Riding Giants Details

This second excellent documentary feature from ex-skateboard star Stacy Peralta (his debut film Dogtown and Z-Boys charted the development of vertical skateboarding) examines the development of big-wave surfing from its origins in Hawaii in the 1950s through to the new style of jet-ski assisted surfing that gives adrenalin junkies access to what were impossibly huge waves only a few years ago. As with Dogtown, Peralta uses extensive archive footage and personal reminiscences to chart the development of the sport. This not only reflects the dedication but also the obsession the surfers have for the sea and their pastime. He's aided by top-notch editing as well as a cracking soundtrack, but it's the obvious passion that Peralta has for his subject matter that gives this superb documentary its abundant energy.

Gawping at Peraltas panting docu-pageants and gawping seems the requisite mien in the face of his low-slung... read more on Time Out