Surfing 28 States, chronicles the experience of two men as they attempt to surf in every state in India.

Surfing 28 States, chronicles the experience of two men as they attempt to surf in every state in India. Jonno Durrant and Stefan Hunt will partner with Jon Rose and Waves for Water as part of their newest film project.

India doesn’t rank as a Top 10 surf destination. But to Jonno Durrant and Stefan Hunt – the documantarians behind Surfing 50 States and Somewhere Near Tapachula – it was the perfect location for their next project.

Surfing 28 States, which will encompass a three month period during which Jonno and Stefan will surf in all of India’s 28 states, is being billed by the two filmmakers as a marriage of their two previous works – the action and culture of Surfing 50 States and the non-profit work of Somewhere Near Tapachula. In fact, in late November, the two will partner with Jon Rose and the Waves for Water initiative, distributing water filtration systems to communities in need of clean drinking water.

THE CREW

After a trillion pre-production emails the Surfing 28 States crew has finally met in Delhi and hit it off like a kangaroo in a tent.

Over the next 3 months we will be slaving away working around the clock to create something amazing, bringing you stories and photos of adventures and sharing our insights into this incredible country known as India.

On the left you meet Jonno. Don’t let his childish antics fool you. He is wiser than a golden Buddha and a bargain hunter if I ever met one. You may recognise him from such films as Surfing 50 States and Zoolander (where he played Hansel.)

Next along is the Producer Smriti. Like her yoga isn’t impressive enough she speaks Spanish, English, Hindi AND American. Born in Varanassi, grew up in Puerto Rico, now resides in New York, and has roamed the world with a constant smile, definitely an awesome addition to the trip.

Campbell “Cambo” Brown has come onboard as the director of photography, unaware that every moment he brings out the camera 47 Indian men magically appear in a 1 metre radius. Despite his somewhat ‘raw’ nature he was complimented today by a young man on his handsomeness. Psyched to have his magical fingers behind the lens though.

I guess that leaves myself, Stefan. All I can really say is Im frothing to be working with such talented individuals over the next few months. After one day of shooting we’re extremely knackered and smelly but all so content to sit around and laugh about the experiences thus far.

Namaste Dudes & Dudettes.

I’VE BEEN OUTVOTED

Not out of the trip, Survivor styles, but on two other fronts.
Firstly, I got outvoted, that I have to grow a beard for the entire trip.

Secondly, WE HAVE A VEHICLE! It’s an Ambassador, a very old sedan that was used by the English when they ruled India and has become a staple of Indian cars. The Police drive them, Air Force drive them, and dignitary’s get driven around in them, and now we are going to be driven around in one. It’s white, in ok condition, runs ok and is about to be painted the brightest of Indian colours you have ever seen!

We have a driver for the first 3 weeks and we are going to see if we can drive it from then on – driving here is crazy!

The problem is – we have 4 people, plus the driver, with some special surprise guests along the way, and we have a lot of luggage and 3 surfboards, so we are going to be cramped! Boards will go on the roof, but every time we stop and leave the car, we will have to take them off the roof and squeeze them in the car somehow…EVERY TIME. Plus everyone’s stuff is going to end up everywhere…EVERYWHERE.

But…in the words of Stefan, “Who cares, as long as it looks cool”.

I got voted out…but I have to admit, it looks really cool!

Pa (Jonno)

THE AMBASSADOR AND HIS COMMANDER

Driving at night in India is RIDICULOUS! With trucks stacked to the horizon, shrilling their horns and dominating lanes they pretty much represent instant death in a pile of mangled metal. Although this has me freaking out it doesn’t phase the locals. They see it as an extreme version of Frogger where they are all out to get bonus points and high scores.

As we warm up to the driving situation we have our driver Narayaan taking care of business. In between weaving through trucks, cows, camels and rickshaws he’s on the phone to his babe of a fiancée telling her sweet nothings. Making sure we get safely from A to B Naaryaan is an absolute chilla and has only had one crash so far! Legend!

Soon we will be making our way up to the Himalayas and will be taking over the drive. Hopefully by this time us and the Ambassador will be in shape to haul up some mountains and dodge the local cattle.

Wish us luck as driving in India is like a Camel peeing backwards, it just doesn’t make any sense.

Handsome Brown. (Campbell)