Searching For Tom Curren

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDd_3KnP1gE

Starring: Tom Curren
Filmed and Directed By: Sonny Miller (1960-2014)
Presented By: Ripcurl
Year Released: 1996

Name a modern style, world surfing champion from California and you‘ll be left with only one name; three-time world champion, Tom Curren, winner of thirty-three championship events. There is only one other American who has exceeded those numbers and that is Kelly Slater. Can you guess who Kelly’s favorite surfer is? His surfing style might clue you in after watching Searching For Tom Curren.

Ironically, the title of the movie is quite fitting as you’ll likely be “Searching” for a good long while to find a full version of this movie; unless, you’re like me, who owns the VHS tape. Unfortunately, I could only track down this ten-minute clip, which will at least give you the essence of the movie. It includes scenes, which I remember playing and rewinding over and over again, from Backdoor Pipeline, big Haleiwa, Sumatra on a 5’7” fish and Tom’s famed first wave at Jeffreys Bay.

While my obsession with surfing grew in the late 80’s and 90’s, long before YouTube and social media, I’ll never forget when I finally got my hands on the videotape. Yep, I really said that. What made this movie special to me is that it was from a time when new surf movies couldn’t come soon enough and it was highly anticipated due to the nature of Curren’s elusive character. The surf magazines filled the void and there just wasn’t much surf footage of Tom outside of televised competition. It was as if he would just show up ready to win the comp before heading off to hide in France or somewhere else. I remember waiting to press the record button on the VCR before the OP Pro at Huntington Beach started on national TV, just so I could capture a glimpse of Tom’s surfing, in small, crappy waves. Even then, his smooth, calculated approach with a fine balance of finesse, power, and flow was undeniable. It almost felt like watching a god; like Slater, he was simply an anomaly during this time.

By 1996, when the movie was released, Tom was already a three-time world champion and stepping away from competitive surfing. Like many Curren fans, I wondered when we’d see him surf again. Thanks to the late Sonny Miller, Searching For Tom Curren brought rare footage of an elusive, shy, world champion who is regarded as one of the greatest style masters in surfing history. This, I’m sure, not just for me, is one of the best surf films of all time. If I could have a VCR again, it would be for this movie.

Oh and by the way, if you decide to search for the full movie, you can squat here on Amazon to see if a VHS tape becomes available (it’s sold out at the time of writing this) or maybe you’ll have some luck here on eBay where I’ve seen copies go for a hundred bucks and more!

Finally, in an attempt to make up for not finding the full movie and continue my ode to my real life hero, here are some related bonus clips.

More Clips From the Session in Sumatra

Here’s more of the big Sumatra session found in Searching For Tom Curren along with an equipment and session breakdown by Sonny Miller and Tom. Watching Tom surf on a 5’7″ back then was unreal.

More of Tom’s First Session at Jeffreys Bay

Watch more of Tom’s first wave at J-Bay while Sonny Miller breaks down how it all came together.

The First Big Surf Heat Between Tom and Kelly

This one might be deserving of a post all on its own. Narrated by Gerry Lopez, watch this short clip of Tom Curren’s first heat against Kelly Slater on the world stage. It just happened to be Kelly’s pro debut. Can you guess who wins?

Tom’s Famed Big Cutback at Backdoor Pipeline

This is a great backstory by surfing photographer Tom Servais, about Tom’s famous cutback on a 7’3” Maurice Cole at Backdoor Pipe.