Riding Giants
| Company type | Documentary film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | Stacy Peralta, Agi Orsi |
Key people | Stacy Peralta (director, narrator), Agi Orsi (producer) |
| Products | Documentary film on big wave surfing |
Riding Giants is a documentary released in 2004, produced by Agi Orsi and both directed and narrated by Stacy Peralta, a distinguished figure in skating and surfing. The film delves into the beginnings of surfing, with an emphasis on the niche of big wave surfing. It showcases prominent surfers such as legends Greg Noll, Laird Hamilton, Jeff Clark, alongside trailblazers like Mickey Munoz. The premiere took place at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival.
Synopsis
This film follows the roots of surfing in Hawaii before shifting its focus to the domain of big-wave surfing, where waves can soar to tremendous heights. It documents the development of big-wave riding at Hawaii's Waimea Bay during the 1950s, advances in lightweight surfboard design, and the emergence of tow-in surfing, which allowed surfers to tackle enormous waves. Central personalities include Greg Noll, a daring big-wave surfer active in the 1950s and 60s; Jeff Clark, who was instrumental in pioneering surfing at Northern California’s Mavericks; and modern innovator Laird Hamilton, credited with popularizing tow-in surfing techniques.
Production
After his acclaimed work on Dogtown and Z-Boys, Peralta was chosen by French producer Franck Marty and associates to helm this documentary focusing on big wave surfing. His objective was to craft a film exploring the motivations behind individuals dedicating their lives to riding waves.
Riding Giants integrates a blend of still photography, archival footage, dramatizations, home videos, and interviews with leading surfers such as Jeff Clark, Laird Hamilton, Dave Kalama, Gerry Lopez, Greg Noll, Kelly Slater, and Peter Mel.
Soundtrack music
The soundtrack features a diverse lineup including artists like Basement Jaxx, David Bowie, Link Wray, Dick Dale, Doves, Fila Brazillia, Bill Haley & His Comets, The Hives, Linkin Park, John Mayall, Moby, Pearl Jam, The Ruts, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Soundgarden, The Stray Cats, Alice in Chains, Érik Satie and The Waterboys.
Reception
As the first documentary to open the prestigious Sundance Film Festival, Riding Giants earned the 2004 A.C.E. Eddie Award for Best Edited Documentary, credited to editor Paul Crowder. It maintains a 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has been recognized as "a valuable addition to existing surfing documentaries." Critic Roger Ebert remarked that it redefined surfing beyond common cultural clichés by offering a distinctive viewpoint.