Revealed: One of surfing’s most influential characters went from learning to paddle to Pipeline standout in three short weeks of training!

Impressive.

Of all the films that most influenced the arc of surfing in the 1990s -2000s, Momentum is way up there. Taylor Steele’s opus turned thousands of teenagers onto our beloved pastime and broke many stars including, but not limited to, Kelly Slater, Kalani Robb, Rob Machado, Captain America, etc.

As significant as Momentum was, though, it doesn’t hold a Candlebox to the 2002 sneaker smash Blue Crush. The coming of age story, set on Oahu’s North Shore, turned millions upon millions onto surfing but did you know its star, Kate Bosworth, did not know how to paddle before taking the role even though casting instructions specifically called for an “experienced wave rider?”

In a candid new interview, Bosworth says, “Literally, eight to 10 hours a day, I was driving to Point Doom. I committed myself for the three to four weeks. I really thought that I was going to have this quintessential heroic moment that I’ve learned, I’ve mastered it, and the role is mine. And there was a surf instructor there, he had taken me out, and I just ate shit over and over and over and over again. It was really sad. And yet, remember, I’m also the 4-year-old who said, ‘I’ll get back on.'”

The “I’ll get back on” reference to an experience she had falling off a horse at a tender age.

As sad as her skill level was, she forced herself to improve, landed the role and then went out and conquered Pipeline. Impressive, no?

I recently watched Momentum Generation and those surfers discuss how scary Pipeline was to them initially. A fine film, I found, but did you think so?

Candlebox.

What an awful band they were.