We are super stoked to announce that the Surfrider Foundation Santa Cruz Chapter is co-presenting two great films at this year’s Santa Cruz Film Festival . We hope to see everyone out for Josh Pomer’s Discovering Mavericks, and Ride a Wave: “Live and Love It Up”., with Discovering Mavericks at 9:15 PM , and Ride a Wave: “Live and Love It Up” at 12 PM . Don’t forget to check out all of the great films at this year’s Santa Cruz Film Festival, and we hope to see you out this weekend!

Discovering Mavericks: The story of Mavericks, California”s most notorious big wave, is one of both triumph and incredible danger and loss. Director Josh Pomer, who was featured at SCFF 2010 with his film THE WESTSIDERS, gives an insider”s view of how the wave was first discovered and then made into legend. Interviews include many of the pioneers, including big wave legends Jeff Clark, Richard Schmidt, Flea, Peter Mel and Jake Wormhoudt. Aggressive sharks, bitterly cold water, unpredictable swells, and submerged rocks all add obstacles that have led two deaths. The film also tells the story of Mavericks” most recent victim, Jay Moriarity.

Ride a Wave: “Live and Love It Up”

A documentary film tracing the history of Ride a Wave, a nonprofit organization that hosts one-day surf camps for children with disabilities in Santa Cruz and Malibu, California.

Watch kids whose lives are defined by impairments, such as cerebral palsy, autism, cancer, blindness, Down syndrome and other challenges, experience California’s surf in a whole new way. Since 1998, RAW has helped children break through barriers, to safely share the joy of boogie boarding, surfing, and kayaking. Dedicated volunteers and innovative surfing equipment specifically designed for RAW make it all possible. This all-volunteer organization depends on community support and donations to provide summer surf camps at no cost to the participants.

The film, Ride a Wave “Live and Love it Up!” shows the evolution of a small group of enthusiastic surfers who have become a highly organized, non-profit organization that provides a life-changing experience for the volunteers and participants. The film highlights several young people overcoming obstacles and catching waves with world-class surfers.