Shaun Tomson, Off The Wall 1975

GSI Noosa Festival of Surfing 2008

Noosa, Queensland
3 - 9 March 2008

BUSTIN’ DOWN THE DOOR IN NOOSA

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 4 February, 2008 : - - Little more than a month after its world premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, surf champion Shaun Tomson’s much-anticipated surf documentary Bustin’ Down The Door will have its Australian premiere at the Global Surf Industries Noosa Festival of Surfing.

The red-carpet premiere at Noosa 5 Cinema Complex on Thursday, March 6 will be attended by the world surfing’s A-list, including producer Shaun Tomson and the other stars of the film, former world champions Mark Richards, Rabbit Bartholomew and Peter Townend. Festival co-coordinator Phil Jarratt, who also worked on the film, described the premiere as a major coup for Noosa. 

“This is not your average surf movie,” said Jarratt. “People in the industry have been talking about it for almost two years and, having seen the film in post-production, I can tell you it’s a powerful chronicle of a surfing revolution that took place more than 30 years ago and yet still resonates today. The fact that it screened at the highly-regarded Santa Barbara Festival is proof of its appeal way beyond the surf crowd, and I think everyone who sees it will be profoundly moved by the level of commitment these guys had.”

Other experts agree, Former surf magazine editor Bill Sharp wrote: "It should be made into law that every spoiled-brat pro surfer being paid a single dollar in sponsorship should be duct-taped to a chair and forced to watch this film until he fully understands the debt he owes these pioneers who busted down the door on behalf of a future generation."

Bustin’, which borrows its title from a controversial article written by Rabbit Bartholomew for US magazine Surfer, tells the story of the “backside attack” on Banzai Pipeline in the Hawaiian winter of 1975 by a group of young surfers from Australia and South Africa, and the dramatic repercussions their heroic feats and brash attitudes had over the next two years, including violence between surfers, and later the establishment of a world professional surfing tour.

The film, narrated by twice Academy Award-nominee Edward Norton, is the brainchild of Tomson. "Shaun felt the exploits of the surfers from that era had been overlooked, what we did then was create the blueprint for professional surfing. Surfers now are reaping the rewards”, said Mark Richards (Four Time World Champion).

Shaun Tomson, world champion in 1977, guides his audience through the period with as much detachment as one of the key players can muster. A consummate media performer, Tomson’s in-person introduction to the film is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

 Shaun Tomson, now 52, will be one of a dozen world surfing champions appearing at the GSI Noosa Festival of Surfing. As chairman of the Surfrider Foundation’s Advisory Board and a former SIMA Environmentalist of the Year, he will be a key participant in the environmental forums at the Tropicsurf Summit, and will also surf in the Telstra Corporate Teams Challenge, alongside many of his old adversaries.

Tickets ($15) for the Australian Premiere of Bustin’ Down The Door are on sale now - www.noosafestivalofsurfing.com, ph 1300 797 723 or during event week you can purchase tickets from Festival Village – Noosa Heads Lions Park (cnr Noosa Pde and Noosa Dr) if not sold out prior.

Previous reports:
# 1 : Oz stars Emma Snowsill and Craig Walton hit GSI Noosa
# 2 : Coming soon
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

More Australasian Surfing News available here
Check the latest Australasian Surf Reports and Forecasts

New! B2B News ASBE-Surf   |  Receive News-Alerts

Darren Landers
Media Manager | Noosa Festival of Surfing
darren@freshlogicmedia.com.au

Garth Prowd OAM
Managing Director | USM Events
gp@usmevents.com.au

Georgie Hannon
Event Management | USM Events
georgie@usmevents.com.au

Contests - Surfersvillage