The Kerri Edelman Show presents Film Maker Catherine Brabec

A Life Outside, directed by Catherine Brabec, is the story of the relationships of six New Jersey surfers: Greg Mesanko, Chris Mesanko, Kevin Casey, Jim Purpuri, Richard Luthringer, and Bucky Walters, who got on a surfboard for the first time close to 50 years ago and haven’t stopped their pursuit of surf to this day. As the surf boom took hold in the 60's, Casino Pier was not only one of the best surf spots on the east coast, it was also one of the most competitive and closely guarded by the locals. The Pier has been an icon for decades and is now all but destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. This is the story of these surfers and the Pier- then and now. Surfing the Pier was a privilege earned, a territory fiercely protected. You didn’t just own a board and paddle out, you had to be invited and then show quickly that you were good enough to be allowed in. So while surfing was a connection, friendships were complicated by the fierce competition in the water. Out of the water, surf shops were the gathering spot, the clubhouse, and Grog’s Surf Palace in Seaside Park was the mecca of the east coast. His shop created an intersection of surfers from around the world as surf culture and industry began to build. A Life Outside weaves their stories along side the lives of the NJ men, exposing that regardless of fame or monetary rewards - at the core is the same unrestrained passion and single focus to surf. Today, close to 50 years later, all these guys are still surfing. In October 2012, we filmed a surf trip in Baja MX with the NJ crew. Corky Carroll, Mike Doyal and Mickey Munoz joined us for an amazing week. Then, just 3 weeks after returning home to NJ, Hurricane Sandy hit. Towns, homes, and the Casino Pier were destroyed. The lives of our NJ crew forever changed. To preview the trailer, visit https://vimeo.com/84900247