Surf’s up at Thurso for new documentary
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THURSO East is set to play a major part in a documentary which will tell the story of the success of British surfing.
The Endless Winter, which is due to be screened next year, is a unique look at the people who have defined surfing in this country.
It is a joint project between Level Films and Ford Motor Company which are aiming to produce an eccentric, charming and entertaining look at the country’s 80-year history with the sport.
The film is being produced by directors Matt Crocker and James Dean who, despite not being surfers themselves, are fascinated with the sport’s origins and its characters.
They enlisted the help of top British surfers Mitch Corbett and Mark Harris who have travelled for the last six weeks across the country to discover what drove the nation’s workers and war heroes into the freezing waters to ride the waves.
Director Matt said that Thurso has had a huge say in the country’s surfing history and was the UK’s premier venue.
"The documentary is about meeting the guys who kicked the whole thing off," he said. "We’re lucky enough to have two of the country’s top pro surfers on board for the project.
"They really enjoy the lifestyle which they can live and credit it to those who first started the surfing scene.
"Thurso East is really the ultimate find for the surfing community in the UK. Since we have been here we have seen nothing but perfect waves.
"We have been working our way up the country, but it was in Thurso East in the late 1970s that it was established that there were world-class waves on British shores.
"As well as looking at the history of surfing, we are really interested in meeting the characters who were involved during the early days.
"There is a real eccentricity about some of the characters we have met.
He continued: "We met a local man called Pat Kieran, from Liverpool, who now lives in Reay, who chose to move to the area due to the fact he had heard about these amazing waves.
"Rather than a detailed history, its about hearing from people why they chose to get in the water with what was at the time basic wet suits and surfboards.
"It can be taken for granted that what was something of a cult in the late ’60s has now turned into a thriving industry."
The documentary has taken the team from Newquay in Cornwall up to west Wales and Northumberland before arriving for the last stop of their tour in Caithness tracing the steps of British Surf Pioneers.
The team arrived at Thurso East this week during the Scottish Open Championships where pro surfer Mark reached the quarter-final stage.
The Cornwall native has been a professional surfer for most of his adult life and has travelled the world to compete. He said the chance to take part in the documentary was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.
"The directors wanted two top surfers to discover the generation who have made the sport what it is today," he said.
"From Mitch’s and my point of view, it has been an absolute pleasure to hear about these guys’ stories and how they helped surfing boom.
"We have been really stoked to have been involved with the project and hopefully we can show the first generation what we have been able to achieve thanks to them."
He added: "I have competed in Thurso for years and it is definitely one of the favourite spots on the UK tour.
"It is definitely a world-class venue. It might not be as consistent as Hawaii, Indonesia or Australia but that makes it more special when you put in the dedication to come, as when the condition are right, it’s as good as anywhere in the world."
The Endless Winter is set to be released in cinemas next year.
For more information visit www.theendlesswinter.co.uk
