Narrating a film is no easy task; no one likes the sound of his (or her) own speaking voice (except maybe Rove McManus or Oprah)). Additionally ordinary surf films rarely benefit from a voice over of any description – except Wave Warriors IV (see grommet nostalgia). Andrew Kidman’s fifth film, Into The Ether, is no ordinary surf film. The need for the films narration a necessity that becomes clearer once the viewer latch’s on to Andrew’s motive.

The journey [or motive] in Into The Ether is a self-propelled quest to better understand surfboard design and it’s evolution – and in some ways – de-evolution.

In the film Andrew uses an original Michael Peterson design as his benchmark. Riding a replica of the board MP made so famous surfing in Morning Of The Earth, more specifically “that” Kirra cutback. He then goes about documenting his shaping and re-shaping of different boards with use of the knowledge gained from the experience.

In under an hour I leant more about board design in watching this film than I have in the last ten years. Quite extraordinary to feel like you’re side-by-side with Andrew as he ploughs through interviews, foam and time in the water, to better understand the craft of shaping. And his interview with the legend that is Michael Peterson is nothing short of enlightening. Hearing Michael so lucidly explain that glassing his large thinly raked single fin further forward from the tail for more ergonomically sound surfing, specifically the avoidance of back pain, particularly interesting. Extraordinary show of foresight from the then young carefree super surf fit surfer. MP’s shapers brain obviously still sharp despite his many ailments.

Wayne Lynch with fresh piece of 9'6 shaped foam. Pic: Kidman.

A lot of people don’t know this, but Andrew himself has a competitive surfing pedigree that includes an Australian open title won back in the early nineties. I’m sure he keeps it on the down low, being the anti-establishment enigma he is today, and that’s okay. But I appreciate this achievement, and that his surfing has done nothing but improve over the years. His rail work in the film, both technically impressive and easy on the eye.

But this film isn’t a profile film, nor is it self-indulgent. Is Andrew the main player? Sure. But he reaches out to many other shapers and surfers for contribution.

The fact I prefer to listen to 702 ABC radio over Triple J nowadays, is reflected in my love of this film... the brain gets a little hungrier as we get older.

With an $80 price tag [which I must say includes a beautiful 100p book an some will struggle to part with the coin when there is a conception that Andrew cares little (to the point of despises) those of us blasphemers running on the treadmill of mediocrity, riding machine shaped boards and buying wetsuits from chain stores. But to its credit Into The Ether does not alienate. Certainly some shaper/surfers interviewed in the film come across as such die hard purists that they’re in fact sacrificing quality wave riding for some sort of divine self elevation – but it’s these kooky characters that give us the width and breathe we need to discover where it is we stand in the mix as individuals.

Mackie, one of the shapers from the film, finding the sweet spot on his flex tail.

Despite the fishermen friend scented pompousness that sometimes surrounds the high necked woolly jumper wearing set that Andrew is part of, this film will re-energize your love of getting to know what it is your riding and why it does what it does – without you feeling like you can watch the purists but not take part.

It's this reduced distance between subject and viewer that will go a long way to educating those with no comprehension of what ‘hand shaped’ actually means to the cause – and that’s a good thing. Maybe this will in turn create a bridge of communication between those that do, and those that don’t. At the very least the better we all understand our crafts the better the line up chitchat will be... over hearing “Is that a hand-shaped-double-flyer-quad-you’re riding?” Has to be better than, “how’s that guys pink wetsuit!”

It just has to be.

– Col B

A little extra:

Knowing this film would polarize I decided to screen it in the lounge room of the Tracks house at Bells Beach this Easter and gauge responses.

Below is a discussion that occurred as the credits rolled.

Ethan Smith, Deputy Editor Waves magazine: “I thought he was going back to make something functional that wasn’t functional in the first place. That’s what shits me, moving backwards is not a way to move forward. I’m not frothing... in saying that some of the turns they were doing on those old school boards were pretty filth. Just nothing compared to what people are doing thee days. I liked the film for what it was.”

Nate Smith, award winning Tracks photographer: “I think it’s an insightful view of old boards made new again. It’s not about high performance surfing it’s about the feeling of riding a wave. There not trying to be Kelly Slater, they’re trying to find a feeling that they’ve had once or twice before, finding old boards and jazzing them up to experiment. Boards that I don’t understand in many cases, but I dug what it was and it was really well shot”.

Luke Kennedy, Editor Tracks: “There are two elements; looking back at the way someone rode a board in say 1970, and then saying what did that feel like? I want to experience that feeling... and surfing is mostly about sensation.”

Nate: “That’s the one constant they all spoke about, the feeling. Even if they had four shit waves – just to get that one moment to get that feeling – drove them to go back and go through four more shit waves to get that feeling again...”

Luke: “It is another curve-ball though, at that point [late 60’s and early seventies] surfboards evolved so rapidly there almost wasn’t time to pay attention to some of the minor revolutions that were taking place. So if you look at a board Kelly Slater rides now, at first instance, it’s not that different to the board Michael Peterson was riding doing a cutback on the cover of Morning Of The Earth.”

Ben Whitmore, Tracks staff writer: “I think that they were a bit quick to write of modern board design, where a lot of the boards the guys in the film are trying to design are coming back to what the top guys are riding, like Dane [Reynolds] and the dumpster diver.”

Col B, in this case, conversation stirrer: “What about guys like Dave Parmenter sounding a bit judgmental towards guys wanting to shape without being hand craft masters first... saying that back yard shapers are great! But in turn there’s not many established shapers stoked about back yard bandits popping out boards?”

Ben Whitmore: “If people aren’t going to make money from doing it then they aren’t going to keep doing it.”

Nate Smith: "Exactly. What are they doing it for? That’s what he’s saying... to get a name, fame or money? Is that enough?”

FILM OUT OF 10

Ethan: “I give it a 6. Taking 4 points off because I don’t understand it. The waste of blowing four good waves to get one good moment – I don’t see that as worth it.” (6/10)

Nate: “I’m going to give it 6.5 out of 10 fins, cause you might not ever see a movie like that again. I think it was really well done.” (6.6/10)

Ben: “I give it an eight... I really like riding all types of different boards.” (8/10)

Luke: Abstained from posting a vote due to missing the first half.

Col B: "I give it a 10 out of 10. Why? He was nice enough to take us along for his trip, I learnt a lot about board design and met some interesting characters... and was absorbed in the beautiful surfing imagery. And the soundtrack was awesome. That and it’s ten o’clock on the dot... Goodnight.” (10/10)

To order Into The Ether the DVD, book and soundtrack, go to Andrewkidman.com

Andrew's band, The Windy Hills, are currently on tour playing songs from the movie and their new album, dates and information HERE