BIARRITZ SURF GANG

THe hidden face of the origins of surfing in France

→ Through the portraits of the first French surfers, the film recounts a pivotal period for surfing, which went from a counter culture to a high level sport.

→ The unknown story of the six best European surfers. The story of their rise and fall

→ The documentary includes interviews with rival surfers, such as American star Laird Hamilton or three-time world champion Tom Curren.

PRODUCTION STATEMENT

The director, Nathan Curren & Pierre Denoyel, found amazing and never seen before vintage Biarritz surfers gang’s images from the 80’s, shot all around the world. They knew about their fantastic stories, as it’s well known in the French Basque Country, like a classic urban legend.

But finding those footages lead the directors to develop this documentary. When I (Raphael Cassidy as the producer) met Pierre & Nathan, they showed me those images and told me about the phenomenal rise and fall of the 6 best europeans surfers in 80's. And it's this human story that convinced me to follow them on this project.

We have been able to shoot in France and in California, interviewed Laird Hamilton (big wave rider, invented tow-in surfing, main character in Riding Giants documentary), Jeff Hakman (world surf champion, Quiksilver USA & Europe CEO and founder), Tom Curren (3X world surf champion). We also worked with mixed media live shots, old school footages, and animation…

SYNOPSIS

"Biarritz Surf Gang" is a documentary by Pierre Denoyel and Nathan Curren. The film reveals the true story of six lunatic surfers who set fire to their surfboards at Biarritz' Grande Plage, in the 1980s. The local crew, inspired by the punk movement, had a thirst for trouble and breaking the law. This is their story, and how they achieved greatness, experience decadence, and eventually fall.

DIRECTOR

Nathan Curren is the 3 times surf world champion’s son Tom Curren. orn in Biarritz, France, he was in the Quiksilver team at 13 years old and went on the world professional surf tour at 16. He studies in 2010 at the School of Visual Arts at NYC and in 2012 at the Film & Media at Santa Barbara City College. Then he worked at Quiksilver in St-Jean-De-Luz as a director. Biarritz Surf Gang his first documentary.

Pierre Denoyel, Biarritz Surf Gang’s co-director, is Nathan Curren’s childhood friend. Pierre was also a championship surfer when he was in his teen. After his studies, he worked at Nike 6.0, focusing on directing for the surf department.

RELEASE

Summer 2021