“Surfing in the Bay Area is not for the faint of heart.”
So says photographer Sachi Cunningham in a new television documentary that allows viewers to experience the regional history, evolution, and thrills and chills of the adrenalized sport from the safety of their couches.
“Bay Area Revelations: Riding the Waves,” the latest installment in NBC Bay Area’s (KNTV) excellent series, premieres Saturday, April 11 at 10 p.m. (Channel 11, Cable 3).
The Bay Area is where the wet suit was invented. It’s also the place where excessively adventurous surfers come to ride some of the biggest waves in the world, despite the rough conditions and chilly waters. The documentary takes viewers to three main areas that attract people from across the globe: San Francisco’s Ocean Beach, Mavericks in Half Moon Bay, and the World Surfing Reserve in Santa Cruz.
“Surfing is a sport like no other, and as it enters the realm of Olympic competition, we wanted to take a deep dive into its roots right here in the Bay Area,” said Stacy Owen, president and general manager of NBC Bay Area. “In ‘Riding the Waves,’ you get swept up in the passion and determination it takes to face the unforgiving conditions of our waters, and the special breed of men and women who ride mountains.”
The film, narrated by Bay Area native Peter Coyote, includes interviews with Santa Cruz historian Kim Stoner, Jane “The Lane” McKenzie, Mavericks founder Jeff Clark, big wave surfers Grant Washburn, Bianca Valenti, Luca Padua, Thomas Lundgard. Also featured: Mira Manickam-Shirley, the co-founder of “Brown Girl Surf” in Oakland, and Cunningham, a renowned surfing photographer.
After its April 11 premiere, “Bay Area Revelations: Riding The Waves” will have an encore presentation at 1 a.m. April 18 at after “Saturday Night Live.”
Need a distraction this weekend at home? Check out #BayAreaRevelations! It looks at the history, evolution & mavericks of surfing. Whether you catch 40 ft. or 2 ft. waves, it's a show for everyone.
WATCH: #BayAreaRevelations: Riding the Waves", Saturday, 10 p.m. @nbcbayarea pic.twitter.com/mFseBQzOAK
— Bay Area Revelations (@RevelationsNBC) April 7, 2020