The Source is the latest feature from Koa Smith, and it’s all about disconnecting in order to forge a deeper bond. The 30-minute film documents a trip to South Africa that Smith says led to “profound discoveries of connection, nature and introspection, offering a transformative journey that showcases the power of simplicity in today’s chaotic world.”
At the beginning of the flick, Koa hearkens back to his childhood, before he relied on social media recognition to earn his livelihood. “I just remember feeling so connected to nature as a kid. We weren’t allowed to watch TV or play video games. We didn’t really grow up around technology,” he explains. “Instead, we’d find our way to the beach and surf for as long as we could.” When his preschool teacher asked him what he wanted to be, the answer was clear: a professional surfer.
From there, he moves on to his life as a pro, starting with the 2014 video at Skeleton Bay that cemented his place in the surfing world. However, his newfound fame also completely transformed his relationship with the sport. “It established my career as I know it, but also opened up a whole new world,” explains Smith, “a digital realm where content is consumed faster than it’s created.”
Fast forward to last summer, where Koa found himself burnt out from running on the constant treadmill of content creation. Even while he was making strike missions to some of the best breaks in the world, the joy of surfing them was turning to ashes in his mouth. He found himself disconnected from what he calls “the source,” which he defines as “The pure sense of peace and happiness that comes form simply being in the present moment, being one with the world, not in your head, not in your phone, but here and now.”
The solution ended up being a trip to South Africa, which serves as the main subject of The Source. At first, the goal was to film a new edit to fuel the social media beast, but it turned into something else entirely.
“In the end, I didn’t make the crazy surf film I came to Africa for,” concludes Koa, “but I left with something much more valuable. Now, I’m just grateful to be able to share this journey, and hopefully inspire you, in your own way, to go and tap into the source.”
