What’s It Feel Like To Weave Through A Doubled-Up Mentawai Runner?

Chances are, if you’re an average surfer in an average lineup with a GoPro in your mouth, everybody is either going to fade you, or silently wishing they could fade you.

Fortunately, the above edit features Dylan Lightfoot, a very good surfer, in very good waves. Oh, and there’s nobody around to even consider fading him (not that anyone would dare).  

With the help of cinematography guru Chris Rogers, Mr. Lightfoot brings us along on the Covid surf trip of everyone’s dreams. As you’d expect, this clip is full of crystalline tubes and a bit of foam ball hopping. And, unlike your middle school friend’s homemade GoPro clip, this one is a masterclass in POV film-making. Using whatever new sci-fi tech GoPro has brewed up, plus a few drones, Dylan and Chris managed to engineer a refreshing take on selfie surf footage. 

Unlike many (very shaky) GoPro edits, you can clearly see Dylan ripping into each turn, and on the wave at 2:40 you almost get to feel what it’d be like to go on a doubled-up Mentawai runner.

Would we want to watch this perspective on surfing every day? Probably not. Is it extremely entertaining when done this well? Absolutely.