February Recommendations
The Alpinist – Documentary
We’re not gonna lie, we laughed and we cried over this documentary. It is impossible not to fall in love with maverick mountaineer André Leclerc as we follow him (and sometimes lose track of him) on his solo expeditions in some of the roughest terrain we have ever seen someone climb. His positive, down-to earth attitude and goofiness help him become instant friends with the locals wherever he goes, as he spends months in remote high-altitude towns preparing and waiting for the right weather conditions to solo some insane peaks. His level of comfort in what for other people would be super stressful conditions, combined with his unparalleled combined climbing technique are extraordinary. Watch this documentary to get seriously inspired to follow the path that brings you the most happiness and live your life to the fullest.
The Outlaw Ocean - Book
The Outlaw Ocean by Ian Urbina is the culmination of a huge amount of methodical, courageous and intelligent research, and shocking to the core. While it is a gripping and very well written read, it reveals the awfulness of events which are going on in the wildest and perhaps least understood frontier of our planet: the world’s oceans. Ian Urbina investigates what happens in the open waters: too big to police and under no clear international authority. The author’s determination is impressive, as he did the research by himself and took part in all missions, e.g. a sea shepherd mission which followed an illegal fishing boat for several days. The book is both a gripping adventure story and a stunning exposé with numerous investigatory stories that reveal what happens in the floating world that connects us all, a place where anyone can do anything because no one is watching.
Torren Martyn‘s Lost Track series
„Lost Track Atlantic“ is a four-part series that documents a surf journey from the North Atlantic to the equatorial coast of West Africa. Free surfer Torren Martyn and his best friend and filmmaker Ishka Folkwell, start out in Scotland in the first episode and end up traveling South from there, following the Atlantic Coast, for several months. Torren is one of our favourite Ozzie surfers, with a very recognizable, smooth and playful riding style. If you are dreaming of empty waves, this is for you.
The pair's adventure takes place from November 2019 to March 2020, when the world was starting to rapidly shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic and, therefore, the unrestricted traveling already feels very nostalgic. The music alone (add it all to your playlists!) makes you feel like you are right there with them. The two friends do a shotgun van conversion when they arrive in Europe (we don‘t envy them sleeping in a van with no isolation and no heating in winter in Scotland!) and live minimalistically on their travels. The main focus isn't on comfort, but on discovering empty and crowded line-ups at stunning beaches and reefs, being open to learn about the different cultures of the lands they travel through and to meet every person along the way with an open heart and open mind.
Saltwater in the Blood by Easkey Britton - Book
Surfing and skiing in Iceland require a lot of time on the road, as the right conditions and weather windows are forever changing and shifting. We play music and podcasts in abundance, but on longer drives we really appreciate a good audiobook. On a recent journey we listened to Easkey Britton‘s newly published book, Saltwater in the Blood. Easkey's connection with the ocean is deep and learning more about the Blue Mind and how the ocean can help us find mindfullness through our human-water connection, from someone who has grown up spending time in and near the ocean all her life, made so much sense to us. She brings both a scientific and intuitive perspective on the human connection with the ocean and combines them beautifully. Listening to the author herself read the book to you is a mesmerising experience, as her words flow in a soft rythm almost like poetry.
