The Women and the Waves
Linda Benson was the wave-riding body double for Gidget, Kim Mearig was the highest-paid professional female surfer in the 1980s, 23-year-old Jenny Useldinger tows into some of the world’s biggest waves, and Australian Shakira Westdorp balances big-wave riding with long-distance paddles among the Hawaiian Islands.
Starring in a 2006 surf film inspired surfer and first-time filmmaker Heather Hudson to combine the stories of these and other pioneering women surfers for a feminine perspective on the growing sport. With upbeat music—including a few songs by featured board-shaper Ashley Lloyd— and plenty of shred-shots on familiar breaks in California and Hawaii, this film sits squarely within the realm of traditional surf flicks while adding a new dimension with its cast of real-life, middle-aged surf legends and addicts reflecting on their experiences in the male-dominated sport. Going pro, competing against guys, and paving the way for the hoards of Malibu surfer girls crowding today’s breaks, it’s never been cooler to surf like a girl.
(Graciegirl/Swell Pictures; www.thewomenandthewaves.com)
3 Peaks 3 Weeks Challenge for the People of Africa
The goal: Climb Mount Kenya’s 16,355-foot Lenana Peak, 14,980-foot Mount Meru, and 19,330-foot Mount Kilimanjaro in 21 days
The purpose: To raise $300,000 for three grass-roots organizations in Africa The causes: Education, the environment, and HIV/AIDS
The team: Ten women with only a handful of mountaineering experience among them—teachers, occupational therapists, executives, and a park ranger
The vehicle: A 52-minute documentary- style film produced by David D’Angelo and directed by Michael Brown
Among sappy scenes of self-discovery and even a moment of dry-leg shaving at base camp, the empowering message of this film shines through. Despite sometimes clichéd moments of personal crisis and at least a half dozen teary outbreaks from the climbers, it’s impossible not to feel inspired by the real-life impact of this fundraising effort and the physical struggles of these wide-eyed women. Who’ll be the first to raft the continent’s three longest rivers, traverse its biggest parks, or cycle its longest roads? It’ll definitely be someone who watched this film first.
(Serac Adventure Films; www.3peaks3weeks.org)
Polly’s GlobalWalk
On August 1, 1999, Polly Letofsky began a five-year, 14,124-mile journey around the world. This feature-length documentary directed, produced, and (mostly) filmed by Polly’s older brother, PJ traces her epic journey from central Colorado through New Zealand, Malaysia, India, Turkey, England, Canada, and 15 other countries. When all was said and done, Polly had raised more than a quarter-million dollars for local breast cancer organizations, walked across 782 maps, and wore through 29 pairs of shoes.
The film blends roadside photos and video clips of Polly’s trek with interviews from her parents, supporters, friends, and a handful of the 1,900 women who joined her for distances ranging from 1 to more than 700 miles. While the story is a tad predictable, the film sheds an interesting light on the logistical and cultural difficulties of the trip that made Polly a hero to a cause— and the first woman to walk around the world.
(www.pollysglobalwalk.com)
