Watch: The Other Side of Fear // Mark Mathews
Never the most gifted surfer, Mark Mathews' surfing career was defined by playing to his strengths. At first it was his detemination to grab some of the spotlight from his hard-running and incredibly talented Maroubra peers, while later, once his big wave career was established, it was his focus on mental and physical fitness that allowed him to endure holddowns few would survive.
Almost five years ago, on the morning of the 2015 Jaws contest - the first swell of what was to be a stellar El Nino winter - Mathews grabbed one last wave before the organisers cleared the water. With webcast cameras running, Mathews took off on what was at that point the biggest wave of the morning. The wave closed out and Mathews aborted the ride, injuring his shoulder when he hit the water. That injury put him out action for the winter, and the better part of the next year. Then, after months of rehab, and while still struck with nerves, he had a far worse wipeout. One that brought his big wave career to a screeching halt and drew on all his mental reserves.
'The Other Side of Fear' is made by Mathews' longtime collaborator Macario De Souza and tells his story of rising from a second-tier local surfer to the upper echelons of big wave surfing, and then what happens when all that he worked for was taken away.
In surfing terms it's a long player, almost an hour on the arse cheeks, yet well worth the investment.
Comments
"Almost an hour on the arse cheeks"
Brilliant! I'm tippin that's the first time ever that description has been used in a film review anywhere!
Mark is perhaps the finest human ever to ride a surfboard and, definitely THE UGLIEST FEMALE SUPERMODEL in existence – period!
A true champion.
I had a front-row seat to that wipeout, literally right in front of me. We thought we were shooting a double tow story not a turning point in Marks whole life. Some tense moments that day for sure.
I think this doc is one of surfings better-told stories/productions.
That was an hour well spent.
x 2. A story well told and an hour well spent.
Crazy awesome story. Right to the heart of things.
Cant figure out how to stream it. Devastated.
Eh? You click the link up above..?
Should open up to a screen with a red 'Watch Film' button.
Nah , can’t figure out how to stream it to my TV. A little screen won’t do it justice.
Great watch
wasn't expecting much being a Redbull movie, but actually super interesting. Great watch
10 out of 10. I have no doubt i'll be watching this again throughout life for the inspiration and sharing it with those who it might benefit. Thanks Mark, what an inspirational human and someone that time will judge to be one of our greatest ever. And Brit. What a chick!! Top shelfers. Legends.
wow, that was an incredible story, old mate did himself a few mischiefs, a bit of an emotional journey, so much persistence, that's probably one of the gnarliest surfing injuries I've seen (excluding shark attacks), his missus offers awesome support and understanding of his passion... very enjoyable...
Wicked!
That was an hour well spent! What a resilient bloke he is and looks like he lucked out big time with a great girl to help him get through it.
All the best to Mark for whatever lies ahead.
What an inspirational human!
Please add him to the Surfing Hall of Fame.
Best thing I've watched in a while.
Was lucky enough to be at Urbnsrf when this was filmed. Great story, great bloke. So exciting to see him take his mate out for some waves. He donated some gear for a raffle to raise funds for Disabled Surfers Association and then matched dollar for dollar himself. Legend.
Awkward to notice my ugly mug make a brief cameo. :)
Thank you to all involved. We all need to watch inspiring stories like this. Thanks for your courage Mark !
Awesome story. I like the way he retrieves the diamond from under the water, it’s a bit allegorical. Jason is a key too and his wife’s willingness to bring them together. Amazing how woman can transform life. What a lovely family too. Awesome!!
Just wow. What a story had no idea before of his injury, recovery and just plain strength.
His now wife though, maybe an even stronger human?
This story says something about free will and identity. Free will is really a misnomer and a contradiction in terms. When the will is engaged the person is then beholden to it. The desire to fulfil the will’s aims can in effect enslave the person to the will’s course. So when Mark lay in hospital lamenting his - I think he said his shit foot or something, but you could see his frustration - his will to surf and do things with his foot was in conflict with his own body situation. So his mind was kind of in a conflict with his body. Very difficult situation. Especially when the will power - is bound up in personal identity. Then if the foot does not follow the will there is a chance the identity may want to kind of disown it. If his foot was not part of him what was? It begs the question who are we? And it seemed for a while he was at an impasse. Plato and Socrates encouraged the idea to “know thyself” one of the messages of the Oracle at Delphi. I thought this show brought that old idea into sharp focus. It seemed that Mark was really stuck for a while with the clash between his identity as big wave surfer and the circumstances of his healing foot. The assumption is that one knows oneself and there is no way out of the conflict, but when Jason turns up he is given an open door into seeing a deeper side of himself and then his freedom really comes - freedom FROM the earlier will to be what he was. No longer stuck in the past ‘will mindset’ he could truly live on unimpeded. That’s what it seemed like to me. And it’s a demonstration that one never really knows oneself, but one learns about oneself as life goes on through all of life’s ups and downs. Mark truly is a courageous person and I feel indebted to him for sharing his extraordinary life experience in such an intimate way. I think it was said he was an introvert as a younger person and it’s amazing to see him getting up in front of crowds of people talking but hey, he has a great message!!!
A thorough and insightful analysis. I hadn’t thought about it that way. Thanks for sharing.
What great watch !!
Well worth the hour on the arse cheeks but realised I should have been doing my squats while watching !!!
Well done Mark Matthews, you are an inspiring human with some great people supporting you. !
That was fantastic...Well done mate! May you and your family receive all the grace you deserve, for the inspiration you have shown to beat the odds and surf again.
Wow ... that was quite intense! Great movie!
I remember when Mark posted on FB about his leg injury. He made it sound like it wasn't too serious. Not one to lament about himself that's for sure. I was happy to see him back in the water.
Inspirational and humbling on all levels.....another surfing legend added to my list...
I have been wondering what Mr Mark Mathews has been up to lately as I haven't seen much of him as of late.
Well... stuff me!! I am surprised as buggery.
An emotional journey during this documentary I did not expect to experience at any stage throughout my life time regarding this exceptional human being.
Up and up mate... what ever shape and form your journey.
Surfing hall of fame nomination???
Absofknlutely !!!
Loved that
Gawd surfing is such an awesome but selfish sport,great movie and felt for his girl friend /wife Britt when he decides to go to Hawaii..........really well done and very inspirational...just shows to go what you can do.
I got no more tears left. Britt is a legend. She came out the bigger hero/heroine for me.
^’kin oath.
Well done Mark. Well done Britt.
Winners never quit, and quitters never win.
You are no quitter.
Best wishes to you and anyone facing a struggle ,life passes to us.
Not ashamed to say this brought a tear to my eye. Though I surf like a one legged monkey, I can emotionally connect with so much of this story. Britt, you are an amazing human! Mark, you are an inspiration.
Saw Mark at the local, chicken shop, not beach, not very long after the second mishap. Saw him hobbling around and would have loved to have a chat but I tend towards leaving well known people alone, assuming they get quite enough of it.
Small in stature, and saying that I’m not a big guy, but also clearly strong, I could happily buy him beers all night to talk shit about his experiences and particularly what drives him.
Can’t watch this right now, poor wifi reception, but I’ll come back to it. Not surprised at the reaction from other punters here. He always comes across as down to earth in his Tim Bonython movies. Best of luck to him and kin.
Excellent doco showing how single-minded surfers are. I thought at first that only a surfer would put their recently recuperated body on the line like MM did, but then thought of others like Gary Ablett, Tony Hawk and (especially) the Crusty Demons who do the same. The most inspiring other person in the doco is Jason who showed MM what a wuss he really was.
Brilliant story and production. Much respect to you guys!!
One of the most inspiring doco's iv'e seen, Mark and Britt are legends!