The Swamp Dogs of Los Angeles Risk Bacterial Contagion in ‘Winter 23/24 LA’ - Stab Mag

Live In 8 Days: Stab High Japan Presented By Monster Energy

36 Views

The Swamp Dogs of Los Angeles Risk Bacterial Contagion in ‘Winter 23/24 LA’

Taro Watanabe and friends tackle earthquakes in mud-puddles for your viewing pleasure.

cinema // May 25, 2024
Words by Jack O'Neill Paterson
Reading Time: < 1 minute

Click here to watch Taro and more friends star in Zipper, our film with Monster Energy

What happens when an industry splinters, long-established careers are rendered disposable, and sponsorship deals afford you ice-cream and donuts instead of houses and pretty things? 

Well, most of us would be felled by crippling financial distress and a blazing anxiety disorder. But enough about my personal life.

Sometimes, an all-consuming wildfire can sprout fresh life from decrepit soil, and the latest 5-minute offering from Nonfiction Creatives and filmmaker Quinn Graham, candidly titled ‘Winter 23/24 LA,’ is a fervid reminder that a good surf edit doesn’t require a helicopter or tropical speed boat. The best art, generally speaking, comes from the gutters beyond the gates of affluence. 

“Now that money is becoming so much worse for surfers, they get to have more creative freedom and people aren’t scared to go out of the box,” says Frankie Harrer, who features here alongside Taro Watanabe, Shane Borland, and Andrew Jacobson. “I think it’s gonna be good for everybody in the industry, in the long-term.”

If watching Taro Watanabe vivaciously spray the entire coastline of Los Angeles with pathogen-infested water is anything to go by, then the surf industry is going to be just fine. 

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

What’s The Secret To Powersurfing?

Taylor Knox, Kyuss King, and Jessi Miley-Dyer tackle a trio of questions in our third…

Jun 16, 2024

How To Win Stab High Japan, Presented By Monster Energy

A statistical analysis of the 493 airs attempted in previous chlorinated editions.

Jun 16, 2024

Watch: An Intimate Portrait Of The Wave, Village, And People At The End Of The Road

Oxbow’s ‘Children of Teahupo’o’ is playing exclusively on Stab Premium for the next two weeks. 

Jun 15, 2024

Fuck It, Run The Entire CT In Indo

A historic beginning to the Indonesian dry season.

Jun 14, 2024

Ferrari Boyz: Holly Wawn

"I've had 4, 5, maybe 6 cars... I'm a car dealer I reckon."

Jun 13, 2024

A Miscalculated Shallow Dive, Neck-First, Into The Waters Of Japanese Surfing

How is surfing different in the land of cherry blossoms?

Jun 13, 2024

How Has Ian Crane Made 4/5 Stab High Finals?

And who he's most afraid of competing against in Japan.

Jun 13, 2024

“I Haven’t Seen Anyone That Young And That Keen For Heavy Waves In A Decade” —Shane Dorian

Jacob Turner is 16 years old and trying to paddle tow sets at Teahupo'o...on his…

Jun 12, 2024

Long Read: 1,000 Ways To Die In Indonesia

18,000 islands of beautiful people, world-class waves, and danger around every corner.

Jun 11, 2024

Watch: Craig Anderson And Kaito Ohashi Find (Mostly) Empty Waves In Southeast Asia

Oh, and enter to win a grand worth of DB gear.

Jun 11, 2024

Brad Gerlach Rode A 600cc Motorbike Through Europe’s 1980’s Psychedelic Renaissance  

"Fuck London. Let’s just buy motorcycles tomorrow and drive to France, man."

Jun 11, 2024

Caroline Marks Goes Two-In-A-Row And John John Florence Wins First CT Event Since 2020 At The Surf City El Salvador Pro

Plus, we asked Chris Cote for a look into the commentary team's psyche and Griff…

Jun 9, 2024

Why Is Mavericks Core Getting Overrun By Yuppies?

And other questions from our audience — answered by Pete Mel, Mick Fanning, and Joel…

Jun 9, 2024

Everything Worth Remembering From 4 (Mostly) Forgettable Quarterfinals In El Salvador

Plus, what's the consensus on the Griff vs. João kerfluffle?

Jun 8, 2024

Wildcard Big-dogs Italo, Yago Pops The Cork, And Griffin Cops An Ambiguous Interference On Day 2 In El Salvador

"Honestly, that was a bad... uhh I mean, a tough call." - Strider

Jun 8, 2024

Let’s Talk About This Griffin Interference…

"Don't hate the player, hate the game." - Joao Chianca.

Jun 8, 2024

Chippa Wilson Picks The Air Section We’ll Be Using For Stab High Japan Presented By Monster Energy

PerfectSwell Shizunami has 4 ramps to choose from — which one excites our 2019 champ?

Jun 8, 2024

JJF And Yago Soar, Brisa And Molly Sear, And Olympic Surfers Get Drug Tested On Day 1 Of Surf City El Salvador Pro

"These rocks are like basketballs covered in slime."

Jun 7, 2024
Advertisement