the slow-mo in that Billabong clip. The other side of the coin for me is, in the near-silence, I experience a deafening stillness which somehow amplifies the magnitude and grandeur of the sequence.

That wave at Teahapoo--my god. That is the fantasy (nightmare?) wave we'd draw over and over in high school art class. The palm trees, clear water, white sand, cocoa skinned beauties in grass skirts; a barrel you could drive a semi through and a grinding lip thick as a bunker wall.
BASE104

climber
An Oil Field
Jan 14, 2009 - 10:57am PT
I wonder how much a film like Riding Giants cost..
AllezAllez510

Trad climber
Santa Cruz, CA
Jan 14, 2009 - 01:07pm PT
Teahapoo is paddled into all the time.
andy@climbingmoab

Big Wall climber
Denver, CO
Jan 14, 2009 - 02:02pm PT
I watched Teahupoo from the beach. The wave looked huge, and its a really long way from the beach out to the wave. The beach was plenty close to it for me.

The process of learning to surf feels like learning to snowboard inside an avalanche.
Tan Slacks

Social climber
Joshua Tree
Jan 14, 2009 - 03:00pm PT
Hey DOGTOWN...

Do I know you? POP was one of my spots. along with Paul Revere, Bellagio, Kenter, Bay street. We must have friends in common.. Where did you go to school?






aldude

climber
Monument Manor
Jan 14, 2009 - 04:20pm PT
Tow-in = invisible top rope
Studly

Trad climber
WA
Jan 14, 2009 - 08:03pm PT
Any of you guys ever surfed Kings Reef or Horizons on Maui? Talk about riding giants, its like surfing big Hookipa only way off shore and long rides. Long paddle unless on a windsurf board or kiteboard.
How about Paukakaulos or Rivermouth? Any haole boys ever ripped it there?
Largo

Sport climber
Venice, Ca
Jan 15, 2009 - 01:03pm PT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhE498ef2Us&feature=related

Not sure this guy survived this one.

JL
drljefe

climber
Toostoned, AZ
Jan 15, 2009 - 01:05pm PT
He did.
Doug Robinson

Trad climber
Santa Cruz
Jan 15, 2009 - 01:12pm PT
Heard Mavericks contest MIGHT be on for this weekend...
ontheedgeandscaredtodeath

Trad climber
San Francisco, Ca
Jan 15, 2009 - 01:21pm PT
Word on the street is we are lined up for a big swell. None of the buoys are picking it up yet. SE Papa is 7.9 ft @ 14 seconds.
drljefe

climber
Toostoned, AZ
Jan 15, 2009 - 01:23pm PT
There is usually a live webcast of the event...
GO GREG AND RUSTY!
the Fet

Knackered climber
A bivy sack in the secret campground
Jan 15, 2009 - 02:17pm PT
One of my favorite aspects of Riding Giants is that it really got into the stories and adventures of discovering and riding these giant waves. It reminds me of the stories of FAs of big wall climbs.
TrundleBum

Trad climber
Las Vegas
Jan 15, 2009 - 02:36pm PT
Fabulous Chopper photography
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlPqL7IUT6M&feature=related


But just as impressive is getting in without the aid of an internal combustion engine vehicle for a tow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2MLnAz6A1k&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_wwRK4qu1I
Studly

Trad climber
WA
Jan 16, 2009 - 12:42am PT
Good video footage of Jaws! Jaws is up the coast of Maui from Paia, launch at Maliko Bay and swim it out or get a ride on a ski or boat. There is a gnarly local boat launch there. Its a very cool place Maliko Bay, like something out of pirate movie, tropical cove, palm trees, cliffs, stream down to the ocean. I learned to scuba dive when some local boys took me out as shark watch for them so they could salvage abandoned anchors on the bottom out in the deeper water back in the mid 1980's. Its about 80 feet deep where the anchors mostly lay, some big fish come thru. There were some very old clipper ship anchors out there, as well as some huge more modern ones. Evidentally it is one of the few places when big ship can come into the North side of Maui and get fresh water. I hypothesize that they sailed in in the evening and rowed in to shore for fresh water from the stream. Then when the trades came up in the morning, it swung the big ship on its anchor chains and would have put them onto the reef, so they had to cut anchor and go. Only explanation for all those anchors littering the bottom out there. The local guys sold one of them to Mamas Fish House there in Paia back then, and it is the one you see on the outside of the restaurant to this day. It was painted white last time I saw it, old Popeye whaling ship anchor. Very cool old anchor and thats the story behind it. It has to be a pretty good swell to even get Jaws pumping and it is usually really light wind inside for windsurfing, very scary. Thats why generally those guys in the video are sailing it when it is howling 4.5 weather or more. More wind mo betta brah.
crusher

climber
Santa Monica, CA
Jan 16, 2009 - 01:18am PT
Loved the movie. Had a really cool experience in that the night we went to see it Laird was actually there for a Q & A after the film. We didn't know this and couldn't figure out why nobody was getting up after it was over 'til he stood up.

He's a super cool guy - really nice, down to earth. I asked him if any women were doing tow in...being a girl and all and having windsurfed for many years myself. He said there were a few but mostly they were too smart to do something so stupid...got a lot of laughs.

The soundtrack for the movie is amazing too - definitely worth buying or downloading.
Studly

Trad climber
WA
Jan 16, 2009 - 12:10pm PT
Actually many ladies do tow in. No big deal. On Maui where I used to live, you can hire out a jet ski guide at one of the surf or windsurf shops and they take you to some sweet spots on the outer reef (Kings Reef) on the North shore off Sprecklesvile. Jaws is not reccomended generally for obvious reasons.
Fletcher

Trad climber
the campfire just a ways past Chris' Taco stand
Jan 16, 2009 - 01:14pm PT
A few years back we were lucky enough to be in Maui and drive out and watch Jaws go off in person. Pretty McFrickin'™ impressive in person.

Riding waves like that is akin to A5 methinks. Of course, I doubt I'll ever try either, but you never know in this life!

Fletch
marauders

Mountain climber
UT
Jan 16, 2009 - 04:14pm PT
Couldn't agree more. What an outstanding film. My favorite part is where Laird says, "I question that all year along unless it's 30 feet out and I'm surfing", then it shows some of the most stunning surf footage with no background music. Just the power and character of the surf. It gives me goosebumps every time.

I've probably watched the movie 30-40 times, and I'm not a surfer. It's probably the best "stoke" movie I've ever seen to help motivate you simply life and just get out into the mountains and climb, or do whatever you're in to.
TrundleBum

Trad climber
Las Vegas
Jan 16, 2009 - 04:40pm PT
Studley:

As a one time N.Shore Maui resident and climber, you should come over and 'talk story' with Olaf. It be great to hear some more of your stories. You brought back many a memory for me just in talking about Maliko gulch (and being shark watch for fisherman lol I did the exact same thing as well about 2 weeks after I had moved there)

http://mountainproject.com/v/other_sports/surfing_and_wave_sailing/106292088__1
Studly

Trad climber
WA
Jan 16, 2009 - 07:05pm PT
Trundlebum
Hey, I checked out the Mountain project link, rad stories. Thanks man. Then I saw your post there and your photo. I recognize you dude! I moved to Maui in 84. Sailed Kanaha and Specks and Hookipa regularly. You mention Kanaha Team Slalom, I was on Second Wind team, with Peter McDougall. I lived in the Mamas Fish house complex and my roomates were Chris Seeley and Digger Jahrmarkt and Bill Antilla. Ring any bells? I saw you at the beach all the time and am sure we met but my memory is fading.... Man on man those were the days. I live in the Columbia Gorge now and still windsurf regularly but nothing compares to ripping shining blue walls in the Hawaiian sunshine. So many wild experiences and epics from those days. Maui was different then....
Largo

Sport climber
Venice, Ca
Jan 16, 2009 - 07:37pm PT
About five years ago we filmed the Red Bull Kite Boarding championships at Hookipa and man, did those guys and girls rip it up. The launch site was on that rocky draw at the extreme left edge of that big ass parking lot. I got to watch the windsurfers out right just tearing it up - impressive.

Wish I could have sen Jaws go off . . .

JL
Strongerdog

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Jan 16, 2009 - 07:41pm PT
Check out the directors cut on the CD. Lots of insight into the stories, funny too.

Steve
Fletcher

Trad climber
The beckoning silence
Mar 12, 2010 - 01:46pm PT
I loved this film so much after watching it via Netflix, that I went and bought it on Blu-Ray.... and I don't even own a Blu-Ray player yet!

I'm not a surfer (yet) either, but this film transcends just the actual activity of surfing. It's a truly well crafted story. Very engaging and moving at times.

I guess having experience climbing and of climbing history probably helped me relate to it as well in some way.

Eric
Cracko

Trad climber
Quartz Hill, California
Mar 25, 2010 - 08:25pm PT
Just found this movie at the local supermarket for $4.00. Watched it today.....Incredible!! Anyone else see a similarity between the growth of the surfing and climbing clutures. The characters depicted in that movie, starting with Greg Noll, reminded me very much of the Stonemasters. Largo is a dead ringer for Greg Noll......or vice versa !!! Laird Hamilton riding that wave in Tahiti that made Pipeline look like Malibu gave me the same feel as being pasted a thousand feet up on El Cap !!!


Cracko
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Jul 13, 2010 - 01:41am PT
For you surf culture wonks here's a new book for ya:

Sweetness and Blood: How Surfing Spread from Hawaii and California to the Rest of the World, With Some Unexpected Results. By Michael Scott Moore. Rodale; 336 pages; $25.99

Of course the go-to review is to be found in The Economist:

http://www.economist.com/node/16537008

I guess one reason it is in The Economist is because "There is a fine section on the economics of surfboard rationing in Cuba..."
apogee

climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
Oct 22, 2014 - 09:57am PT
The Right is the most crazy, mutant wave we've ever seen

http://www.networka.com/stories/34030/big-wave-surfer-ryan-hipwood-surfs-the-right

"Located off the coast of Western Australia in the middle of the Indian Ocean, The Right is the scariest looking wave in the world. And big wave surfer Ryan Hipwood decided it was a good idea to head back there after nearly drowning at The Right in 2012."
Willoughby

Social climber
Truckee, CA
Oct 22, 2014 - 10:29am PT
^. Heavy!! Here's a shortcut to the vid: [Click to View YouTube Video]
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