“Rare proximity and trusted access…”
The former pro surfer, photographer, bandmate of Kelly Slater and surfing’s original vlogger, Peter King, has returned to his cinematic roots with a documentary already being hailed as the best surf film of the year.
PIPELINE is a one-hour film that follows the travails of the 2024-25 winter season as filmed from the backyard of the New Earth Project House, a beachfront joint currently tenanted by the sustainable packaging brand.
What gives PIPELINE it’s point of diff between the zillion other shorts and longs and films and documentaries about that wild ol stretch between OTW and Pupes is PK’s access to the main Pipe players: Jamie, Mason, John John, Baz Maz, Kelly Slater etc.
The interviews, torturous and awkward events by most other filmers, flow back and forth between ol PK, whose Tour Notes vlogs from the tour years back gave pro surfing, briefly, a personality, and the various stars.
As PK told me ten years back,
“I’m not threatening anyone’s space. I’m not some 26 year old shucking and jiving my way up the marketing chain. I’m not trying to be anyone’s agent, I’m not trying to be a host of the webcast, I’m not trying to make 15 dollars on a Surfline photo. There’s no jealousy. It’s just me.”
The film’s notes, necessarily hyperbolic I suppose, aren’t entirely off the mark.
PIPELINE: A Peter King Film is a raw, immersive portrait of surfing’s most sacred wave — captured entirely during the historic 2024/2025 North Shore winter season.
With rare proximity and trusted access, he documents moments few have ever witnessed — from historic, flawless barrels at the Banzai Pipeline to unfiltered conversations with the surfers who risk everything riding it.
Pipeline is not just a wave. It is a proving ground. A cathedral of consequence. A place where reputations are made, careers are defined, and the margin between triumph and catastrophe is razor thin.
Through PK’s lens and the original soundtrack by Ron Artis II, viewers experience the full arc of a season that will be remembered for generations — the swell cycles, the wipeouts, the preparation, the fear management, the camaraderie, and the quiet rituals before paddling into one of the most dangerous waves on Earth.
This is not simply a surf film. It is a front-row seat to a winter that will go down in history, told by one of the North Shore’s most trusted storytellers.
I don’t hesitate to describe this film as essential.
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This is what happens when someone who doesn’t know how to make a proper documentary film tries to make a movie. A smattering of guys answering the same questions that we already know the answers to. Could’ve just been cut into a hundred instagram reels.
Exceptional film. I rate it Five HamSammishes.
Ok i took the bait and watched the whole thing, after it finished i sat in silence for a minute or two and tried to understand what i had just watched and what it was trying to get across in context, i am at loss, other than a fair bit of back slapping it was pretty unforgettable , ill not bother ever watching at it again , i give it ** our of ***** for the sound track only.
I want to watch it, but will probably click on a rerun of The Office tonight instead.
Good old chest beating Hawaiians. Of course your going to dominate when you run the break. Quite a few of the pros go pretty good out there when they get a clean shot at it in the comp. And that guy from Floridas probably done better than most…
Tough sell 1h long in today’s attention economy but still pretty engaging. For what it is.
Harry bryant – single wave standout.
1st time I got pipe I was 14
she was 18 n drove a push button valiant. Fucken seppos
She pegged you?
Coulda been a finger into uptown traffic if I remember correctly
What is said, that hasn’t been already said a thousand times or mor?
What is shown that hasn’t been seen ad infinitum?
Yet I still upvote Dogsnuts.
Xactly, watched 5 mins.
Sorry Dez but I give less than a flying fuck about any surf docco until they release the ELO files. Can you imagine the footage of him on the piss and nose beers trying to drum up a root with one of the girls or boys on tour? It’d be like a horror movie you watch through your fingers
Like a Waters film…the fat tranny eating dogshit off the footpath
Dez should make it cuz at least it would stop him ripping the top off over Anat’s big backside
Attack, I meant to say Anat’s big backside attack. Sorry everyone I have had a few cleansing ales sarvo to celebrate Ethan pulling up his anchor and just finally surfing. Does anyone else get a chub when Sweet Cheeks takes off or is that just me
Haha although I think he made it clear that its Medina’s big ass he covets
Ethan! And John John! Ass Masters.
Where’s Sarge when you need him, eh?
Flat Earther and Climate Change Denialist.
But yeah, good docco.
PK?
Yup. He used to swing into here and tell how all scientists were on the gravy train and making it all up.
Also, the music was pretty ordinary.
Talented musician for sure, but such a dog-tired rendition of the genre.
That was good! Liked Jamie’s top 5.
Dakota Motor Company reunion?
Thinking same lol , actually had their og cd back in the 90s
“I don’t hesitate to describe this film as essential.”
Well said, Dez. That shit was tight.
Was also interesting that someone said that after Mike Ho and JOB that Mason was the one who gives the least fucks and just paddles for whatever wave he wants.
Don’t it make a difference when an insider makes a film.
Yea. Super interesting. Having them all give their top 5 at the end was something only an insider could get that crowd to be honest about. They may have given other answers to some other journo.
Did you catch my comment yesterday where i wondered what sort of future Bruce could have had if he simply posted up at the Volcom House and surfed Pipe all day, and skipped out on the pills? He might literally still be the most respected surfer on earth, even above the status that Dane currently holds.
….and with wasserman in his corner he would own the Volcom house as well.
Is he still sober?
Fairly sure it must be a week to week thing. Nate Fletcher interviewed him a year ago on a podcast and they said that he had recently done rehab. I hope he stays sober, but I doubt that he can ever regain the belly to do what they used to do. Not at that age.
And the lineups in Hawaii are apparently as crazy as ever, with the cameras taming down the ability to outright assault someone, like in his day and era. So just staying sober and being an elder statesman and the curator of AI’s legacy should be the goal.