Alan Stokes lives the dream. Many of us here at Surfdome would love to be in his flip flops and surf, travel and make inspiring videos. However, if we were in his flip flops the StRaNGe Beautiful LIFE series would be full of nose diving wipe-outs and poo stance styled surfing. Thankfully Stoksey is one amazing surfer who has been tube riding, boosting huge aerials and tearing waves apart all over the world. Teamed up with surf filmmaker Tim Davies, the UK based duo has produced five phenomenal surfing videos that bring the joyous beauty of surf, travel and the ocean to our computer screens.
We were lucky enough to be able to catch up with the man himself and ask him a few questions about the StRaNGe Beautiful LIFE series and some of his other thoughts. Check out the interview below.
The series has been inspiring for us weekend warriors. Is there much planning and preparation involved or is it just about going out there and catching waves?
“I would say that a lot of planning and preparation goes into each episode leading up to the actual shoot, things like locations, music, the kind of vibe we want to try and portray in the episode. Tim and I have similar takes on surfing, so it’s a good relationship. We are both naturally competitive too, so it brings out the best in us. We have been making the most of our decisions based on the last episode. We want to keep this ever changing contrast so if our last video is all chilled and slow, we are like ok that went down well, let’s see if we can make something completely the opposite like fast and loud. Surfing has so many moods and people ride waves in so many different ways, so we are trying to explore it ourselves with how we surf and film.
I know Tim loves the challenge of adapting his filming and editing skills to different environments, so far I think he is just nailing it and getting better and better. I’ll see something that looks cool or an angle or something and be like oh we should try and film this like this and he’s already got it shot.
For me, this project is really something that makes my surfing feel creative. I love just getting lost in how I want to ride a wave and how that could be perceived on film. Surfing is such an emotional experience and I love watching surfers that let their emotions and feeling show when they ride a wave. I think Curren was one of the best at this, when you watch him surf it’s like he has turned off the rest of the world and is just surfing. I like that pure connection with the environment.”
What goes through your mind when you are in the barrel of a wave?
“Nothing I guess, that’s the beauty of it I think. For me it’s a feeling thing, as soon as I think I just get dusted and I know I’m not in the right place mentally. It’s hard not to let all the different energies affect you, most of the time you don’t know it’s happening. You’re like why am I surfing this way, or that way. Why am I trying to do an air here when I should have done a big rail carve. Then you’re sitting out the back going, oh I’m just frothing out too much or I’m trying to impress someone? It’s hard to stay in the right place but when your there it’s so good! I like surfing on my own, it’s a lot easier to just surf then.”
You experienced an earthquake and tearing your knee during your ‘Strange and Beautiful’ adventures, were there any other hair-raising experiences?
“I was approaching my surfing in a different way. I wanted to really push the progressive side and see how high or powerful I could surf. So I knew an injury was something that could happen and I was mentally ok with that, I figured it was all part of the deal. It’s like you’re throwing it out there to the point where you’re going, I’m either sticking this trick or I’m going to get hurt. It’s a decision you make before you go down that road. Everything was going good, I felt like my surfing was progressing and I had the video footage to watch and learn from. Then I injured my knee just pulling into a backhand barrel, something that you would think is not a potential injury maker. I thought I was going to hurt myself trying to land a huge air or something, so that was kind of surreal.
I would say the session we had in Indo on a shallow left was one hair raising experience and one of the highlights so far. I was just getting slammed on every wave and taking skin off on the reef! I’m thinking what am I doing this for, and then I got one and I was just shaking in the channel! I cashed my chips after that wave and went in with the biggest grin on my dial.”
What equipment are you using at the moment?
“I’m riding Fourth surfboards by Luke Hart and we have just launched the Stoker signature model it’s the board I’m riding in the latest episode of StRaNGe Beautiful LIFE. I’m also wearing the Animal Assassin wetsuit, I’ve helped with R&D over the last few years and the suits are really good they keep me warm at home and are nice and flexible.”
If you weren’t a surfer what do you think you would be?
“Such a hard question to answer because it’s all I’ve ever known, I would like to think that I would still be drawn to the ocean, so maybe a lifeguard or something. I honestly can’t say.”
Would you rather be able to fly or breathe underwater?
“Well if I could breathe under water the thrill of surfing would be gone to a certain extent. The fear is something that makes it interesting and addictive. Flying is what we all try to do on waves so if I could fly like a bird that would be rad.”
If you could choose any 3 people, dead or alive, to go for a surf session with who would they be?
“Kelly Slater would be my first choice, Jamie O’brien would be my second and Gerry Lopez. At Pipeline Jamie would have to catch the best waves and fade so I could have a go on them ha ha!”
Would you like to give a shout out to anyone?
“I would like to say thanks to my sponsors Animal, Mercedes, Vito Sport, Fourth Surfboards, OAM, FSC and Skullcandy. Also I would like to send my support to Surfers Against Sewage. They do such an amazing job and we all need to take responsibility and keep the ocean and beaches clean and safe.”
Mad props and gracious thanks to Stokesy and Tim Davies for creating these films and taking the time to talk to us. It’s great to see such slick artistry on the water and behind the camera from a UK team. To follow the guys on their epic adventures and watch all their episodes, check out the Strange Beautiful Life Facebook page and Vimeo channel!
STRaNGe Beautiful LIFE – Episode 1: Take me to the sun
By Will Fielding & Tom O’Toole
