New York Times Releases Poignant Profile Film On Mikey February

You can watch the entire film — and read Mikey’s words — here. 

“I often think about my ancestors who were brought to Cape Town as enslaved people,” writes Mikey February. “They were stripped of their humanity and identity and renamed February, after the month of their arrival. My parents being so proud of who they are makes me feel proud, too, and I work to continue that legacy.”

The above passage, penned by one of the most graceful men to ever adorn a surfboard, is found in the back half of a New York Times op-ed — not exactly the place we’re used to seeing the thoughts of professional surfers. 

The piece comes as an accompaniment to the short documentary film ‘A New Wave’ created by Sandra Winther. The film is a touching, understated portrait of the February family, portrayed alongside Mikey’s tasteful waveriding and stories of his unique foray into professional surfing. 

At 16-minutes, the black-and-white documentary is one of the rare instances where mainstream media gets it right in the attempt at depicting surfers and their culture.

Per the NYT:

Sandra Winther is an award-winning filmmaker and herself an avid surfer. She met Mikey organically through the surfing community, and with openness and curiosity, she beautifully captured his story of personal transformation and legacy. Originally from Copenhagen and now based in New York, Sandra has earned accolades for her filmmaking including the Nowness Award for Breakthrough Artists for Cultural Excellence in Film and Video, the New York Women in Film Content Creator Award, and the Rhode Island Film Festival’s Filmmaker of the Future Award.

You can watch the entire film — and read Mikey’s words — here.