One particular thing sticks out when Alessandro Piu shares stories of being a grom in Sardinia, the large Mediterranean Island off the western coast of Italy. While most of surf culture and lore is built on a dream of having picturesque barrels to yourself, Alessandro remembers being in the water as a kid and wishing the cars driving by would bring another surfer to share the waves with.
“Sardinia, is a magic Island,” he tells The Inertia. “A land that can surprise you anytime with its landscapes, with its culture, its history, its waves, and with its fun people. Sometimes, when I am surfing here I feel like I am living in a dream. I surf in the Mediterranean Sea, surfing pretty good waves while I am surrounded by beautiful scenery, and it makes me feel so lucky and grateful.”
So it was the desire to share a fascination with the place his father introduced him to surfing that inspired Alessandro to create Back to the Roots, a documentary-style film exploring one of surfing’s not-so-hidden gems. After more than two months of visualizing and building a concept for the film, he found “a cameraman who was crazy enough to follow” him on an adventure and then spent five months meeting and surfing with Sardinia’s locals.
“This Island has its strong roots, and its culture is unique,” he says. “I’ve been traveling around the world since I was 13-years old and every time I come back home I feel like I never felt anywhere else — not just because it’s my home but because this island has a strong energy. It hides many secrets. You can get lost here and then find yourself, and that’s just beautiful.”
Editor’s Note: You can find the full Back to the Roots film on demand here, as well as give it a follow on Instagram here.
