You Ever Seen A Lineup This Genetically Blessed?

Surfing is subjective, but we have at least one thing loosely resembling a universal truth: We need more Michael Ho. 

The 69-year-old former Pipe Master (yes, he did it in a cast) spends too much time enjoying surfing to care about finding ways to allow people to watch him surf or hear him speak. 

He’s not quite elusive — it’s pretty easy to find him on the North Shore — but you see very little of him online. Perhaps the most brilliant thing about Swatch’s new short film, ‘Family Ties,’ is that we finally get some time with Michael. 

The premise? Two Swatch riders, Coco Ho and Noah Beschen, grew up in the same place. Both of their dads enjoyed careers as professional surfers. Both were responsible for children falling in love with surfing — and perhaps genetically responsible for them doing it well — and now their children enjoy careers as professional surfers. So, why not thank the dads by going on a surf trip all together? 

A noble cause. And so Coco, Michael, Noah, and Shane head off to Mexico. 

Before we get there, we see a playful argument over whether or not the 40-minute flight from Oahu to Maui constitutes a ‘surf trip.’ We learn not to put your tail on cement. Eventually, we learn never to touch Uncle Mike’s surf stuff. 

Then they get to Mexico, and score. 

The surfing on its own makes it a worthy watch. But seeing two different literal generations of hyper-talented surfers in the same waves adds a whole new element. Directed by Layne Stratton, ‘Family Ties’ feels like a fresh take in a world of non-stop surf edits.

Enjoy.