Watch: Nordurland

Stu Nettle (stunet)
Swellnet Dispatch

Nordurland is a film about going surfing in the harsh, cold waters of the North Atlantic.  It follows three friends from the subtropical northern rivers of NSW Australia, surfers Torren Martyn and Laurie Towner, as well as needessentials founder and designer Ryan Scanlon.

They travel to isolated, snow covered coastlines in search of remote waves with filmmaker Ishka Folkwell, beautifully capturing these vast and stunning landscapes. Featuring an original soundtrack composed by Headland, glaciers, mountains and powerful icy surf all come to life in this adventure to the far north.

Torren Martyn's narration throughout the film offers a personal reflection on the trip and a real glimpse into the challenges and rewards of traveling to frozen, distant lands in search of surf.

 

Comments

Blowin Monday, 8 Apr 2019 at 10:25 am new

What’s Vimeo all about? Why ? What’s wrong with YouTube which I have a channel for on my big screen TV ?

Fazesurf Monday, 8 Apr 2019 at 12:40 pm new

Different audiences. While the numbers are really different and youtube offers a lot more in terms of uploading to 8k etc but overall its content I think is questionable. Vimeo is very niche and cinematic.. You're not going to find gamers and Ryan's Toy Review on Vimeo..

OHV500 Monday, 8 Apr 2019 at 12:43 pm new

No Ads on Vimeo, better quality upload and download. With many more options for formatting content. A way better option for film.

wozz Monday, 8 Apr 2019 at 11:58 pm new

I hear you mate Vimeo is absolute crap.

daisy duke kah… Monday, 8 Apr 2019 at 10:33 am new

I've got frozen Nordurland on one monitor and humid Duranbah on the other and I'm all over the shop.

dandandan Monday, 8 Apr 2019 at 11:38 am new

Beautiful waves and landscapes, but I am never ever going on a surf trip that is any colder than the place I already live.

OHV500 Monday, 8 Apr 2019 at 12:44 pm new

I'd love to give this a go. No one around, just nature, a perfect place for you and a few mates.

adambol1 Monday, 8 Apr 2019 at 01:42 pm new

Great story and testament to improvements in wetsuit tech.

shoredump Monday, 8 Apr 2019 at 01:48 pm new

My kind of adventure

velocityjohnno Monday, 8 Apr 2019 at 02:06 pm new

What a dreamscape.

I'm curious for any of the needessentials crew reading: what kind of wetties do you need in 3 degree water with windchill? And also: what kind of surfwax works there!?

Solitude Monday, 8 Apr 2019 at 09:01 pm new

Went surfing with some lads from
NE England (Scarborough) region. Water was 3 deg also (they get these crazy cold water currents on that side- colder than Thurso Scotland).
They kitted us up with 6 ml steamer, gloves, hood and boots. Was like another sport, so heavy and cumbersome. To see Laurie surf like that in that kind of gear is special.

clif Monday, 8 Apr 2019 at 09:47 pm new

haha it is not that bad, although i can understand why the first time feels like that. you get used to the kit. stops feeling heavy and cumbersome after a short while. you can also thin out the kit if you want to go a short intense high performance session - which they likely do. doesn't bother me anymore. the solitude it leads to is more than worth it.

linez Monday, 8 Apr 2019 at 02:34 pm new

Unreal.. thoroughly enjoyed that.

spencie Monday, 8 Apr 2019 at 02:58 pm new

Beautifully done.

Ash Monday, 8 Apr 2019 at 04:19 pm new

That last wave and the extreme conditions make great viewing. I take my hat off to the boys for heading out in that and those backward waterfalls are just out there.

wbat Monday, 8 Apr 2019 at 05:02 pm new

Loved it.
Loved the Baddy Tribute at the end too.

OHV500 Monday, 8 Apr 2019 at 05:29 pm new

second that :))

coxypk Monday, 8 Apr 2019 at 06:02 pm new

A very cool surf trip indeed

simba Monday, 8 Apr 2019 at 06:52 pm new

wow,beautiful photography ..and well done Needs! Loved it.....great surfing in really adverse conditions,extreme test for your wetties and they obviously work real well.Some fukin heavy waves at the end of that movie...

blackers Monday, 8 Apr 2019 at 07:47 pm new

Absolutely beautiful. Spent some time up that way years ago. Didn't see anyone surfing The locals thought we were crazy when we went swimming, the result of a drunken bet. Water felt as cold as southern Tassie.

therealneil Monday, 8 Apr 2019 at 08:01 pm new

Ballacheingly beautiful

zenagain Monday, 8 Apr 2019 at 08:01 pm new

In response to VJ, probs 6mil taped and glued, built in hood, 7 mil boots and gloves all in perfect condition.

Sticky Bumps cold for wax.

That would be my guess.

simba Monday, 8 Apr 2019 at 08:34 pm new

7 mil boots....how do you feel your board?...yeah i know with great difficulty....but ....geez waters 24deg here now and boardies feel real nice.

velocityjohnno Tuesday, 9 Apr 2019 at 09:26 am new

Thanks Solitude, Cliff and Zen above - the way things are for me I can't really travel tropical, so both snow and surf trips going colder is the go. 6mm - hahah it would feel like being an astronaut! But probably just as much of a pioneer.
I have had a 5/4 Quikkie with inbuilt hood for many years and it's held together really well, I can understand a bit of restrictive feeling.

I'm also wondering if the guys packed a snowboard? Surf blown out? Snowboard down the street :)

freeride76 Tuesday, 9 Apr 2019 at 01:29 pm new

Great viewing...that little peak they surfed halfway through.
I would kill for something like that.

Missed the last swell by being up the Goldy and surfing a mix of ultra crowded DBah, or very soft Greenmount and Alley.

Drove around for 2 hours this morning and didn't have the ticker to take on onshore 2 footers.

Craig Wednesday, 10 Apr 2019 at 07:36 am new

Great little clip and it captures the stoke from just adventuring to new and more inhospitable places while still being 'slightly' comfortable. That heaving shorey/beach with ice crystals was gnar.

Roadkill Wednesday, 10 Apr 2019 at 10:27 am new

Avocado on toast with fermented red cabbage..hipster heaven. Vimeo is a bit more for those who think they are contributing to cinematography. This is a great piece and visually stunning.

haggis Wednesday, 10 Apr 2019 at 02:36 pm new

Anyone got a needs essential wettie. I wear 5/3 chestzip flashbombs in tassie but they are now 679 bucks. the needs steamer is 400 bucks. Anyone got any info on them. - quality etc. I notice they are sold out. So that must be a good thing?

Body slide Wednesday, 10 Apr 2019 at 08:48 pm new

Lots of crew on the surf coast have em. I’ve got a 4/3 chest zip with the thermal lining from last year. I love it. Super warm all winter. I bodysurf so am in the water up to my neck and need the warmest thing I can get. I’d
Recommend them.

Solitude Wednesday, 10 Apr 2019 at 09:08 pm new

Needed a springy last winter and they were out so got a long arm short leg. Don’t rate it at all, fairly stiff and weird short leg cut that crush the figs.
Definitely wouldn’t swear off em but don’t love my first experience.

OHV500 Friday, 12 Apr 2019 at 12:22 pm new

Hi haggis: I have a Need 4/3 Chest zip which was perfect for Tassie last winter (East Coast) I live Melbourne so surf - Surf Coast, East Coast, Phillip Island and The Prom, it suits me fine. Its in its 4th season now :))
Using a Need short sleeve springy for summer - probably up until end of easter.
I find them bloody fantastic. I swore I'd never go past a RipCurl but ...

Finntim Wednesday, 10 Apr 2019 at 08:24 pm new

Really enjoyed that. Dug that soundtrack too.Hey haggis, Ive just taken delivery a 3\2 steamer and it looks the goods especially for the price. Still too warm here yet (nsw) to wear. Fit really well, first try on though. Quality vs price? Looks like a winner.

barreldogs Wednesday, 10 Apr 2019 at 10:42 pm new

That was soooo much more up my alley than the surf videos these days I can no longer relate to. As for Needs wetties, I have a 3/2 chest zip steamer that I use for Summer down here in Tassie, and the jury is still out. Flex and comfort once in are great, but warmth isn't as good as others. The seams are meant to be sealed, but seem to let in a lot more than my Quik version (I'm old and have two of every seasons Wettie to make sure I'm always getting in a dry suit), and the shoulder zip doesn't let me in as easily as either the Quik, or O'Neill 5/3 I have. Having said that, I love the companies ideals, and have just ordered one of their new 4/3 steamers for our shoulder season upcoming, so stay tuned I guess.

haggis Thursday, 11 Apr 2019 at 03:48 pm new

Thanks guys. Hope you get some waves this Easter.

GODS QUAD Friday, 12 Apr 2019 at 10:34 am new

What a breath of fresh air this is to watch! Adventure, landscapes, beautiful stylish surfing, great soundtrack and quality film making.

How boring has the 4 min edit with the same thrashy punk song and 47 air reverses, become? Give me this all day, everyday!

Reefeater Saturday, 13 Apr 2019 at 06:10 am new

That was relaxing....wonder if they need another test pilot for the next adventure.

H2O Saturday, 13 Apr 2019 at 05:40 pm new

Beautiful and inspiring - thanks!

hawk Saturday, 13 Apr 2019 at 08:28 pm new

That was really Refreshing,
Laurie Towner could be a stunt double for Mick Fanning, so smooth!
And the other dude was pretty cool to watch. Awesome clip!