The lives of surfers, on and off board

By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Kaua'i's Andy Irons figures prominently in the new surf film, "Blue Horizon," which makes its Hawai'i debut Thursday. "Blue Horizon" 8 p.m. Thursday and July 2 at the Blaisdell Concert Hall 7 and 9 p.m. July 3 at the Waialua Community Association $10 at the door; $8 advance, available at Hawaiian Island Creations, Town & Country and Local Motion shops Also: On the Big Island, 7:30 p.m. July 6 at Kahilu Theater; 7:30 p.m. July 7 at the Palace Theatre; 6 and 8 p.m. July 8 at the Aloha Theatre. On Maui: 7:30 p.m. July 9 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. On Kaua'i, 6 and 8 p.m. July 10 at the Aloha Beach Resort, 6 and 8 p.m. July 11 at the Kilauea Theatre, 6 and 8 p.m. July 12 at the Waimea Theatre

Much of the film is devoted to Kaua'i surfer Andy Irons' ferocious pursuit of a second world championship, the rest to the Kerouac-like wanderings of New Zealand's Dave Rastovich, a soul surfer with tremendous skills but no appetite for competition.

Fans of the genre will want to plan ahead for the film's very brief tour of the Islands. It begins in Honolulu Thursday and winds up on Kaua'i July 12.

"Blue Horizon" is McCoy's first theatrical film in more than 20 years. Like most surf films, his projects normally go straight to video. But, buoyed by the success of "Step Into Liquid" and other recent releases, McCoy, who grew up on O'ahu, has been touring the film at large-screen venues around the world. Surf promoter Randy Rarick arranged for the screenings after seeing the film in Australia a few months ago.

"It's not something we normally do," he said. "But it's a different sort of film."

Through Irons and Rastovich, the film examines two seemingly polar ideas about what it means to make a living and a life out of surfing.

Here, Irons is represented as an embodiment of what the sport has become, a worthy champion with maximum market potential. His counterpoint is the preternaturally serene "Rasta," who survives on a Billabong sponsorship with no obligation to compete. Rastovich, we learn, is a student of the sport who spends his days connecting with surf gurus and traveling the world in search of unique surf experiences.

Irons begins his journey for a second title in something of a funk.

"I just want to be happy," he says from his home on Kaua'i. "I've been grumpy lately. I just want to be happy, no problems, be stoked, surf good waves."

The film follows Irons through Australia, Indonesia, Japan, South Africa, France, Spain, Brazil and finally Hawai'i as an increasingly intense competition for the tour lead shapes up between him and six-time champion Kelly Slater. To his credit, McCoy makes no effort to mask the champ's sometimes surly personality. Irons is shown both graciously accommodating the hordes of fans that show up for his appearances and bitterly mocking a reporter's question after a tough loss.

The rivalry between Irons and Slater almost overpowers the film's premise comparing the different lifestyles and beliefs of Irons and Rastovich.

McCoy's solution is to turn Rastovich into the film's designated historian, invoking the names and images of some of the sport's most influential figures (check out the footage of Duke Kahanamoku) as a way of segueing into deeper discussions of where surfing has been and where it's going. Interspersed between Irons' intense, high-energy segments, the Rastovich chapters have a decidedly trippy, free-flow feel.

And while "Horizon" never quite makes McCoy's point of "two paths, one journey," the film does provide an intriguing look into the lives of two top surfers (three, if you count Slater), some stunning surf sequences, and good chronicle of one of the most exciting professional surf seasons in recent memory.

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2461.