Registered or Premium Member? LOG IN  |  Become a Member: TRY PREMIUM FREE
A TASTE OF CHAMPAGNE
The Slater/Irons rivalry hits the big screen during the Santa Barbara premiere of A Fly in the Champagne
Photos: All photos by Tyler Cuddy
SURF NEWS Kelly Slater and Andy Irons attend the premier of their new surf movie, A Fly in the Champagne
February 22, 2009
23206 visits
The history of sport is filled with epic rivalries: Ali/Frazier, Palmer/Nicklaus, Yankees/Dodgers, Lakers/Celtics.
 
Surfing, over the years, has seen its share of bitter rivalries, too -- Nat Young and Midget Farrelly battled to the point where today, decades after dueling for world titles, they still won't speak to each other. The Curren/Occy duels of the '80s, although not as antagonistic as Young vs. Farrelly, were great competitive theater -- many credit their rivalry with helping lift pro surfing into the modern era. Even today, we are seeing a possible new rivalry emerge in the form of superfreaks Jordy and Dane.

But none of these encounters, as interesting as they have been, or one day may be, can hold a candle to the Herculean battles we witnessed between Andy Irons and Kelly Slater.
Their struggles against one another, and enmity toward each other, have been well-documented.

What has not been so well-documented is their recent, unlikely friendship. And so it was interesting -- and almost a bit uncomfortable -- to see them on stage together in Santa Barbara on Friday, February 20, laughing and joking while introducing their new film, "A Fly in the Champagne" -- a movie directed by Matt Beauchesne that vividly examines their unique surfing relationship.

 Although not heavily promoted, and despite an indifferent review by one of the magazines, the movie seems to have caught the attention of California surfers, as hundreds turned out to see the film at the S.B. premiere -- this after two packed showings in San Diego the night before.

In addition to what was by all accounts was an engaging and entertaining movie (one of the best this writer has seen in years), the audience was treated to free swag from Billabong and Quik, a chance to win personal surfboards from Kelly and AI, as well as an opportunity to talk with the two surfers right after the film.

"A Fly in the Champagne" has two showings left on the West Coast before heading east for screenings from February 26 through March 7. DVD sales are rumored to begin in April.

Below is the upcoming schedule:

TBA, San Francisco, Balboa
Feb 26, Newport Beach, Lido Theater
Feb 26, Ocean City, MD, TBA
Feb 27, Virginia Beach, VA, Chichos
Feb 28, Wilmington, NC, Wild Wing Cafe
March 3, Charleston, SC, TBA
March 5, Jacksonville, FL, Land Sharks
March 6, Satellite Beach, FL, Da Kine Diego's
March 7, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Cinema Paradiso

-- Dave Gilovich
MORE SURF NEWS
SURFLINE HOME PAGE