Echo Beach

In the 1980s, Newport Beach spawned a new era of high-performance surfing and entrepreneurship, establishing Orange County as the focal point of the surf industry and a worldwide influencer of youth culture.

This group of surfers came from different backgrounds and interests, bonded in their surfing, and exploded on the scene, creating a unique look and revolutionary style that paralleled changes in music, culture, and the innovation of young surf companies such as Quiksilver, Stussy, Schroff, Rip Curl, McCoy and Wave Tools.

Flashy wetsuits, colorful surfboards, and a new wave attitude created a surfing Mecca that was to impact the surfing community around the world and give rise to a global industry.

Photographers, surfers, surfboard shapers, magazines, and clothing companies all came together to create this movement, which was focused on a one hundred-yard stretch of sand known as "Echo Beach."

Includes interviews with: Danny Kwock, Jeff Parker, Preston Murray, John Gothard, Mark Smerk Mangan, Peter Townend, Richie Collins, Josh Hoyer, Andrew Doheny, Chuck Schmid, Dave Gilovich, Jim Kempton, Bob Mignogna, Bolton Colburn, Bob McKnight, Bob Hurley, Bob Russell Brown, Paul Heussenstamm, TK Brimer, Shawn Stussy, Peter Schroff, Lance Collins, Jeff Yokoyama, Casey Royer, Jim Trash, and Jim Kaa, accompanied by a collection of spectacular still and film images from the era from photographers such as Mike Moir, Chuck Schmid, James Cassimus, Edward Colver, Janette Beckman, and John Ker, many of which have previously never been published or seen.

Set to a seminal 1980s soundtrack including Spandau Ballet, Martha and the Muffins, 20/20, Suburban Lawns, The Crowd, and original score by Mphase.