Surf all day. Play all night, crash'n'burn. It's a RITUAL......... O&E
The Ritual was Ocean & Earth's first full-length surf film—and it hit like a sledgehammer at that. Dropping in 1999, this 50-minute VHS release captured a raw, unfiltered slice of surfing life at a time when power surfing ruled, boardshorts slapped your shins, and Holden Commodores lined beach car parks. Shot across Australia, Indonesia and Hawaii, it follows a tight crew of young South Coast Aussie chargers—Phil and Ant Macca, Wehner Presso, Schnitzel—still in their teens, barely 19 or 20, and not yet on the World Tour. Backed by a punchy soundtrack from Grinspoon, Loki, Sprung Monkey, Thievery Corporation, Unleaded, Unstrung, Sandalbutt, August, The Porkers and Wise Acre, it’s full-throttle from start to finish: surf all day, play all night, crash and burn.
What makes The Ritual so iconic is how it spotlights raw talent before the gloss of pro surfing kicked in. With cameos from Richie Lovett, Dean Morrison, and the Hobgood brothers, the film is a time capsule of a generation that would soon take the world stage. Shot and directed by Matt Gye, it's a wild, fast-cut celebration of the pre-tour years—when it was just mates, heavy water, and no idea how big things would get. Digitised and back from the vault, The Ritual is ready to be rediscovered by a new generation, and rewatched by those who lived it.
"Finally a vid that shows how good Wehner, Presso and the Maccas really are... Hardcore ripping with no interruptions" - Nick Carroll
"An insightful look into some of Australia's finest surfing talents. At last guys like the Macca twins, Richie Lovett and Todd Prestage are given the justice they deserve in epic waves here and abroad" - Sam McIntosh, Waves
"This movie's got everything, from Hawaii to complete Oz, Indo, and a fantastic exhibition of raw Aussie talent" - Wayne Dart, Tracks.
