Recollections in Atlantic Reverie
Mickey Smith’s connection to the Atlantic goes deep. Growing up in West Cornwall, the sea laid the foundations for his existence; from the kindred spirits he grew close to, to his artistic and distinctive approach for photography, music and filmmaking.
Since then, he’s spent decades travelling the globe, first documenting wave riding in the likes of Australia, Tahiti and Ireland with the world’s best surfers and bodyboarders and later touring with his band A Blaze of a Feather. But you can’t shake the Kernow from his bones.
For close to two decades now Mickey Smith has been a defining character in the global surf community. His early films documenting the lesser-known, ardent bodyboarding community of Cornwall before travelling the world with some of the biggest names in surfing. Settling later in Ireland though, this is when Mickey really lay his stamp on surfing, exploring and pioneering what are known now to be some of the most iconic waves of consequence on the planet.
We wanted to pay tribute to the heartbeats, land and seascapes that have inspired and given our lives so much meaning
In 2010 came Dark Side Of The Lens, a short philosophical reflection on riding and documenting heavy waves in Ireland, by Mickey and Allan Wilson. The powerful film was one just a few surf movies to transcend the community from which it’s from, garnering international acclaim.
Now, 12 years later, from the supernatural alchemy of Kernow to the raw majesty of Eire, comes Hunros Jorna, the latest film from Smith and Wilson.
‘We wanted to pay tribute to the heartbeats, land and seascapes that have inspired and given our lives so much meaning,’ says Mickey. ‘To try and do justice to their spirit by opening up the magic of Kernewek through our stories.’
Translated into Kernewek (the Cornish language), and performed by Gwenno Saunders, the film is an experimental recollection of a lifetime of human hearts bewitched by the sea. Hunros Jorna traces the roots of a pack of strays from Cornwall, who went on to heavily influence a radical collective approach to heavy water during a decade of discovery and progression on the west coast of Ireland.
Don’t miss a single adventure
Sign up to our free newsletter and get a weekly BASE hit to your inbox
Other posts by this author
Photo Essay • BASE editorial team • Mar 18, 2024
Hunting happiness through adventure in Taiwan
BASE teams up with adventurer Sofia Jin to explore the best of Taiwan's underrated adventure scene.
Story • BASE editorial team • Nov 21, 2023
Five Epic UK Climbs You Should Try This Winter
Craving a snowy mountain adventure? Inspired by the Garmin Instinct 2 watch (into which you can directly plan these routes), we've compiled a list of five of the best for winter 2023-24!
Spotlight • BASE editorial team • Oct 26, 2023
Kit Up, Give Back: How Outdoor Gear Rental Is Opening Up Adventure To Everyone
Gear rental initiative KitUp is on a mission to improve accessibility to the outdoors
You might also like
Story • Hannah Dines • Mar 01, 2023
Let My Disabled People Go Surfing
How do we ensure our coastlines are accessible to all? Para athlete and adaptive surfer, Hannah Dines finds out
Story • Sami Sauri • Jul 13, 2022
32 Degrees North: Bikes and Waves on Maderia
Sami Sauri explores the best of this Atlantic island by bike and surfboard
Video • BASE editorial team • Feb 15, 2022
Concrete Is Harder Than Water
A short film about Lukas Skinner and his road to repair
