Men of Wood & Foam

Men of Wood & Foam tells the story of the pioneers of the Australian surfboard industry. This one-hour documentary, made by Noosa filmmakers Phil Jarratt and Shaun Cairns, uncovers a golden decade in surfing, starting in 1956, when surfing was transformed into a sport and culture with its very own music, movies, fashion, and heroes. Underpinning this exciting transformation was a small group of artisans who started out in the 1950s making wooden surfboards in their backyards along Sydney's eastern beaches, before eventually moving to Brookvale where they experimented with "blowing foam" to make lighter and more responsive surfboards from plastics.Now in their 80s and 90s, these entrepreneurs and adventurers reflect on the glory years, when they created a culture. (Santa Barbara International Film Festival)