Watch Zipper: Chippa Wilson Surf Film
4349 Views
“Everyone knows Chippa is the crazy technical, air guy with the boned out flicks and spins and every trick in the book," says photographer John Respondek, "but he’s also a fucking underground wave hog. Like he charges so hard and it goes unnoticed a lot.”

UNLOCKED: Chippa Wilson Stars In ‘Zipper’ — A Surf Film By Stab & Monster

Featuring Filipe Toledo, Harry Bryant, Bobby Martinez, Eithan Osborne, Taro Watanabe, and Dion Agius.

cinema // May 2, 2024
Words by Stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

“Words are never ‘only words’” philosopher Slavoj Žižek once said. “They matter because they define the contours of what we can do.” 

The title Zipper was first proposed by one of our video editors, Will Stiles — a man who doesn’t speak often, but when he does, you listen. Will thought the whole team knew why he picked it — we didn’t. Eventually he told us. “It’s about stitching different styles and personalities together in a surf world that is often clique-ish and compartmentalized.” 

From there, director Blake Michel and producer Garrett James spent months weaving together plane flights, corralling surfers, and sculpting the finished product you see above.

The one constant in this film is Christopher ‘Chippa’ Wilson — consider him the “slider” in this zipper analogy — who helps connect the rest of the cast, including Filipe Toledo, Bobby Martinez, Eithan Osborne, Taro Watanabe, Dion Agius and Harry Bryant (aka the “elements”).

The word Zipper is also an onomatopoetic — named for the high-pitched sound the slider makes when it binds all the elements together. 

Likewise, we did our best in this film to let sounds (and imagery) represent ideas. Most of the music in this 44-minute piece you’ve likely never heard before. Some songs were scored for Zipper, like the piano ballad in the L.A. section by Alberto Bof, masterful composer and friend of Stab.

This film is a departure from our usual act of surf storytelling through tension-driven, idea-focused narratives. It is about high-performance surfing in far-flung places. It is about art and music and people. It is fueled by Monster. 

We hope you enjoy (responsibly).

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

Stab Interview: The QS-Winning Architect, Caleb Tancred

The former child prodigy is back on the podium after a 6-year competitive hiatus. 

Sep 24, 2025

Morning Glory On Day Two Of The Quiksilver Festival

The party continues with fun beachbreak wedges, plenty of airs, and the occasional Spartanic tube…

Sep 23, 2025

Watch: THRASHAHOLICS by Thrash Craft Surfboards

Brad Flora edits, shapes the boards, and stars in the movie.

Sep 23, 2025

Stab Interview: The Most Barrelled Surfer-Shaper On The Planet

Dylan Longbottom on doing his own stunts + crafting big wave boards for the world's…

Sep 22, 2025

Reminder: Surfing Changes Lives

Watch 'We The Surfers,' a full-length film about the evolution of the Liberian surf scene.

Sep 20, 2025

“There’s More Opportunity Than Ever In Surfing — You Just Have To Think Outside The Box”

Says the guy doing ad spots with Em Rata and starring in Nike posts.

Sep 20, 2025

Alex Knost, Mikey Feb & More Star In Non-Conformist Waveriding Demonstration ‘Choice Glance’

Where all great surfing variants collide.

Sep 20, 2025

Hossegor, Day One: Four Hours At The Quiksilver Festival 2025

A leisurely warm-up.

Sep 20, 2025

Kelly Slater Calls Out Surf100 Winner Eithan Osborne

And Eithan DGAF.

Sep 20, 2025

Can A Team Of CTers Beat Freesurfers, Poorly Slept Australians, And The Local Heavies In Hossegor?

This year's Quiksilver Festival is about to start. Here's what you need to know.

Sep 19, 2025

Watch: Chippa Wilson Wreaks Havoc On A Head-High Left, Signs 5-Year Deal With New Brand

Brixton, out. Who's in? Find out in 'Deadbeat'.

Sep 18, 2025

Eithan Osborne Is Officially $100,000 Richer After Winning Surf100 California

“I would say I’m finally gonna get a good nights rest, but… I don’t think…

Sep 18, 2025

The $100,000 Surf100 California Finale, Presented By Pacifico

Our six-figure, audience judged, 100-minute deathmatch.

Sep 18, 2025

What Not To Do With $100,000

How not to torch your cash with Albee Layer, Matt Meola, and Ryan Miller.

Sep 17, 2025

Mike Stewart Just Took One Of The Wildest Teahupo’o Drops In History — At 62 Years Young

A Stab Interview with surfing's pre-eminent tube theorist... and practitioner.

Sep 14, 2025

Two Kiwis Started A “Surf” Brand In London, Accidentally Collabed With Adidas

Always do what you should do...

Sep 13, 2025

Watch: Kael Walsh’s 2025 Stab Edit Of The Year Entry ‘Strung’

The 2022 champ might just win it again — but sorry, no Bitcoin this time…

Sep 11, 2025

Film Review: We Went To The “Yi-Wo” World Premiere

And Thomas Campbell has successfully increased our attention span.

Sep 11, 2025
Advertisement