The view from the top might be lonely… but it’s pretty damn good.
Love them or hate them, drones have drastically changed the way we look at surfing. While in the past, we’ve mostly had video from a tripod planted in the sand or a guy with shaky hands floating in the line up, now we’ve got smooth, high-def footage of anywhere and everywhere on a wave. There’s no doubt that the internet world loves the view. These are the Top 10 most watched drone videos of 2014.
1. Drone Captures Allen Sarlo Shooting Pier at Giant Malibu
When Hurricane Marie rolled through town, California’s coastline lit up like last week’s Christmas tree. Everyone with a drone warmed up their remote control thumbs and waxed up their wings… and the folks over at Dual Hemisphere Media definitely got a keeper. Here’s what we said about it when the memories were still fresh:
Allen Sarlo, keeper of the Malibu, was not to be outshone yesterday evening as Marie pulsed swell energy through Surfrider Beach. Laird Hamilton may have masterfully shot the pier wielding a giant paddle and snagged his share of set waves, but he wasn’t the only one to slalom the pilings. Fast forward to :18 if you’re one of those can’t-sit-still-types.
More Marie! Things woke up that had been asleep for years. Newport Point! That never happens!
Newport Point is one of those Moby Dick style waves. Elusive. Mythical. Legendary. In the past couple days, Marie awoke Newport’s iconic point in all of its glory, and a host of pros partook. Dusty Payne said the point was as powerful as any wave he’s gotten at Pipe. So that means something. It just required that super specific swell angle and some serious power to get her going.
3. Insane Aerial Footage of the Mentawais
One of the great things about drones is seeing different angles of waves. There are a million different things that go unnoticed… until you’re able to notice them. Thanks to drones, you can.
Everyone who surfs has probably peered into the vastness of the internet for videos of perfect places to surf. The advancements in camera capabilities are enabling millions of people to puke out millions of videos each week, and some of them just plain suck. This one, however, does not. Don’t watch this unless you’re prepared to start hating your local break.
4. The Best HD Drone Footage of 2014
This is one of those videos that shows just how awesome surfing really is. We all know it, but it’s rare to find a video that really proves it. Here’s one that does. Here’s what resident editor Toby Aimer had to say about it (don’t drop in on Toby Aimer):
Really, though, what is more aesthetically pleasing than HD drone clips that have people getting barreled in pristine, crystal-clear water? The only thing that I would change about this footage is to take every single subject in the video and replace them with myself. Greedy? Maybe. But I’ll be the first to admit it: I’m a hedonist. In fact, I’d snake my own mother if she undermined my ability to catch the set of the day. I’m kidding. I love you, Mom.
5. Drone Captures Mind-Blowing Power of Jaws
Jaws via drone is even scarier than it is from the channel. It’s odd that it can get any scarier… but it can.
For most, this is the closest you will ever come to Jaws. But that’s OK, because even in the channel you aren’t safe from being obliterated by a cleanup set. Located on the north shore of Maui, Jaws is one of the largest, most dangerous waves in the world. It’s sort of an anomaly, really. Due to a unique underwater ridge that acts like a giant magnifying lens, bending and amplifying swells in the Pacific, Jaws is a terrifyingly large wave.
6. Best Aerial Pipe Footage EVER
Pipeline is perfect. When it’s on, it’s one of the best waves on the planet. Here’s what we had to say about this clip when it first stuck its face into the internet.
There was really no angle that could adequately capture Pipeline’s power until now. It’s sort of bizarre how extraordinarily perfect this place is. What is as equally extraordinary is the fact that its sheer beauty transcends surfers and coastal folks alike. You don’t need to know a single thing about surfing to appreciate the magic of Pipeline. Reckon it should be the 8th Wonder of the World?
7. Newport Point’s Perfection from the Air
When Marie hit Newport Point, Californians got excited. They got excited and stayed excited. A few weeks after the waves and the buzz had died down, this footage surfaced, and stirred the pot again. Here’s what filmer Adam Guy had to say about it:
Sick of Newport aerials yet? Me neither. Hurricane Marie made damn sure that Newport Point wouldn’t be forgotten for a long time. This footage proves it.
8. This is What a Perfect 10 Looks Like on a Longboard
Longboarding gets a pretty bad rap. But you know what? It shouldn’t. If you’re just looking for pure fun, longboarding’s pretty hard to beat. Here’s Alexander Haro had to say about his new-found love for the longboard:
Longboarding is great. That’s not something I ever thought I’d hear myself say, by recently, I’ve fallen in love with the log. In the last year alone, I’ve ridden a busted up old 9’6 more than I’ve ridden anything else, and more and more, I’m finding that it’s becoming my preferred method of sliding around on waves. Of course, I’ll stick to a regular shortboard when the waves are right, but living in California, that’s really not that often.
9. Drone Films Pumping Jaws From Every Angle
Jaws through the eyes of a drone is pretty incredible. It shows just how powerful the place is–and on this particular day, things were a little hairy.
This particular session was not the easiest as a number of waves were a little too fast and closed out, which left surfers with no choice but to get clobbered–a dangerous proposition at such a notorious spot. However, Sterman puts the viewer in spots you may have never seen before with his drone–from river mouth angles to above cliff tops to the peak and the shoulder.
10. Maui is Perfect: A Drone’s Eye View
Everyone loves summer. When a bit of south gets into Hawaii’s neck of the woods, Maui’s summer spot light up… and the quality of the surf is overshadowed by the quality of the EVERYTHING. Maui is perfect.
Summer is here, sun is shining and the weather is sweet in Maui. This is the first south swell in Hawaii filmed by my friend in a surf spot never seen from the drone’s view. The surf isn’t the best, but the view from above sure is astonishing.
