The public image of surfing and surfers has come a long way since the days of Spicoli, Point Break and the stereotypes that preceded them. Not that surfing was ever as cheesy and outlandish as those films, but the sport and culture has evolved in a variety of interesting, incredible and amazing ways over time. At the meaty core of it all, the joy of being in the ocean and riding waves is still the glue that binds this subculture together. It’s this foundation that The Essence Of Surfing, a documentary premiering this Friday at the La Costa Film Festival, is exploring. Produced by surfers for the world, it’s a candid look into the hearts and minds of the sports kinfolk – and a mesmerizing visual journey that takes viewers to some of the most sacred places in the ocean.

This week we caught up with the film’s producer Dan Moore, an award winning Big Wave Surfer himself, to talk about what viewers can expect. Continue reading →