Watch RIP 2 and you’ll see, without a doubt, that the soft side of the force is strong. Blink and you might miss a gem, which is the entire movie. And don’t worry, no one dies during the film; RIP stands for Rest In Pits! It’s genius, right? When I stumbled upon RIP 2, I almost didn’t give it a chance, the quality seemed grainy and my narrow performance shortboard mind became turned off by the mere sight of a boogie board. But, I found myself hooked and I couldn’t stop watching. Even the soundtrack was mesmerizing. This movie is responsible for opening my mind to everything “softboard,” it’s different than anything else that I’ve seen as a longtime fan of surfing and that is why I’m choosing RIP 2 as my first surf movie to share with you.
While the film seemingly opens up by asking for sympathy through the tune of Limp Bizkit’s “Behind Blue Eyes” and scenes of sad mullet heads and lonesome bodyboarders, it’s all a setup for what’s later to come. The result is a high degree of multidisciplinary softboard surfing in mostly pumping surf, all while throwing a big middle finger to the establishment found in mainstream, clean cut, performance surfing. This movie is about having fun, getting creative, daring to be different, getting absolutely pitted in thick slabs, and tearing it up on any soft craft. There’s no need to feel like that poor guy on the beach with a soggy sponge, who wished he had a real surfboard, anymore.
Whether you’re a prone or standup bodyboarder, shortboarder, longboarder, kneeboarder, or riding finless, there’s plenty of good surfing to aspire to. Highlights include big aerial flat spins and heavy barrels on bodyboards, full commitment to “The Kneelo” in pumping surf, the effortless headstands and graceful approach of “The Soft Lord,” Chippa Wilson’s standup bodyboarding and big airs on a twin fin, “The Soft Prince” standup bodyboarding a clean exotic righthand point break and “Zoltan” kickflipping boards like a magician. No one seems to care much about getting credit with their real names in this video, which makes it even cooler.
RIP 2 is one of my new favorite surf movies for so many reasons, mainly because it reminds me to enjoy surfing in different forms. As I get older and maybe wiser, I care less about having a new white performance board and being competitive in the lineup, and more about just having fun. I’ve grown to love my Wavestorm even more these days. Now, if I can only find the patience to take the fins off, to spin to win. I’ll get there, no doubt. So, next time you paddle out with your friends, channel your inner-drag, bow down to the Soft Lord, and get them to do a kneelo or a coffin with you. You might laugh a lot. I know I did.
Starring: Ryan Sewell, Zoltan, The Kneelo, Dion Agius, Chippa Wilson, Jimbo, Greg Former, Candy, Tom Rigby, Sue, Jordan Putland, The Soft Prince, The Soft Lord, Dorf
Produced By: Drag Board Co.
