Documentary tells story of surf and second chances

A Victorian woman’s journey from heartbreak to state representative longboarder is the focus of a new documentary by Surf Coast and Bellarine filmmakers, which screened at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival this week.

Surf Coast videographer Katey Shearer and Bellarine director Christian Buxton created Surf Sisters, a short documentary following Lara Phillips’ transformation through surfing.

Lara Phillips has gotten into surfing as a vehicle of healing. Photo: supplied.

Following the breakdown of her marriage, Phillips turned to surfing in search of a new direction.

What began as learning to surf grew into a passion for longboarding, and she is now ranked second in Victoria in the over-50 Women’s Longboard division ahead of this month’s Australian Longboard Titles.

While surfing provides the backdrop, the documentary explores resilience, friendship, community and the courage to begin again later in life.

Buxton, who led the creative direction of the film, said he was inspired by Phillips’ story and her will to chase a new passion later in life.

“Every couple of years I’ve done a film and I was on social media and a page pulled up about older women who were getting into surfing,” he said. “Having surfed all my life, I was inspired.

“These women have given so much and not had time for themselves. Now they are chasing what they didn’t have time to do beforehand.

Lara Phillips cross-steps up her board during a session at home on the Mornington Peninsula. Photo: supplied.

“Lara was mentioned and her story was radical. I messaged her and we got chatting and it took off.

“It’s been amazing to bring it to life and pull in on the power of surfing as a vehicle for healing.”

Shearer said Phillips’ personality was just as compelling as her surfing journey.

“She’s just a ripper chick and has gotten really good over the last couple of years,” she said.

“She’s quite a bold personality so I really wanted to capture her character on film. She’s got this old car, lives in a cool surf shack and surfs most days.

“Her story is amazing, and it seems to have inspired lots of women to start to surf.”

The local duo is hoping to screen Surf Sisters on the Surf Coast in the coming months.