Getting added to one of Brad Jacobson's south-bay surf videos on YouTube has been a highlight of 2025 for me! Seriously stoked to see him on the beach at the first SBBC event of the 2025-2026 winter season. Check it out:
The First Surf Contest I’ve Been to in a Long Time
I hadn’t been to a surf contest in a long time. This episode documents my return to the first South Bay Boardriders contest of their winter surf series at El Porto. @southbayboardriders South Bay Boardriders is a nonprofit dedicated to celebrating the rich history of South Bay surfing culture, introducing families and youth to ocean activities, and protecting our local shoreline. I arrived before the contest started and filmed everything coming to life — crews setting up tents, coffee being poured, surfers warming up, kids playing on the sand, families watching the heats, and the beach slowly filling in. The waves were fun, the energy was relaxed, and the sense of community was unmistakable. This isn’t about results or rankings. It’s about showing up, being local, and remembering what surf contests are really about. Filmed at El Porto, Manhattan Beach. Thanks for hanging out with me. I'm Brad Jacobson and I'll sea ya on the sand. Music: Epidemic Sound.
I got a chance to get a few waves with Julian Williams (in orange) in the finals at Event #1 of the SBBC winter surf series at El Porto. He took first place and the competition was tough. Only a fraction of point separated most of the other competitors (2nd place thru 5th). The waves were tricky, but Julian had no problem picking out the best waves. It was not surprising to see his connection with the water. I thought it would be cool to share this short film of him showcasing not only his talents and also some of his philosophies.
Ola I Ka Wai — Water is life. All of the music, filming and editing was done by John Corcoran. every surf clip from this film is of Julian Williams. We wanted to capture the beauty of this place we live through the art of music, cinematography and surfing. John and I met less than a year ago, and within three months this project came to life. What began as a surf film evolved into a reflection on our relationship with the ocean, the land, and everything that connects them. On Oʻahu’s North Shore, decades of development have reshaped the coastline. Statewide, over 70% of coastal wetlands have been lost, with runoff carrying sediment and pollutants from mauka to makai, impacting reef health, sand movement, and the quality of the waves we rely on. Surfing is more than what happens in the water. What we do on land shapes the ocean and what the future generations will inherit in the lineup! This film is a small effort, but a reminder that as surfers care beyond the lineup matters just as much as what we do in it. Mahalo to Nā Mea Kūpono Learning Center for sharing their space and helping to tell this story. 🎥 Filmed & edited by @johncorcoran surfing and narration done by @Julian.Williams_
