Chasing Dora Surf Movie comes to the Surfing Heritage Foundation
August 7, 2006
The Southern California premiere screening of “Chasing Dora,” a surf movie with a unique twist inspired by one of surfing’s most enigmatic characters, will take place Friday, August 18, at the Surfing Heritage Foundation in San Clemente.
“Chasing Dora” is the story of three California surfers who decided to bring to life an epic challenge thrown down by one of surfing’s greatest stylists, the renowned maverick, Miki Dora, who died in 2002 at age 67. Dora was one of the sport’s iconic figures. He railed against the commercialization of surfing, yet endorsed one of the best-selling surfboard models of the mid-’60s surf boom; he decried competitive surfing, yet still chose to enter some, and floated schemes to promote others; he shunned publicity, yet managed to use the surf media to create an almost mythic persona for himself. “Chasing Dora” takes on one of his radical ideas—that the ultimate test of a truly great surfer would be in a contest for the longest wave ridden, on a self-made wooden board, with no equipment or accessories that stemmed from the industrial age—no plastics, no neoprene suits, no surf leashes.
The challenge took the film’s stars, Robert "Wingnut" Weaver, Marc Andreini, and Mickey Muñoz, halfway around the world to Jeffreys Bay, South Africa, where they faced some of the largest swells of the year on their hand-made wood boards, wearing nothing but wool trunks and vests in frigid 50 degree water.
But “Chasing Dora” is not just a film of retro whimsy. By a fortunate coincidence, the crew arrived at Jeffreys Bay just after a top-flight World Championship Tour event and many top pro surfers had stuck around to enjoy freesurfing in the fantastic conditions. Amazing contemporary action from World Champions Kelly Slater and Andy Irons stands in stark contrast to Dora’s anachronistic challenge.
“Chasing Dora” is the second in a summer series of surf films intended to entertain, inspire and raise funds for the non-profit Surfing Heritage Foundation’s mission to create understanding and appreciation of surfing as a sport, lifestyle and culture. One of the film’s makers, Wes Brown, is grandson of Bruce Brown, whose mid-’60s movie “The Endless Summer” remains the most successful surf film of all time. Wes Brown’s father, Dana, is also an accomplished documentary surf filmmaker, best known for his 2003 hit, “Step Into Liquid.”
The Surfing Heritage Foundation will open its doors early at 7:00 p.m. on Friday August 18 to give the audience time to tour the facility’s fascinating display of some 150-plus historic surfboards dating back to the 1890s. The under-the-stars outdoor screening of the film will begin at dusk (approximately 8:30 p.m.). Tickets are $10 for general admission. A special VIP admission for $25 includes preferred seating and a choice of refreshments. Attendance is limited to 300 seats and advance tickets may be purchased by calling (949) 388-0313.
The summer surf film series is being produced by Keiko Beatie and Big Red Productions. The “Chasing Dora” premiere is sponsored by Op and Icons of Surf.
Surfing Heritage Foundation is located at 110 Calle Iglesia, San Clemente, CA 92672.
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