A Few Surf Movies You Need to See

If you ever find time to kick back, make some popcorn and pop a movie in , try one of these surf movies to get yourself stoked about jumping back in the water.  We think that these seven surf movies (in no particular order) will inspire your ride and blow your mind!

Spectacular Surf Movies

1) Morning of the Earth (1972):  This classic 70's surf movie is the epitome of beach bum behavior.  Directed by Alby Falzon, the film follows bearded, barefoot surfers as they travel for the perfect wave, making their boards (and their homes) along the way.  While it was shot mostly in Hawaii and Australia, this is the surf movie that debuted the surf gold mine that is Indonesia.

2)  Surfwise (2007):  This documentary about Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz, a doctor who abandons his medical practice to get away from the lifestyle of mainstream America.  The surf movie centers on his eccentric life with his wife and nine children in a mobile home next to some of the best surf in the states.  It premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2007, and focuses on the bonds and burden of family.

3)  Riding Giants (2004):  This surf movie was the first documentary to ever open the Sundance Film Festival, and takes you through the bold history of big wave surfing in three main chapters.  It opens with American big wave surfing pioneer Greg Noll, who was the first surfer to ride a wave breaking at Pipeline in 1964.  It also includes Jeff Clark, the man who was surfing Mavericks alone for 15 years before the spot was discovered, and Laird Hamilton, dubbed the co-inventor of tow-in surfing.

4)  The Endless Summer (1966):  This is a timeless classic when it comes to surf movies.  The Endless Summer follows some west coast surfers as they travel the world searching for the best waves.  In doing so, this surf movie set the tone for many films to follow.  It began the surf travel culture that so many watermen and waterwomen are into today that involves traveling to find that perfect wave and meeting new people along the way.

5)  The September Sessions (2000):  Singer and surfer Jack Johnson got together the best of the best, including Kelly Slater, Rob Machado and Shane Dorian, to make this surf movie that's set in some of the world's best waves out in the Mentawai Islands.  What's awesome is that the surf cinematography isn't the only cool part of the film.  Johnson scored the film himself, only to have his first album, Brushfire Fairytales, debut a few months after his movie.

6)  Step Into Liquid (2004):  Director Dana Brown's father, Bruce Brown, directed the 1966 film The Endless Summer, so it's safe to say that surf movies run in this family.  Step Into Liquid is the fifth highest grossing sports documentary of all time, and profiles some of the greatest surf spots around.  The film covers just about every spot, including Easter Island, Cortes Bank and, of course, Pipeline.

7)  Billabong Odyssey (2003):  In this surf movie directed by Philip Boston, surfers travel the world for the ultimate ride and rush of big wave surfing.  The intensity is unbelievable as the surfers spend 18 months searching 6 continents to ride 70-80-foot waves.  Billabong Odyssey features an outstanding cast of big wave surfers, including Carlos Burle, Ken Collins, Jeff Clark and Flea Virostko.