Media Release: The Ultimate Waterman, 23 May 2015
Raglan Surfer Daniel Kereopa Shines in the Ultimate Waterman Documentary
The pride and glory of winning The Ultimate Waterman is relived for Kiwi Daniel Kereopa in a documentary that went live online this morning to an international audience of 4.2 million.
The Ultimate Waterman documentary is now live on Red Bull TV: http://www.redbull.tv/videos/AP-1HQ2TJBXW1W11/the-ultimate-waterman
This 48-minute movie follows the competition from start to finish and showcases New Zealand’s breathtaking variety of surf locations and culture. It’s a first for New Zealand surfing and will help promote the country as a world-class event destination.
Kereopa from Raglan talks about his pride in hosting the event in his own backyard, the links between Maori legend and what it means to be a waterman, and how winning the title was the result of his life journey.
The Ultimate Waterman is the search to find the world’s best all-round waterman. For the first time ever, eight of the world’s finest watermen* competed in five disciplines at locations throughout New Zealand. This is a brand new sporting concept the world hasn’t seen before, and it started right here in New Zealand.
It also captures the drama of Tropical Cyclone Pam, the camaraderie that developed between the international competitors and the sheer endurance required by them.
The documentary captures the first year of the event from start to finish and follows the surfers as they travel the country competing at locations such as Otago Peninsula, Coromandel, Raglan and Auckland’s Piha & Mission Bay. It was filmed and produced by New Zealand company Making Movies, who were contracted by Red Bull Media House.
* Competitors = Daniel Kereopa (NZL), Kai Lenny (HAW), Connor Baxter (HAW), Kala Alexander (HAW), Danny Ching (USA), Georges Cronsteadt (TAH), Manoa Drollet (PYF), Mark Visser (AUS).