Description
In Black and White is an in-depth profile of 6-time world surfing champ, Kelly Slater (Riding Giants), before he went on to be the most dominant and influential surfer of all time! In Black and White is arguably one of the best surf films of all time on the most exciting surfer in the world!
A classic film for all surfers - Reviewed on 2006-01-28
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This is one of the greatest surf films on the greatest surfer of all time. Kelly Slater was basically a child prodigy. He was born to surf. Raised in Cocoa Beach, Florida, Slater applied knowledge, talent, dedication, and desire to become the greatest competitive surfer in the history of the sport. He holds several records, including the youngest world champion at the age of 21, and the oldest at the age of 33 in 2005. He would go on to win titles in 1992, 1994-98, 2005. At the age of 8, Kelly Slater was already being regarded as the next world champion. He was surfing as well as anyone, drawing smooth, powerful lines yet lacking power. In Black and White, we witness the beginnings of a surfing legend, he is surfing very differently from how he surfs today, he is still developing his aerial skills but the fundamentals are already in place. The fundamentals that would lead him to dominate pro surfing for the next decade and a half. Kelly Slater redefined what you could do on a surfboard and continues to redefine it, in his quest for an unprecedented number of World Titles.
Black and White was a promotional video from his sponser Quiksilver on the rising star. Black and White is short- 25 minutes or less. Black and White features vintage footage of Kelly when he was very young, surfing at Cape Hatteras, in his first contest at Lower Trestles(which he won), at Tavarua, Sebastian Inlet, and Hawaii. His signature style is already evident here, the bent back knee, the arm positioning, his incredible commitment and flexiblity as a surfer, his timing and instinctive feel for the wave, and his imaginative creativity. Taj Burrow has listed this film as his all time favorite in his book. Kelly performs the first front and backside "reverses" ever caught on film. An essential film to add to any surf movie library.