Film Review: The Longest Wave with Robbie Naish
As many surfers will tell you, surfing is not a sport. Which is meant to say it’s more of an art and a lifestyle. But that doesn’t mean it’s not competitive. Professional surfing is steeped in a fierce and patriotic battle spanning decades. Not all pro’s experience all sides of it—Robby Naish has.
“I have never thought of surfing as a sport--not a traditional sport anyway. It’s not something you do casually, like playing a round of golf with your mates on weekends. It’s much more of a drug, a lifestyle, a religion.”
-Nat Young
The Longest Wave honors the career of Robby Naish, an athlete forged by the hammer and anvil of big, gnarly waves. The flick was directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Joe Berlinger (Tonny Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru, Metallica This Monster Lives) and produced by Red Bull Films.
Robby has been a pioneer and pro competitor as a windsurfer, kiter, standup paddle surfer, big wave chaser, and foiler--all of which is often summarized by the term: waterman. From racing to airs, he’s proven himself as a well-rounded waterman. Something that requires a wide set of skills from the velocity aspect of racing to the creative style of airs.
© BOB BANGERTER/RED BULL CONTENT POOL
Robbie carved this lifestyle out for himself. As such, he lived a life that you or I dreamt about as a boy or girl, or perhaps later on in life as a Lost Boy or Girl still refusing to grow up. A life that takes you around the globe in search of perfect rides. That lets you dip in and out of other cultures. That lets you deeply explore the physics of hydrodynamics--a science used in building surfboards and watercrafts.
Over a person’s lifetime, many peaks and valleys lie upon the topographical map of being human. Coincidentally, many of Robby’s valleys happened while filming, The Longest Wave. He could’ve pulled back as a naturally more reserved person. But instead, Robby broke outside of himself, stayed true to his story, and shared the raw, painful bits that tested him in a harder, different way.
And I think most viewers will be grateful for it and will enjoy sharing Robby’s longest wave.
