Pro skier Tyler Curle first watched Surf's Up, a 2007 animated surf film, when he was in second grade. It was an impactful moment for him. In this recent episode of Blister Cinematic, Curle, a Flylow athlete, discusses his love of the film with Blister host Jonathan Ellsworth.
"It follows the Karate Kid layout: a young character, an older character who advises them. But the whole emphasis is that the goal in life isn't about winning," Curle says in the podcast. "The storyline hits it home that it's about winning with a grin, losing with a smile. It was a great reference to have for myself since I've been doing competitions since I was a little kid."
And yes, this is a cartoon about surfing penguins, shot in the style of a documentary. But according to Curle, it's a must-watch movie for everyone who loves films, humor, and the outdoors. The film was nominated for an Oscar for best animated film that year. "It's about having fun with your friends and not taking things too seriously," Curle adds.
Curle has a documentary coming out this fall about his journey on the Freeride World Tour Challenger series. He'll be one to watch when freeride skiing makes its Olympic debut in 2030.