Waveriders is a 2009 documentary film

Documentary film

Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...

. The film was produced by Margo Harkin and directed by Joel Conroy.

Plot

Waveriders focuses on the Irish roots of surfing. The film covers the life of Irish-Hawaiian surfer George Freeth

George Freeth

George Freeth is often credited as being the "Father of Modern Surfing". He is also thought to have been the first modern surfer.- Biography :...

 and his influence in popularizing surfing in California and his contributions to lifeguarding.
It also follows Irish, British and American surfers Richie Fitzgerald

Richie Fitzgerald

-Surf Career:He appeared in surfing documentaries such as Joel Conroy's Eye of the Storm in 2002 and Step Into Liquid in 2003. In 2009 he co-lead with Gabe Davies in Joel Conroy's first featured documentary, Waveriders. Together they tow surfed the biggest swell to have been ridden off the Irish...

, Gabe Davies, Kelly Slater

Kelly Slater

Robert Kelly Slater is an American professional surfer known for his competitive prowess and style. He has been crowned ASP World Champion a record 11 times, including 5 consecutive titles from 1994–98. He is the youngest and the oldest to win the title...

 and the Malloy Brothers. The surfers conquer enormous sixty foot waves - the biggest swell to have been ridden off the Irish Atlantic Coast.

Irish surfer Easkey Britton

Easkey Britton

Easkey Britton is an Irish surfer.In 2008 she won her fourth consecutive Irish National Surfing Championship title in Bundoran and in 2009 became the British Pro-Tour Champion....

 is also featured in the film and was the first female surfer to ride the "big wave", Aill na Searrach

Doolin

Doolin is a coastal village in County Clare, Ireland, on the Atlantic coast. It borders the spa town of Lisdoonvarna. It is a noted centre of traditional Irish music, which is played nightly in its pubs, making it a popular tourist destination. There are numerous nearby archaeological sites, many...

 off the Cliffs of Moher

Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher are located in the parish of Liscannor at the south-western edge of the Burren area near Doolin, which is located in County Clare, Ireland....

 in 2007.

Production

Director Joel Conroy began planning the film in 2005 when he read about George Freeth in a newspaper. He researched Freeth's background, tracking down his friends and relatives.
The film was in development for 3 years; filming was over 2 years. It was shot on 35 mm film

35 mm film

35 mm film is the film gauge most commonly used for chemical still photography and motion pictures. The name of the gauge refers to the width of the photographic film, which consists of strips 35 millimeters in width...

 to give it a vintage feel.

Awards

Waveriders won the 2008 Audience Choice Award from the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival

Jameson Dublin International Film Festival

The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival is a film festival that is held annually in February over the course of ten days in Dublin, Republic of Ireland-History:The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival was established in 2003...

, the 2009 Irish Film and Television Awards inaugural George Morrison Feature Documentary Award and the Best Documentary Award at the 2009 SURFER Poll & Video Awards.

Margo Harkin (Producer) and Joel Conroy (Director) were awarded Outstanding Achievement in film making for Waveriders at the 2009 Newport Beach Film Festival.

External links

• Waveriders official website
• Waveriders at All Movie Guide