No really, come on this is a Great idea. I’m ready to go tomorrow and copy this killer little trip down the amazing California coast….by Train!! Union Express takes us on a trip with Timmy Curran through laid back California chill spots where we meet up with some of Timmy’s California surf buddies and 2 Florida transplants. Timmy grabs the train up to the bay area and clickety clacks his way back down by train and car to surf spots in S.F., Central Coast, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, San Clemente, Oceanside Cardiff and Solana Beach.

North coast segments start off the adventure delving into the bustle and grit of San Francisco and its rugged coastline.

We find Timmy’s surfing with friends Keith Malloy and Be Bourgois. Keith as always power ripping, while Ben and Timmy are tooling a frothy left beach break with a sick almond shaped barrel.

On ward the trip rolls to San Luis Obispo as the stop to visit Nat Tyler living in Yurt with his gal in Templeton CA; oh to be so carefree.

Timmy and Nate take us to their local secret spot and show us how they make good work of crumbly California surf ; the ‘Look Ma No Straps’ crew, at it full on!
Next on the schedule, a quick visit to Santa Barbara to talk with Conner Coffin and a look into tomorrows surfing headliners.

A great piece in the film is a narration by Nathaniel Curran as he tells his story for the last year or so and leading up into mid-2009. When all was dim he gave it his last all in effort; won the QS, won the US Open and turned things around through faith, hard work and determination. In this segment there are tails blown a plenty in beautiful winter barrels; sharing beautiful rights and lefts; the boys show us why local knowledge can mean everything for California coast hunting.

Moving on we catch up to Dane Reynolds and the wave size and quality finally goes Up a notch; I love watching Dane surf.

The travel and visits with friends continue with some of California’s great surfers; (even if some of them claim Florida; they live and surf here an awful lot). Running through segments we meet up with Mike Losness in San Clemente, then Damo in San Diego , Taylor Knox in Oceanside, Machado in Cardiff and all the while tons of acrobatics by Timmy of course sailing through the air high above the wash.

There is a great selection of surfer’s in the film many of the recent generations of surfers and styles we have here in California are represented. On any given day you see these guys in the water at all these breaks. I’ve seen tudor, machado, knox, damo and so many others at the same peak I’m surfing it just shows how great California is. Nothing compared to the intense aggro water scene you have in Hawaii and even in Australia at some spots. It’s an amazing place and what better to cruise it but by rail to meet up with great friends
Get the film and scout your own Union Express trip here to California.
Oh yeah I have to mention the super Cool music too; Manchester orchestra, lanterns, moving mountains; we were promised jet packs and others. Enjoy!!

The Union Express
By Josh Landan
Produced by: The Background Collective & Tyler Willingham
Cinematography Josh Landan and Zach Brown
Edited by: Zach Brown
Surfers: Timmy Curran, Dane Reynolds, Taylor Knox, Rob Machado, Damien Hobgood, Keith Malloy, Nathaniel Curran and others.
www.vasentertainment.com
www.thebackgroundcollective.com

Words: Lou Niles