The Surf Blurb
  • Home
  • eMag
    • Free sample >
      • August 14, 2017
    • Past issues
    • 2018 >
      • April >
        • April 16, 2018
        • April 9, 2018
        • April 2, 2018
      • March >
        • March 26, 2018
        • March 19, 2018
        • March 12, 2018
        • March 5, 2018
      • February >
        • February 26, 2018
        • February 19, 2018
        • February 5, 2018
      • January >
        • January 29, 2018
        • January 22, 2018
        • January 15, 2018
        • January 8, 2018
    • 2017 >
      • December 2017 >
        • December 18, 2017
        • December 11, 2017
        • December 4, 2017
      • November 2017 >
        • November 27, 2017
        • November 20, 2017
        • November 13, 2017
        • November 6, 2017
      • October 2017 >
        • October 30, 2017
        • October 23 2017
        • October 16, 2017
        • October 9, 2017
        • October 2, 2017
      • September 2017 >
        • September 25, 2017
        • September 18, 2017
        • September 4, 2017
      • August 2017 >
        • August 28, 2017
        • August 21, 2017
        • August 14, 2017
        • August 7, 2017
      • July 2017 >
        • July 31, 2017
        • July 24, 2017
        • July 17, 2017
        • July 3, 2017
      • June 2017 >
        • June 26, 2017
        • June 12, 2017
        • June 5, 2017
      • May 2017 >
        • May 29, 2017
        • May 22, 2017
        • May 15, 2017
        • May 8, 2017
        • May 1st, 2017
      • April 2017 >
        • April 24, 2017
        • April 17, 2017
        • April 10, 2017
        • April 3, 2017
      • March 2017 >
        • March 27, 2017
        • March 20, 2017
        • March 13, 2017
        • March 6, 2017
      • February 2017 >
        • February 27, 2017
        • February 20, 2017
        • February 13, 2017
        • February 6, 2017
      • January 2017 >
        • January 30, 2017
        • January 23, 2017
        • January 16, 2017
    • 2016 >
      • December 2016 >
        • December 26, 2016
        • December 19, 2016
        • December 12, 2016
        • December 5, 2016
      • November 2016 >
        • November 28, 2016
        • November 21, 2016
        • November 14, 2016
        • November 7, 2016
      • October 2016 >
        • October 31, 2016
        • October 24, 2016
        • October 17, 2016
        • October 3, 2016
      • September 2016 >
        • September 26, 2016
        • September 19, 2016
        • September 12, 2016
        • September 5, 2016
      • August 2016 >
        • August 29, 2016
        • August 22, 2016
        • August 15, 2016
        • August 8, 2016
        • August 1, 2016
      • July 2016 >
        • July 25, 2016
        • July 18, 2016
        • July 11, 2016
        • July 4, 2016
      • June 2016 >
        • June 27, 2016
  • Shop
    • Art >
      • Aciddrop Arts
      • Ziv Lahat
      • Ron Croci
      • Retro Futur Exhibit >
        • Alex Blondet
        • Fabien Cayere
        • Gérard Decoster
        • Pierrick Fiolleau
        • Jean Baptiste Frenove
        • Cyril Geoffroy
        • Jacques de Kerdrel
        • Bruno Lehoux
        • Yannick Le Toquin
        • Fred Ménard
        • Xavier Ménard
        • Julie Merian
        • Bernard Merli
        • Molo
        • Bruno Mottais
        • Manou Moreau
        • Pascal Peris
        • Eric Pometan
        • Fabrice Réhel
    • Surf Blurb T-Shirt
    • Books
    • Cabo & Coral
    • Going Over the Falls
    • Surfing & Advertising
    • The Progressive Art of Bodysurfing
    • The Surf Riders of Hawaii
  • Team
  • Interviews
    • Vincent Adam
    • Jean Pierre Banville
    • DeSoto Brown
    • Aurélien Bouché-Pillon
    • Stef Candé
    • Keith Capizzi
    • Daniel Creignou
    • Ron Croci
    • Claude Davancens
    • Gérard Decoster
    • Serge Dedina
    • Gregory Evans
    • Edgar Flauw
    • Ben Finney
    • Doug Fiske
    • Enak Rancho Gavaggio
    • Sandra Goodwin
    • Alain Gardinier
    • Glenn Hening
    • Tony Jones
    • Vimukthi Jayawardana
    • Kim Kimetz
    • Bertrand Krafft
    • Ben Malik
    • Jeremy Lemarie
    • Hervé Manificat
    • Luca Merli
    • Moriharu
    • Joel Smith
    • Mathieu Turries
    • Rabbi Nachum Shifren
    • Jawel Souak
    • Surfer Joe
    • Tyler Warren
    • Jaimal Yogis
    • Amy Waeschle
  • Featuring
    • License Plates Collection
    • John Severson
    • DeSoto Brown Collection >
      • Hawaii Tourist Bureau Ads >
        • c.1920 • ​Hawaii for Summer Tan this Winter
        • c.1920 • Hawaii Tourist Bureau 1
        • 1922 • Waikiki’s Surf Runs High
        • 1923 • Hawaii Tourist Bureau advertisement
        • 1923 • Hawaii Tourist Bureau advertisement
        • 1924 • Hawaii Tourist Bureau advertisement
        • 1927 • Hawaii Tourist Bureau advertisement
        • c.1928 • Graystone Corporation car rental leaflet
        • 1929 • ​In the Water or Out
      • Other Ads >
        • 1923 • Hawaii by a different route
        • 1931 • Night Hawk
        • 1966 • American Express credit card
        • 1978 • Tropical Blend
      • Newspapers & magazines >
        • 1936 • Kala of Hawaii”
        • 1949 • Tony Gayle
        • 1937 • Tom Blake
        • 1969 • Honolulu Star-Bulletin
        • 1978 • Dennis the Menace
      • Brochure & Leaflets >
        • 1887 • Detail from the Oceanic Steamship Company
        • 1915 • Great Northern Pacific Steamship Company brochure, 1915
        • 1918 • ​Duke Kahanamoku in Hawaii Tourist Bureau’s advertising brochure
        • c.1920 • City of Honolulu / Territory of Hawaii
        • 1920s • Los Angeles Steamship Company schedule brochure
        • 1928 • Los Angeles Steamship Company entertainment program
        • 1933 • Dinner Menu
        • 1941 • ​Sun Fun! In Hawaii
        • 1953 • United Air Lines Calendar
        • 1955 • Outrigger Canoe Club Menu Cover
        • 1960 • Interior of a United Air Lines ticket folder
        • 1964 • How to Surf
        • 1968 • Menu from P. & O. Lines ship S. S. Oronsay
        • c.1975 • Souvenir Photo Viewer
      • Fabric >
        • c.1960 • Clothing Tag
        • c. 1965 • Fabric patch
      • Movies >
        • 1929 • Duke Kahanamoku as Jaffir
        • 1961 • Gidget Goes Hawaiian
        • 1964 • Ride the Wild Surf
      • Postcards >
        • 1915 • Oceanic Steamship Co.
        • 1931 • Hamburg-America Line
        • c.1942 • World War II Comic Postcard
        • 1956 • United Air Lines
      • Membership Cards >
        • 1917 • OCC Membership Card
        • 1969 • YMCA Membership Card
      • Music >
        • 1929 • Cover of Johnny Noble
        • 1963 • Waikiki Surf Battle
        • 1963 • Waikiki Surf Battle
        • 1967 • Jan & Dean
      • Miscellaneous​​ >
        • 1921 • Auto Tag
        • 1960s • Licence Plate
    • Surfing Taiwan
    • A Vietnamese Surf Scene
    • References >
      • Surfing in the 19th century
      • (Sub) Cultural Studies
      • Australia
      • France
      • Global diffusion of surfing
      • Hawai'i
      • History of Surfing
      • Media
      • Tourism
    • Map of Hawaiian Surfing
  • Subscribe
    • Free membership
    • Premium membership
    • Membership types

Interview of Alain Gardinier by Jean Pierre Banville

Introduction
Alain Gardinier was born in Biarritz a long time ago and started surfing when he was twelve years old. He wrote hundreds of articles about surfing, which one of his many passions.He launched Generation Glisse (a weekly show) and wrote books about surf culture and surf history such as Surf Collection, Born to Surf, Surf Culture, Les Tontons Surfeurs and a biography of Miki Dora. 
And then, this year, a polar, his first, that shows North Korea at its best.

He worked as an assistant producer for the movie Industrie, he was a photographer, he wrote biographies, he was a journalist at NewLook, Glamour, Rock and Folk and others.

He wrote about music, all kind of music, he was and still is a TV host, produced TV series and met most of the stars alive now and a lot who are not with us anymore.

Picture
Front cover of  "Les Tontons Surfeurs" [The Surf Uncles]
Alain, you seem to be a talented man : you reinvented yourself numerous times along the years. Have you an interest that you never followed?
I feel that t I do not know how to focus on a single thing! I wish I would have done some mechanics, to tinker about. I wish I surfed Pipeline and wrote a bestseller.

Now, it is interesting to see that there is surfing almost everywhere, from Alaska to Israel, Iran and Gaza. But, why has it been so long for surfing to be introduced in Europe? For instance, in France started in the late 50s with the ‘’Tontons Surfeurs’’, while it was practice elsewhere since the beginning of the 20th century?
The time was not right, communications were very difficult and surfing was known in Hawai'i, in the mainland USA, in Australia and in South Africa. There were other countries too such as in Peru, following the trip of Carlos Dogny in Hawai'i in 1938. The French knew about surfing but they could not know about the shape and size of a board, its construction and if there was a fin under. It was very difficult to get details because you had to travel there or write a letter to somebody, but to whom? 
​Surfing created its own culture, which is a bit surprising considering that very few activities did the same to such extent. Do you know why?
Very few activities carries so many dreams, joy, images and sensations. It is easier to paint, draw or talk about surfing than to do the same for a game, like tennis or basketball. A big deal of it has to do with trips to idyllic surf spots that feeds one's imagination.

In your books, you said you have known Miki Dora…we will talk about him later … who would be the known surfers that had the most fun living the surfing life?
Dora’s life was not only fun but also full of stress, solitude and issues. I believe the one surfer who lived his ‘’surf life’’ to the hilt is also the one that is the most respectable: Gerry Lopez.

You also write about Surf Music. How would you describe it?

I would say instrumental, always the same, and quite boring at the end!

Who would be the best surf band? Do you think this style is gone forever?
I am not a fan of surf music but the theme of the Endless Summer by the Sandals will last forever. Around the world, hundreds of bands continue to play surf music and there are some Music Festivals going on every year.
Picture
Front cover of "Miki Dora from Malibu to the Basques Coast"
Picture
Front cover of "Ride the wild Surf"
Since the movie Gidget, tons of surf movies have been released: do you have a favorite? 
I like Point Break for the suspense, but honestly I am not an expert about surf movies. 
​
You know that surfing has its own superhero: the Silver Surfer. Can we hope for something else?
I am not sure we need another superhero. Laird Hamilton maybe?

You wrote quite a few books about surfing. What would you say about beginners surfers?
Most of them are people who get attracted by this fantastic activity and they are right to do so.
​

What is so fascinating about surfing that you want to write yet another book about it? Because you are writing another book…
The fact that every surfer has his own life and reasons to surf and then the fact that surfing is new for every generation. That is the bottom line of my new book, a coffee table book around The Endless Summer movie – the DVD will be included in the book. It will be out in November.

If you had one board, one spot and one surf music disk?
A Tyler Hatzikian longboard at Jeffreys Bay with The Endless Summer.
Are you a fan of micro cars and surf posters?
Yes, but I slowed down a bit. I sold my surf posters’ collection and my micro cars a few years ago. Now, I only keep a few objects that were very important to me.

Your latest book is on North Korea, do you think there is surfing in North Korea? If so, would you go?
There is surfing to be done in North Korea. I remember watching a few things on TV about it. But you could erase my name from the guest list if some of us where invited!
Partners
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

About us
Terms of Service
Privacy Policy
Shipping & Return Policy
Contact us
Copyright © 2016-2018
  • Home
  • eMag
    • Free sample >
      • August 14, 2017
    • Past issues
    • 2018 >
      • April >
        • April 16, 2018
        • April 9, 2018
        • April 2, 2018
      • March >
        • March 26, 2018
        • March 19, 2018
        • March 12, 2018
        • March 5, 2018
      • February >
        • February 26, 2018
        • February 19, 2018
        • February 5, 2018
      • January >
        • January 29, 2018
        • January 22, 2018
        • January 15, 2018
        • January 8, 2018
    • 2017 >
      • December 2017 >
        • December 18, 2017
        • December 11, 2017
        • December 4, 2017
      • November 2017 >
        • November 27, 2017
        • November 20, 2017
        • November 13, 2017
        • November 6, 2017
      • October 2017 >
        • October 30, 2017
        • October 23 2017
        • October 16, 2017
        • October 9, 2017
        • October 2, 2017
      • September 2017 >
        • September 25, 2017
        • September 18, 2017
        • September 4, 2017
      • August 2017 >
        • August 28, 2017
        • August 21, 2017
        • August 14, 2017
        • August 7, 2017
      • July 2017 >
        • July 31, 2017
        • July 24, 2017
        • July 17, 2017
        • July 3, 2017
      • June 2017 >
        • June 26, 2017
        • June 12, 2017
        • June 5, 2017
      • May 2017 >
        • May 29, 2017
        • May 22, 2017
        • May 15, 2017
        • May 8, 2017
        • May 1st, 2017
      • April 2017 >
        • April 24, 2017
        • April 17, 2017
        • April 10, 2017
        • April 3, 2017
      • March 2017 >
        • March 27, 2017
        • March 20, 2017
        • March 13, 2017
        • March 6, 2017
      • February 2017 >
        • February 27, 2017
        • February 20, 2017
        • February 13, 2017
        • February 6, 2017
      • January 2017 >
        • January 30, 2017
        • January 23, 2017
        • January 16, 2017
    • 2016 >
      • December 2016 >
        • December 26, 2016
        • December 19, 2016
        • December 12, 2016
        • December 5, 2016
      • November 2016 >
        • November 28, 2016
        • November 21, 2016
        • November 14, 2016
        • November 7, 2016
      • October 2016 >
        • October 31, 2016
        • October 24, 2016
        • October 17, 2016
        • October 3, 2016
      • September 2016 >
        • September 26, 2016
        • September 19, 2016
        • September 12, 2016
        • September 5, 2016
      • August 2016 >
        • August 29, 2016
        • August 22, 2016
        • August 15, 2016
        • August 8, 2016
        • August 1, 2016
      • July 2016 >
        • July 25, 2016
        • July 18, 2016
        • July 11, 2016
        • July 4, 2016
      • June 2016 >
        • June 27, 2016
  • Shop
    • Art >
      • Aciddrop Arts
      • Ziv Lahat
      • Ron Croci
      • Retro Futur Exhibit >
        • Alex Blondet
        • Fabien Cayere
        • Gérard Decoster
        • Pierrick Fiolleau
        • Jean Baptiste Frenove
        • Cyril Geoffroy
        • Jacques de Kerdrel
        • Bruno Lehoux
        • Yannick Le Toquin
        • Fred Ménard
        • Xavier Ménard
        • Julie Merian
        • Bernard Merli
        • Molo
        • Bruno Mottais
        • Manou Moreau
        • Pascal Peris
        • Eric Pometan
        • Fabrice Réhel
    • Surf Blurb T-Shirt
    • Books
    • Cabo & Coral
    • Going Over the Falls
    • Surfing & Advertising
    • The Progressive Art of Bodysurfing
    • The Surf Riders of Hawaii
  • Team
  • Interviews
    • Vincent Adam
    • Jean Pierre Banville
    • DeSoto Brown
    • Aurélien Bouché-Pillon
    • Stef Candé
    • Keith Capizzi
    • Daniel Creignou
    • Ron Croci
    • Claude Davancens
    • Gérard Decoster
    • Serge Dedina
    • Gregory Evans
    • Edgar Flauw
    • Ben Finney
    • Doug Fiske
    • Enak Rancho Gavaggio
    • Sandra Goodwin
    • Alain Gardinier
    • Glenn Hening
    • Tony Jones
    • Vimukthi Jayawardana
    • Kim Kimetz
    • Bertrand Krafft
    • Ben Malik
    • Jeremy Lemarie
    • Hervé Manificat
    • Luca Merli
    • Moriharu
    • Joel Smith
    • Mathieu Turries
    • Rabbi Nachum Shifren
    • Jawel Souak
    • Surfer Joe
    • Tyler Warren
    • Jaimal Yogis
    • Amy Waeschle
  • Featuring
    • License Plates Collection
    • John Severson
    • DeSoto Brown Collection >
      • Hawaii Tourist Bureau Ads >
        • c.1920 • ​Hawaii for Summer Tan this Winter
        • c.1920 • Hawaii Tourist Bureau 1
        • 1922 • Waikiki’s Surf Runs High
        • 1923 • Hawaii Tourist Bureau advertisement
        • 1923 • Hawaii Tourist Bureau advertisement
        • 1924 • Hawaii Tourist Bureau advertisement
        • 1927 • Hawaii Tourist Bureau advertisement
        • c.1928 • Graystone Corporation car rental leaflet
        • 1929 • ​In the Water or Out
      • Other Ads >
        • 1923 • Hawaii by a different route
        • 1931 • Night Hawk
        • 1966 • American Express credit card
        • 1978 • Tropical Blend
      • Newspapers & magazines >
        • 1936 • Kala of Hawaii”
        • 1949 • Tony Gayle
        • 1937 • Tom Blake
        • 1969 • Honolulu Star-Bulletin
        • 1978 • Dennis the Menace
      • Brochure & Leaflets >
        • 1887 • Detail from the Oceanic Steamship Company
        • 1915 • Great Northern Pacific Steamship Company brochure, 1915
        • 1918 • ​Duke Kahanamoku in Hawaii Tourist Bureau’s advertising brochure
        • c.1920 • City of Honolulu / Territory of Hawaii
        • 1920s • Los Angeles Steamship Company schedule brochure
        • 1928 • Los Angeles Steamship Company entertainment program
        • 1933 • Dinner Menu
        • 1941 • ​Sun Fun! In Hawaii
        • 1953 • United Air Lines Calendar
        • 1955 • Outrigger Canoe Club Menu Cover
        • 1960 • Interior of a United Air Lines ticket folder
        • 1964 • How to Surf
        • 1968 • Menu from P. & O. Lines ship S. S. Oronsay
        • c.1975 • Souvenir Photo Viewer
      • Fabric >
        • c.1960 • Clothing Tag
        • c. 1965 • Fabric patch
      • Movies >
        • 1929 • Duke Kahanamoku as Jaffir
        • 1961 • Gidget Goes Hawaiian
        • 1964 • Ride the Wild Surf
      • Postcards >
        • 1915 • Oceanic Steamship Co.
        • 1931 • Hamburg-America Line
        • c.1942 • World War II Comic Postcard
        • 1956 • United Air Lines
      • Membership Cards >
        • 1917 • OCC Membership Card
        • 1969 • YMCA Membership Card
      • Music >
        • 1929 • Cover of Johnny Noble
        • 1963 • Waikiki Surf Battle
        • 1963 • Waikiki Surf Battle
        • 1967 • Jan & Dean
      • Miscellaneous​​ >
        • 1921 • Auto Tag
        • 1960s • Licence Plate
    • Surfing Taiwan
    • A Vietnamese Surf Scene
    • References >
      • Surfing in the 19th century
      • (Sub) Cultural Studies
      • Australia
      • France
      • Global diffusion of surfing
      • Hawai'i
      • History of Surfing
      • Media
      • Tourism
    • Map of Hawaiian Surfing
  • Subscribe
    • Free membership
    • Premium membership
    • Membership types
✕