The above may be one of my favorite segments in all of surf cinema – specifically the 5:20 mark. And I hold that opinion knowing full well it’s bound to spark discontent.
I can’t recall when I first watched Taylor Steele’s 2010 flick, Castles in the Sky. But some time ago, when I still used an iPod video to watch movies on planes, it was one of three films I had downloaded to watch on my tiny screen and quickly became the perfect companion at cruising altitude.
From trips to Nicaragua, Panama, and beyond, I watched and rewatched Castles endlessly to psych me up for surf trips, but most especially I connected with Steele’s b-roll scenes of walking through foreign marketplaces and connecting with local people – arguably some of the greatest rewards of international surf travel.
And of each vignette, Dave Rastovich’s journey through India (with a cameo from Kalani Robb) is my all-time fav.
We’ve known for a spell that Taylor Steele’s been kicking out clips from his films and previously unseen footage on his YouTube channel, The Momentum Files (tagline: “complete spiritual fulfillment guaranteed full refund no questions asked.”), but the best part of each new upload is the additional insight Steele adds. Here’s what he has to say about his trip with Rastovich through India:
“This was a pretty special moment. After a week of scouring the coasts of India for a decent wave, we loaded onto a local ferry and headed to an island we’d spotted on Google Earth. It was quite a mission, but the wave looked good (from space), breaking through the jetty and reeling on both sides. Dave was sick when we arrived (typical for India travel) and curled up sweating in his board bag. But when the light and swell came together, he rallied himself, got focused and paddled out for this amazing session.
“Castles in the Sky was all about travel and discovery, the beauty of hardship and pushing beyond your comfort zone…and this section was the sum of all those parts. What a pleasure watching Rasta’s flow and connection with this wave.”
Do yourself a favor and check out more on The Momentum Files YouTube channel here.
