"Learning to Breathe" is a documentary that explores the troubled and changing life of professional surfer and legend Anthony Ruffo.
Pete Mel, Tyler Fox, Darryl Virostko and Christian Fletcher, break the code of silence in the surfing industry and open up about their own addiction issues, discussing the problem of widespread drug use in the professional surfing community.
In "Learning to Breathe," we discover how Anthony Ruffo, the pro surfer and community leader, became a drug addict and methamphetamine dealer, even when it's hard to unveil the dark side of a legend.
With years of meth addiction and turmoil, Anthony voluntarily checked himself into the Clear Mind Healthy Planet treatment center in New York on November 5, 2010.
After completing his treatment and feeling a renewed sense of purpose, Anthony began to look for a way to give back to the community of Santa Cruz.
He partnered with the Clear Mind Healthy Planet team and created his own treatment concept: The Anthony Ruffo Project.
In 2012, Ruffo was sentenced to two years in Santa Cruz County Jail, two years in a sheriff's custody program, and one year of mandatory supervision.
"Learning to Breathe" is directed by Rocky Romano.