A lot has changed in Craig Anderson’s life over the last decade. Once Quiksilver’s freesurfing poster child, he left the brand in 2016 to create the apparel company Former with Dane Reynolds, Austyn Gillette, and Dylan Rieder. He starred in an award-winning surf film, invested in a beer company in his hometown of Newcastle and helped grow Haydenshapes into a globally recognized brand.
All these years later, however, one thing hasn’t changed: Craig’s enviable ability to make standing frontside in a tube downright sublime. After a slew of injuries, the 37-year-old is finally back in the water and doing his thing — finding alarmingly empty barrels and stylishly weaving through them on whatever craft he pleases.
Samudra Spirit Glitters is exactly what the surf world loves about Craig. Nothing flashy, just smooth, understated surfing in highly critical waves. The film is shot and edited by Dave Fox, the creative maestro who directed Harry Byrant’s Motel Hell. Dave and Craig journeyed to a remote corner of Indonesia to get these uncrowded peaks. I have no idea where it is exactly, but the fact that there isn’t another soul in the water tells you it’s not on any travel site.
Craig Anderson/YouTube
Some quick takeaways: Craig makes the wedge in the beginning look way too easy. He takes off on a 3-foot wave, and it turns into 8-feet a second later. The left at the end is what G-Land must have looked like in the 1970s — completely empty. And Craig navigates it on a single-fin. Tune in and freak out.
Related: Watch: Deep Thoughts, Deep Barrels With Craig Anderson in Db Edit