WAVERIDERS centres on the little-known history of an Irish/Hawaiian man, George Freeth, who was responsible for the rebirth of surfing that has now become a global phenomenon. The story is driven by this history on a journey from Ireland to Hawaii and California and back to Ireland where we discover the modern day pioneers of big wave surfing. The film opens on Irish shores with colourful and dynamic images of Gabriel Davies surfing Irish waves accompanied by the music of U2. Magical images of scenery are intercut with stunning underwater shots - whetting the appetite for what is to come. A voiceover from North American surfing authority, Drew Kampion, opens the dialogue as he refers to the integration of surfers into the natural world. The tone is instantly poetic, which continues throughout the film with quotes from WB Yeats and Oscar Wilde appearing sparingly on the screen. Surfer and central cast member Richard Fitzgerald from County Donegal gives his opinion of why surfing in Ireland has become so popular and why Ireland is special as a surfing destination. Richard’s big wave surfing partner from Newcastle, North-East England, Gabriel Davies, adds his opinion of Irish surfing by extolling the magic of surfing friendly, uncrowded waves. The introduction is summed up by record-breaking now nine-times surfing Champion of the World, Kelly Slater, who simply describes Ireland as ‘a cold paradise’.
Film Crew
- : Joel Conroy
- : Daniel Trapp
- : Freddie Claire
- : Simon Kerr
- : Douglas Moxon
- : Daniel Nugent
- : Besom Productions
- : Inis Films
- : Element Pictures Distribution
Technical Information
- Color
- English
Keywords
Images
Videos
Trailer
WAVERIDERS centres on the little-known history of an Irish/Hawaiian man, who was responsible for the rebirth of surfing that has now become a global phenomenon.-
"Director Joel Conroy has had the inspired idea of using the Undertones' Teenage Kicks as backing music to some awe-inspiring big-wave action. A new culture of surf is developing in Ireland, to match England's Cornish scene. Cillian Murphy narrates."
Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian -
"The photography is stunning, with wave upon wave captured and slowed-down, giving the audience a view of how majestic the sport is. Be it night-surfing at 3am, or the Cliffs of Moher with waves the size of houses crashing against the beach."
Padraic Geoghegan, RTE -
"The film also conveys the sense of genuine danger, as the film culminates with professional surfers Gabe Davies and Richard Fitzgerald tow-surfing (using jet-skis to reach the waves) in order to ride waves that are over 50 feet high."
Matthew Turner, The View Belfast -
"Did you hear the one about the Irish surfer? It sounds like the set-up to another tired gag, but this doc assures us the connections are worth taking seriously."
Trevor Johnston, TimeOut London -
"The film is packed with poetry. There is a sequence in early morning light off Antrim where surfers ride waves as the moon glitters on the water. "Surfers, because they're exposed to the wild, have something most of society has lost," says one surfer. And Conroy goes to great lengths to capture this. Waveriders harnesses something intangible: that spiritual purity that lures extreme surfers to the ocean."
Paul Lynch, The Tribune Arts
Waveriders is an excellent movie. To be highly recommended.
Makes me want to give surfing a try. Movie is shorter than it says here tho - NOT 1h 28m but actually 1h 15m.. still well worth watching tho!
Amazing movie!!!!!!