Chick surf movie coming this summer

Tiffany Campbell's movie about lady ocean-farers, Dear & Yonder, is about to break -- and it ain't no Blue Crush. "We made this film because women surfers wanted something broader-reaching," says Campbell, who lives in the mountains above Santa Cruz with her husband, surf artist-filmmaker Thomas Campbell. "Women -- we connect with our sport differently," she adds. "And when we watch surf films, we want to get a more in-depth view of who these people really are." Two years in the making, Dear & Yonder traces the history of women's surfing and features pro girls like Coco Ho, Silvana Lima and reigning world champion Stephanie Gilmore -- and follows them as they long board, short board and body surf, both at home (dear) and around the world (yonder).

The film also features lesser-known but nonetheless noteworthy sea creatures such as body-surfer-geophysicist Judith Sheridan from the Bay Area, and "Cap'n" Liz Clark, who is currently sailing the world, pirate-style, chasing breaks. "So many women lose their dream of surfing as they become older and have families," says Campbell. "We're trying to show that you can have everything you want, and still surf." Campbell made the film with her friend, Andria Lessler, through the production company she owns with her twin sister, Nicole Young. The company, Villa Villa Cola, shares the same name of Pippi Longstocking's house (Villa Villekulle), and while Longstocking may not be known for her wave shredding, she's one of Campbell's biggest inspirations: "She's the independent headstrong little girl we always wanted to be." Dear & Yonder comes out on DVD in August.

CAROLINE RYDER

Forwarded to me from Papermag by Faith. Thanks!