Irish National Surfing Champion to introduce screening of Bustin' Down The Door in Listowel

Fergal Smith, the Irish National Surfing Champion, will introduce the screening of Bustin' Down The Door in Listowel, 28th January.

Bustin' Down The Door, a new documentary directed by Jeremy Gosch, celebrates the young Australians and South Africans who came to Hawaii in the mid-70s with new ideas, new moves and new board designs and showed the locals how it was done. However, the ambitious outsiders are met with hostility and a turf war erupts with alarming consequences for all. With illuminating interviews, and breathtaking surf footage, Bustin' Down The Door tells the thrilling tale of the birth of professional surfing.

Fergal Smith biography:
At the age of 17 Fergal Smith became Ireland's first professional surfer. Now 22 he is internationally respected as one of the world's best big wave surfers and is the current and three time Irish national champion. Fergal was born and bred in County Mayo, on an organic vegetable farm amongst the rolling hills of Cogher outside the holiday town of Westport.

He began surfing at Achill island on family outings each weekend, but his desire and natural talent led him towards pro-surfing. After finishing school at 16 he spent two months in Australia working with professionals in a high performance surfing training centre. It was the first time he had been properly coached.

After that he competed continually for two years - from the Irish team trips worldwide to the UK Pro Tour and the pro Juniors across Europe. At this point he was starting to find a natural affinity riding Ireland's big waves. Thanks to Fergal's international profile, Irelands waves are now regarded as some of the most challenging in the world.

In Fergal's own words: "I feel great pride in pushing Irish surfing as much as I can and trying to opening up new boundaries of what is achievable from these shores."
 

Tickets can be bought from the Classic Cinema Listowel, Co Kerry (ph: 068 22796).
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