Waveriders

Waveriders focuses on the Irish roots of surfing. The film covers the life of Irish-Hawaiian surfer George Freeth and his influence in popularizing surfing{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7316872.stm | work=BBC News | title=Ulster roots man who gave world surfing | date=March 27, 2008 | first=Johnny | last=Caldwell}} in California and his contributions to lifeguarding.

It also follows Irish, British and American surfers Richie Fitzgerald, Gabe Davies, Kelly Slater and the Malloy Brothers. The surfers conquer enormous sixty foot waves - the biggest swell to have been ridden off the Irish Atlantic Coast.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/red-bulletin/riding-green-giants-1810176.html |title=Riding Green Giants | work=Irish Independent |date=July 7, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090710035548/http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/red-bulletin/riding-green-giants-1810176.html | archive-date=July 10, 2009 | url-status=dead }}

Irish surfer Easkey Britton is also featured in the film and was the first female surfer to ride the "big wave", Aill na Searrach off the Cliffs of Moher in 2007.{{cite web | author=Declan Cashin | title=The surfer girl who's making big waves | work=Irish Independent | date=August 12, 2009 | url=http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/independent-woman/the-surfer-girl-whos-making-big-waves-1856998.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813105456/http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/independent-woman/the-surfer-girl-whos-making-big-waves-1856998.html | archive-date=August 13, 2009 | url-status=dead }}

Director Joel Conroy began planning the film in 2005 when he read about George Freeth in a newspaper. He researched Freeth's background, tracking down his friends and relatives.

The film was in development for 3 years; filming was over 2 years. It was shot on 35mm film to give it a vintage feel.

Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 56% based on reviews from 16 critics.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1226720-waveriders/|title=Waveriders|website=Rotten Tomatoes |accessdate=6 December 2016}}

{{Anchor|Awards|Accolades}}

Waveriders won the 2008 Audience Choice Award from the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival,{{cite web|url=http://www.surfersvillage.com/surfing/33025/news.htm|title=Latest News|accessdate=6 December 2016}} the 2009 Irish Film and Television Awards inaugural George Morrison Feature Documentary Award{{cite web|url=http://www.iftn.ie/?act1=record&aid=73&rid=4281900&sr=1&only=1&hl=waveriders&tpl=archnews|title=Irish Film & Television Awards Winners Announced - The Irish Film & Television Network|accessdate=6 December 2016}} and the Best Documentary Award at the 2009 SURFER Poll & Video Awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.surfersvillage.com/surfing/43000/news.htm|title=Latest News|accessdate=6 December 2016}}

Margo Harkin (Producer) and Joel Conroy (Director) were awarded Outstanding Achievement in film making for Waveriders at the 2009 Newport Beach Film Festival.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000491/2009|title=Newport Beach Film Festival (2009)|website=IMDb |accessdate=6 December 2016}}

• Surfing in Ireland
• Surf film
• Cinema of Ireland

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.waveridersthefilm.com/ Waveriders] official website
• {{IMDb title|1202056|Waveriders}}
• {{rotten-tomatoes|waveriders}}
• [http://www.allmovie.com/work/waveriders-479023 Waveriders] at All Movie Guide
• {{cite news | date = 2008-03-27| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/world/europe/27surfers.html?_r=1 | title = Waveriders | newspaper = New York Times | first=Sarah | last=Lyall}}
• [http://www.surfline.com/surfing-a-to-z/george-freeth-biography-and-photos_811/ George Freeth] The world's first professional surfer

{{Dublin Film Critics Circle Award for Best Irish Film}}

Category:2008 films

Category:Irish documentary films

Category:Documentary films about surfing

Category:2008 documentary films

Category:2000s English-language films

Category:English-language documentary films

Category:2000s Irish films