With New York hosting the East Coast’s first ASP World Tour event this past September (the richest in history, with $300,000 going to Owen Wright for first place), we can’t help but root on “the world’s greatest city” in its renaissance as an East Coast surfing epicenter.

Of course, that event, coupled with the 4^th annual New York Surf Film Festival which followed, brought over 2,500 people in attendance with numerous parties and premieres, to celebrate the wonderful sport of surfing in The Big Apple. Presented by the Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA), the NYSFF welcomed international filmmakers, avid surfers, legendary surf photographers, film buffs, and friends to Cinema Village, NYC on September 15^th - 17^th for a screening of more than 40 films from around the world, as well as intimate Q&A sessions.

Well, the votes are in and the Official Jury 2011 NYSFF Film Awards for outstanding workin both feature and short form film, cinematography, and soundtrack, as well as the viewer’s choice selection, were announced last month.

Congratulations to the winners:

2011 BEST FEATURE FILM AWARD: COME HELL OR HIGH WATER

2011 BEST NOT SO SHORT SHORT FILM AWARD: CHASING THE SWELL

2011 BEST SHORT FILM AWARD: LUNCHBREAK

2011 BEST SOUNDTRACK AWARD: THIRTY THOUSAND

2011 BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD: COME HELL OR HIGH WATER

2011 VIEWER’S CHOICE AWARD: LOST & FOUND

For more information on the films, check out http://www.nysurffilm.com/. Also check in at http://newyorksurffilmfestival.com/ for 2012 festival details and updates. Continue reading →

Amsterdam-born photographer and filmmaker, Ari Marcopoulos, is currently exhibiting his latest photographic collection, “Dark Sun” at Nike’s Bowery Stadium in NYC. “Dark Sun,” which opened this week, documents NYC’s incognito surfing community and examines and portrays the lesser seen community of surfers who live in America’s largest urban metropolis.

Marcopoulos, who got his start as an assistant to Andy Warhol when he moved to New York in the 80s, is well-known for his photographic depictions of the diverse and often gritty subcultures of American youth. Artists, snowboarders, musicians and skateboarders have been both muses and commercial subject-matter throughout his quarter century career as a photographer. “Dark Sun,” which was shot on 35mm over just two weeks, takes a raw look at a handful of New York’s surf breaks and the people who ride them.

Marcopoulos’ grainy black-and-white photography set against the sculptural wave installation of the Bowery Stadium, and thoroughly thrashed by members of the local skate and surf community, compliments and is the perfect venue for his latest solo exhibition. Marcopoulos beautifully portrays the calm sense of spirit in his portraiture, highlighting each subject’s strong sense of confidence and enigmatic style of East Coast surfing.

“Dark Sun” will be on display through September 26th. Continue reading →

If you’re on the quest to be healthy, check out Surfing and Health, Doc Paskowitz’s insights on how to live a fit and flourishing life. At 90, Dorian “Doc” Paskowitz, is one of the oldest living legends of surfing. Renowned as an early pioneer of the sport, Paskowitz was a Stanford-educated physician who gave up practicing medicine for a living, and decided to become a professional surfer after he felt he was living a meaningless, fraudulent life.

Continue reading →