Away is a short film about three women surfing NYC. Directed and produced by Erica Bates, it’s beautifully shot and features rad surfing wisdom and comment from Katrina Del Mar, Jee Mee Kim, and Mary Leonard.

Here are some of our favourite quotes from it and a photo gallery of our favourite stills. Scroll down to watch the film. It’ll make your day.

 

I always like the idea of wild things existing in the city. It’s a natural wildness that I can access.

When I catch a wave if somebody sees me do it it’s all the more exciting.

I like surfing with friends so I’ll make an effort to bring someone with me. I like that inclusiveness.

I think back to my grandmother’s day and they would have club night, they would pray the rosary, play cards, knit, hang around and chat shit. [We do this…]

It totally takes my brain and puts it on hold…it smooths out the static.

I went to therapy because of surfing.

In the winter time I live in Manhattan, so I can feel the wind switch sometimes when I’m walking around the city, so I’m like, “Oh god it just went offshore and I’m here,” and you can get a little nutty about it. I have to talk myself off the ledge and be like, “You’re a grown up, you have to go to work, ok the wind’s switched but suck it up…”

I still check the surf cam every morning but I try not to let it define my life too much.

I hope I can be one of those really old people surfing, like really old.

I’m glad I learnt how to do this.