It's bold and interesting times, where the lines between what companies and organisations do is so blurred. The WSL; once a sporting body now looks far more like a Media House. Red Bull...make energy drinks right? Red Bull Media is its own massive global entity, producing magazines, Tv shows and in fact a channel to broadcast TV shows.
Is our National Surfing body going the same way? ... I'd actually like to see it happen. I think the old model of hosting surfing events [effectively being an events company], while super important, just simply does not engage with the NZ Surfing community at large. In other words, your average Kiwi Surfer has no interest in competing in a comp, sitting on the rocks at Manu Bay watching 4 foot sou'west chop for their precious weekend. We wanna go surfing man!
While it has been a pipeline dream of SNZ's GM Ben Kennings for a while that bloody Covid thing gave BK the opportunity to spearhead the Flightless Obsession film project. In a very democratic way; he invited any and everyone to submit clips, similarly to Kiwi bands for the soundtrack and even the title was chosen via a voting process, how very inclusive. Of course surfers are slack buggers and BK spent weeks chasing surfers he knew had good clips.
Whanga grom Hunter Cooney got the unenviable task of coupling all the clips into a cohesive flow. I think the 15 year old excelled behind his years.
The footage at times, as you have to expect, is pretty averagely shot, but the content is what this film is all about. It's rad, its certainly worth a watch or three. It's not claiming to be a cinematic journey of excellence. It is what it is; a snapshot and scrapbook of what's going on in NZ currently [there are a few clips of Indo and Oz].
Through my rose tinted glasses I'd like to see SNZ smash out at least one of these a year, continue the inclusiveness and engagement.
Anyway, here it is... enjoy...
And here's SNZ's official press release on it, which also has the link to the movie.
In Other News
...this is going to be sooooo good! My good mate Mags is putting on her very first solo exhibition. Mags is already an award winning photographer, most years spending the winter either in Tahiti or northern Tonga chasing whales... you can't really say shooting whales aye. Her work is noting short of stellar.... bring your wallet.
From the Bookstore
The South Seas is out and NZ Surf The Collection Volume 2 ain't too far behind! I think there's less than 200 left...maybe more, but either way it's not gonna last summer. If you want a copy or just a window shop, check it out HERE