A rotating flip into a reverse 360. Boom.
Not only is O’Neill sponsored rider Jordy Smith one of the highest paid surfers in the biz, but now the South African also holds arguably the highest core score to be had: it’s what GrindTv calls “the most high-performance maneuver ever executed on a wave.” Behold…

Go here for another killer surfing photo of Jordy Smith

Feel like getting a little Jordy style? Check out the Jordy Smith signature gear 

Ultra Slow Motion Wave Footage that Will Make You Wet Your Wettie.

Although only a short teaser, this 500-1000 frames-per-second clip has already had over 500,000 viewers drooling on their monitors over the 12 foot barrel footage. Captured by a new slow motion camera (don’t ask how much it costs; your “beer fund” coin jar isn’t gonna come up on this one), capable of capturing 300,000 frames per second, this footage is the first of its kind. With only 10 seconds of memory, one could imagine the time it took surfer Dylan Longbottom and camera man Bali Strikland to get these few extraordinary shots. The clip was shot for a Planet Earth type show about the South Pacific, scheduled to air some time this year. There are things on the footage the human eye has never been able to capture. Things you never even new happened on a wave.

Watch it and immerse yourself in an underwater realm of unconstrained joy. Or read the comments on the Youtube clip for some more colorful adjectives describing this amazing footage.

Taylor Steele’s latest film, “Days of  the Strange”, will make its California debut on Friday, May 8th at the Encinitas Community Center in Encinitas, CA. The $15 per ticket event is a fundraiser for the Kona-California Scholarship, which seeks to help students from Kailua-Kona, HI, pursue higher education on the mainland. The two-screening video premiere will be followed by a performance by the HI Roots, as well as a silent auction and raffle of items generously donated by Quiksilver, Reef, Nike 6.0, Nixon, 808 Stand up Paddleboards, Primo Island Lager, Monster Energy Drink, Clark Little Photography, and John Rowe Photography.

The Encinitas Community Center is located at 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive in Encinitas, CA.  Doors will open at 5:30 pm for the all ages showing taking place at 6:00 pm. After the film ends and the first crowd makes their way home, the doors will reopen at 7:15 pm for the age 18 and over second showing, which will occur at 8 pm sharp.

Get the newly released DVD of Days of the Strange HERE

Brace yourself guys, I’ve got an s-load of information to share. Let’s start with the vitals:

WHAT: The 2009 Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF) is proud to announce its Action Sports Film Series.

WHEN: April 24-30, 2009

WHERE: The Regency Lido Theater at 3459 Via Lido Drive and at Edwards Island Cinema, located at 999 Newport Center Drive in Fashion Island in Newport Beach.

For the big breakdown on the WHY and HOW, keep reading:

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If you’re into artsy, soul surfing flicks, and have yet to make weekend plans, I’d highly recommend catching a showing of Thomas Campbell’s new surf flick, The Present. Premiering tonight at Encinitas’ La Palmona, the two showings (7pm & 9pm) are expected to draw sizable crowds. Following Campbell’s previous films, The Seedling and Sprout, his newest project is sure to incorporate his signature art-laced style, along with some tri-fin action and overall exploration of the beauty of surfing and surfing culture.

Featured surfers include Dave Rastovich, Dane Reynolds, Rob Machado, Alex Knost, Joel Tudor, Sofia Mulanovich, C,J. Nelson, Ry Craike, Devon Howard, Dan Malloy, Harrison Roach, Kassia Meador, Jacob Stuth, Chelsea Georgenson Hedges, Chris Del Moro, Michael Junad, Ian King, and Danny Hess.

Tonight’s show at the historic La Paloma Theater promises appearances by surfers Dan Malloy, Keith Malloy, Rob Machado, Devon Howard, Kassia Meador and Chris del Moro.

To watch a trailer click here
For more screening dates click here 

It’s what I’d imagine the room to feel like right before the ultimate cage fight between a bear and tiger. The definitive brodown showdown was exposed last night at the Encinitas premiere of the new Andy/Kelly rivalry film, A Fly in the Champagne. As you’d imagine, the scene was, to put it in one word, intense. Rolling up to La Paloma (which if you haven’t heard, is the best place to watch a surf movie, hands down) you could feel the tension as both the Billabong and Quiksilver buses kept inching closer, squeezing the helpless Transworld SUV parked in between, fighting for prime placement in front of the entrance. Although temporarily occupied with bag of chips and guac and brown-bagged beverages, the crowd quickly turned into a full mob scene when Billabong’s AI took the stage with Cote, Sal Masekela, armfuls of Billabong/Quiksilver surf swag, and Kelly and Andy boards that got kicked down to two golden ticket holders. Unfortunately Number 9, Quiksilver’s K to the Slate, was alleged to be illin’ at home and couldn’t attend. Though I’d like to imagine that world champs don’t suffer from mortal constraints, so lets say he was busy saving a kitten from a tree and leave it at that. After the surge of sandaled kiddies calmed down and returned to their seat, the lights lowered, the cracking of beverages whispered through the rows, and the long-awaited rivalry began. 

In true ESPN style, the film began with a 300-esque build up tune that set the tone for the commencement of the ultimate battle between Kelly and Andy. Crushing Backdoor, Pipe, and J-Bay contest footage intensified the rivalry between the two most ascendant surfers of the past decade. Heavy backside 20-footers, impossible drop-ins, close ups of icy eyes, champagne and barrel spraying dramatized the mortal enemies’ passionate battle for the world champion title. The film climaxed with the uniting of the two rivals, along with a crew of surfing’s legends, on a surf trip that led the film to a touching, inspirational ending. I’m not sure, but I think I saw a Unicorn jump over a rainbow. Or it could have just been another close-up of Kelly’s baby blues. 

Although contest footage isn’t what I would prefer to see in a surf flick, it was not only appropriate for the rivalry, but necessary to intensify the battle between the two world champions. The superhuman power of the film’s stars made it one that even the non-surfer can admire for it’s adrenaline-laced footage and in-depth look at the most public and ultimate surfing rivalry of today. If you have a chance to catch a showing in the next month, lucky you. If not, you’ve got until March 15th let the rivalry marinate in your mind before the film is released.

Did anyone else see it? What’d ya think? Were you as stoked on the free chips and guac as I was (bet not)?

Check out a trailer here

Slater/Iron’s Fly in the Champagne: A Documentary Rooted in Rivalry
Will Premiere in Selected Theaters February 19th Through March 7th

The much anticipated Andy/Kelly film, Fly in the Champagne will premiere this February/March in 11 locations up and down both coasts of the USA. A rare look into the intense and sometimes very public rivalry between the two most ascendant surfers of their era, the film will undoubtedly create even more interest in these two dominant personalities while providing fascinating insights and behind the scene looks at one of professional surfing’s most long-running competitive duels.

Sponsored by the unlikely duo of the culture’s most iconic brands, Quiksilver and Billabong’s joint support is testimony to the star power of these two surfers as well as the tribal nature of surfing’s cooperative spirit when times are tough.

A Fly in the Champagne will be released on video March 15th.

With only a limited theatrical run from February 19 through March 7th, the expected interest will no doubt be at an all time high. Check the times dates and venues below:

JANUARY 21, 2009 PRESS RELEASE FROM QUIKSILVERFOUNDATION.ORG

Quiksilver is pleased to announce “Clay Marzo: Just Add Water” took home the award for Best Biography at the X-DANCE Action Sports Film Festival, Tuesday night in Salt Lake City. Screenings for X-DANCE took place between Friday, January 15 and Monday, January 19. Over 40 films were selected for showings, out of hundreds of film submissions. A big congratulation goes out to the film’s director, Jamie Tierney, executive producer Strider Wasilewski, and star Clay Marzo. A huge thanks goes out to Adam Klevin, Chris Bryan, Shaun Peterson, Kemp Curley, Natas Kaupas, Bob McKnight and Jill Marzo for helping to make the film a great success.

“Just Add Water” is an action-packed surf film that tells Clay Marzo’s inspirational story about the gifts and challenges of living with Asperger’s syndrome. Like other kids growing up on the island of Maui, Clay Marzo lived in the waves. His pure love of the ocean along with his natural talent allowed him to excel to new heights, pushing the limits again and again. A member of Quiksilver’s elite Young Guns crew, his spontaneous, unpredictable and creative style has earned him three NSSA National surfing titles. His role in “Just Add Water” won him Best Male Performance at the 2008 SURFER Magazine Poll and Video Awards.

The DVD costs $29.95 and includes fresh tracks from Cornelius, Pinback, Chromeo, The Beastie Boys, Sea Wolf, MGMT &The Vines, among others. A portion of proceeds goes to benefit Surfer’s Healing, a Foundation for Autism.

With tri-fins and 360’s to spare, Lost 5’5” x 19 ¼ Redux proves that it’s not the motion of the ocean, or the size of the board, it’s the pure shredability of the stick. The remake (redux) of the early 90’s surf film, dedicated to thick barrels and short fish, features heavy beach breaks shallow enough to bring the manliest of shaper to tears, some 90’s punk tunes, and butt loads of neon. Held at the classic La Paloma theater in Encinitas, the throwback surf video loads up on heavy rippers, including Chris Ward, Shane Beschen and Dane Reynolds, putting sub 5’6” boards to their limits. Ending with Cory Lopez and Ian Walsh surfing some epic, endless tubes, numero dos of 5’5” x 19 ¼” doesn’t disappoint. And after Kelly Slater’s recent Pipemasters Victory with “Deep Six”, a 5’11” shred stick, the film reaffirms bigger doesn’t always mean better.

Featured look: Lucy Love Maxi Stella Dress

When a girl has to compete with impeccably Italian-tailored Tom Ford suits for the spotlight, her style has to be right on cue. Throughout the classy, martini-soused years of  James Bond movies, the leading ladies have been challenged with finding fashions that can take some of the light from the man every woman wants and every man wants to be—while still appearing strong, elegant, and capable of wielding a hand gun while driving the getaway car. Think Honey Rider’s (Ursula Andress) iconic swimsuit, or Pussy Galore’s (Honor Blackman) curve-hugging sweater dresses adorned with powerful menswear accents. Such a look was once again seamlessly executed in the recent James Bond: Quantum of Solace. The spicy new leading lady, Olga Kurylenko, manages to dress in pieces that match the savvy nature of a Bond girl. With flowy, curvaceous gowns and youthful but rich separates, the new Bond girl is a perfect compliment to Daniel Craig’s (the latest actor to play Bond) high class suits. With poise, power, and undeniable sex appeal, women throughout the Bond legacy have at one time thought “I want to be her”. To get a taste of that Bond girl look, we’ve chosen some of the (more…)