The latest film to come from the ex-'Z-Boy' and skate team leader Stacy Peralta is now out on DVD (skipping a theatrical release this time round). On the back of 'Riding Giants' (a great surf documentary following the history of big wave riding) comes 'Pipeline Masters'. The Banzai Pipeline is one of the world famous waves, on the north shore of Oahu. It has long been regarded as the "ultimate test" in surfing and you need some serious cojones to take it on.

The documentary tracks the rise of the competition held there every year since 1971 "The Pipe Masters". Along the way you meet the greats who have tamed it, the unfortunate who've been battered by it and those who wish they could ride it. The contest is unique in many ways, the aura surrounding the wave, and it's the one contest most pro's would love to win above all else. Then of course there's the fact that the waves break only 40m from the shore, meaning spectators get amazing views of the action and can literally feel the waves pounding out in front of them.

You get all the current pro's Kelly Slater, the Irons brothers ripping and there's some cool old footage as well, especially "Mr. Pipeline" himself Jerry Lopez who makes it all look too easy with his super cool style. It's put together in the same way as the 2 previous documentaries with archive footage, interviews and present day action edited sharply together with a classic soundtrack. Some of the interviews can seem a bit over dramatic but hey, I suppose it goes with the wave. It's pretty inspiring stuff if not a little crazy, but in the words of Bodie (actually Mark fu) "if you want the ultimate ride, you've gotta be willing to pay the ultimate price"…..Dude

check out the official site (and trailer) here