Miles to Surf Documentary

Director James Fulbright takes you on an historical journey into the world of riding waves and links the addiction of surfing to the invention of a multitude of other unique sports and pastimes, by interviewing some of surfing's most influential figures and inventors.

Beginning with the ancient Hawaiian sport of he'e holua, Fulbright interviews Hawaiian historian Tom Stone, the person who is directly responsible for researching and reintroducing this almost forgotten art of "surfing" down mountains on sleds, and captures Tom and fellow Hawaiians in action, sliding down the mountains of Kona.

Then, the film again takes you back in time to Windansea Beach, California during the late 40's. Legendary surfer Carl Ekstrom tells a tale about surfer Peter Parkins, who broke a steel wheeled roller skate in half and nailed it to a 2x4 and the skateboard was created, as Carl says, "as a substitute for surfing". Fulbright uses a combination of early historical footage and modern day skateboard footage using Carveboards to show how surfing continues to impact the sport.

Liquid Force's wakeboard developer, Jimmy Redmon, is then interviewed about the origins of the sport and talks about the parallel that wakeboarding has to surfing, and explains how the invention of the sport was a direct result of a landlocked surfer pursuing a more aggressive approach to surfing behind small pleasure boats. Both early prototype test footage and modern footage provided by Liquid Force are used to chronicle how the sport has mutated, progressed and come full circle!

Another pastime highlighted in the film is, "wake surfing", or free surfing behind motor boats, and Fulbright travels hundreds of miles inland to expose a hardcore surfing sub-culture who are creating their own waves by modifying and ballasting ski boats and surfing for miles without a rope along inland lakes and rivers.

Next, surfing legend Gary Linden gives us a look into his first tidal bore expedition to the Amazon, to find and ride the world's longest wave, Porroroca, and talks of rides for up to 7 miles and of the dangers that accompany this strange event!
French world traveler Anthony "Yep" Colas shares his footage of a diehard crew of French surfers who chase down and ride the tidal bore waves along the Dordogne River.

Then, as only seen previously in the worldwide theatrical release, Step Into Liquid, the world of "tanker surfing" is exposed, and Fulbright shares 7 years of personal footage of he, his friends and special guests surfing the wakes of massive container ships and oil tankers in the Gulf of Mexico for miles, and explains how desperation and the doldrums led to this unique and challenging wave discovery, miles from the coast.

The film then chronicles the adventures of surfer, Elijah Mack, who head's up the World River Surfing Association (WRSA). Mack travels the planet searching for the ultimate standing waves, and shares footage of his most recent discovery in Africa and of his all time favorite river wave, Skookumchuck's Narrow, BC, Canada.

Finally, this film will touch on the ongoing quest for the next surfing alternative, which is the creation of artificial waves and surfing venues. Traveling from Japan to Virginia to Florida to Texas, Fulbright showcases wave-pools of the past, present and future and suggests that the sport's growth and future will depend on man's ability to continue to adapt and create their own waves.

Cast of characters:

Carl Ekstrom, Gary Linden, Tim Bessell, Max McDonald, Tom Stone, Jon Steele, Belen Connelly, Mike Hynson, Steve Jolly, Chip Van Nostrand, Jay Butki, Archie Kalepa, Wes Laine, Brian Keaulana, Jimmy Redmon, James Fulbright, Peter Davis, John Benson, Elijah Mack and a host of others.

James Fulbright is joined by producers Bob Ball and Troy Frizzell, a team with more than half a century of production experience behind them. Fulbright, Ball and Frizzell have used their expertise to take footage shot in HD, Beta SP, DVCam, as well as mini-dv, still photos and even super 8mm film to create this powerful documentary. Miles To Surf is propelled by a soundtrack featuring Bert Wills, Shark Attack, GENUSPRO, Red-I, Broken Spoke, Ekolu & Da Boyz, Mustang Lightning and Ian Ball..

DVD Release date: December 15, 2005

Contact James Fulbright