Sidetracked

As a surfer, my dream is to one day surf down a big pile of potatoes in Idaho.

Okay, maybe not. But a couple of Australians did this because, well — they wanted to surf.

And they were in Idaho.

And that’s pretty much the premise of the movie “Surfing 50 States,” which will be featured in two screenings at the Palm Theatre Friday. The movie follows two Australian surfers, Jonno Durrant and Stefan Hunt, as they come to America and attempt to surf in every state.

Obviously, that’s do-able in states like California and Hawaii. But it’s a little more challenging in, say, Idaho.

But, as Durrant told NPR during their quest, “As long as we’re standing on a surfboard, we’re counting that as surfing.”

That may be bending the rules. But who doesn’t want to see quirky Aussies surfing irrigation ditches? Whatever they “surfed,” the film makers tried to do something that represented the state they were in.

Hence the potatoes. And lakes. And stairs.

As their plans progressed the two managed to get sponsors, including surf company Hurley, which provided them with a vehicle – a 1987 GMC ice cream truck that actually plays 32 ice cream truck songs. The truck didn’t always run, but it did provide a place to sleep some nights (though the Aussies usually found people willing to give them shelter.)

I haven’t seen the movie, but the clips look silly and fun. While many surf movies explore travel, this is pretty much the first to explore surf travel in places without surf.

When their trip was over, the two surfers said some of their best waves were in Alaska (6-foot cold waves) and Alabama.

We’ll see if they paddle out in San Luis Obispo County. Both Durrant and Hunt are expected to be at Friday’s screening to promote the movie, which opens this week.

Photos: Surfing50states.com

Posted on November 18th, 2008 by Pat
Filed under: Movies, Surf stuff