Famous brother and filmmaker Chris Malloy apparently had better things to do this weekend than to attend the world premiere of his newest film One Track Mind (like work on his next film 180 South). That did not, however, keep hundreds of people from lining up outside the Patagonia Store in Cardiff, California last night for the film’s two showings (the line for the second showing stacked up all the way to The Office).
One Track Mind takes a look at the world of progressive contest surfing through the minds and wave riding of current, former, and potentially future ASP champs like Rabbit Bartholomew, Kelly Slater, Andy Irons, Taj Burrow, Rob Machado, Mick Fanning, Jon Jon Florence, Jordy Smith, Sunny Garcia, Dane Renolds, Kolohe Andino, and others.
Rather than the usual artsy, hippie, trip-out “Malloy” film, One Track Mind is a clean, concise documentary that could easily be a 2008 update to the classic 1990 Bill Delaney film Surfers: The Movie.
In interviews the surfers explain what it’s like to try to be the best in the world and how each generation builds on the past to push progression forward. The interviews are interspersed with amazingly tight action sequences that almost become boring in their brilliance.
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There was barely time to move one crowd out and the next mob in between showings in the back parking lot of the Patagonia store. Even the sidewalks were packed with people.
While all the surfers are obviously relaxed and insightful in their interviews, the star of film is Dane Reynolds. His honesty and self-depricating sense of humor show exactly why he is currently the surf industry’s hottest commodity. This is especially evident when he talks about competition. “Aside from a few amateur events, I’ve never really won a contest,” he says. “So I kind of equate surfing contest with losing.”
Dane also confesses that when he wins heats he feel guilty about beating the loser, and then concludes that this kind of attitude probably isn’t what drives people to win ASP world championship titles. His comments continually had the audience laughing out loud, especially when he said that he only surfs glassed on fins but that Kelly Slater is the best in the world and he uses fin systems, “Go figure,” Dane says.
The Mattson 2 were on hand to entertain the crowds between shows. . . and they just keep getting better.
The best part of One Track Mind is getting to see the surfers admitting (in often humorous ways) to how much they love winning and how pissed off they are when they lose. Rob Machado thinks back to 1995 when his world title hopes ended in a semifinal Pipeline heat against Kelly Slater. “People said I should have run him over, not high fived him,” Rob says.
Sunny Garcia talks about all the holes he’s punched in walls and how he’s put dents in metal doors trying to get to judges that didn’t see his heat correctly. Jordy Smith tells of climbing up into the announcers booth after losing a heat and punching the announcer.
And because getting good waves anywhere usually requires this same kind of competitive drive (whether we want to admit it or not) most all of us can relate. And that’s what makes One Track Mind such required viewing for anyone who surfs.
The next showing will be on October 18, 2008 at Festival of The Art Grounds, Laguna Canyon Road. Click the link for more info.
[Link: Woodshed Films]
