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The Yin & Yang of Gerry Lopez | Patagonia Films

Patagonia

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From award-winning documentary filmmaker, Stacy Peralta comes Patagonia’s The Yin & Yang of Gerry Lopez, a film that lifts the veil on one of surfing’s most enigmatic heroes. While “Mr. Pipeline” is famously known for his calm demeanor in the tube, Gerry built his early career on cutthroat, aggressive surfing. Gerry is as radical as he is Zen; he transcends categorization. He’s one of the most influential surfers and surfboard shapers of all time, an entrepreneur, a family man, a movie star, and a lifelong yogi who brought surfing to new frontiers. His influence on modern surfing is immeasurable, and his story is being told in full for the first time.

Produced and Directed by Stacy Peralta
Written by Stacy Peralta & Sam George
Produced by Monika McClure
Executive Producers Evan Hayes, Alex Lowther, Josh Nielsen
Editor Paul Crowder
Music by Matter

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Chapters:
0:00 Gerry Lopez: Calm and Aggression
6:22 Growing Up in Honolulu
14:43 Surfboard Shaping and Yoga
18:40 The Birth of Lightning Bolt
23:23 Gerry Lopez and Pipeline
41:20 Surf Films, Fame and Commercial Success
53:18 Gerry Lopez Discovers Indonesia
59:53 The G-Land Years
1:14:03 Family, Heritage and Hollywood
1:24:12 A New Life in Bend, Oregon
1:28:55 Teaching, Shaping and Legacy
1:36:32 Finding the Balance

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About Patagonia:
At Patagonia, we appreciate that all life on earth is under threat of extinction. We’re using the resources we have—our business, our investments, our voice and our imaginations—to do something about it.

20 Comments

@Sockdarner007 3 years ago

I’m a fit healthy 58 year old but I’ve been feeling lost and down for a few months since a medical operation. I don’t know why but it’s been hard.
This movie just inspired me to break out and have a go again.
Thank you for the insight into your life Gerry Lopez, I’m just another person you’ve helped.
I’m glad I never surfed the same break as you though, I wouldn’t of got many waves that day.
😀👍✌️❤️

@foulweather6625 3 years ago

I was out surfing the same spot as Gerry one day, watching him get a load of waves on his SUP. For some reason, at some point, everyone else got out and it was just Gerry and I in the line up. I was having a pretty frustrating surf on my 6'2" and then, a real nice wave popped up and I was resigned to watching Gerry get it but he turned to me and said, this one yours man, looks good. Damn, that was some serious pressure. Luckily I didn't kook it and it was the best wave I caught that day. Later on, at the showers, he came up to me to chat about my board that was made by Art Colyer in Hood River Oregon. He was stoked on it. That's my Gerry story... Gets a lot of waves but is pretty cool.

@elizabethdeming3023 3 years ago

Finally Gerry admits to stealing waves!! My husband told me this story! He was at Big Rock La Jolla 1975! The monster from New Zealand was hitting! it was 25 to 30 foot and perfect! Gerry dropped in on somebody and got punched out! He still loves him! He was the first to put on a helmet with a camera on and film Pipeline! Thank you Gerry we do love you so much!!

@andrewchapman2491 3 years ago

thank you Patagonia for making this happen and showing everyone that their own body is the only environment we are truly in control of. Gerry used to be so nice to me when i would see him boarding at Mt Bac and in his Sunday Yin yoga class in Bend Or. He helped me find yoga and balance when I was in grad school.

@steve_n_w 3 years ago

Absolute masterpiece. Best documentary I’ve seen in a long time. Gerry’s a legend and I hope to carry that same pursuit of persistent curiosity throughout my life. The foiling scene is one of the most unassumingly profound things I’ve seen in a while.

@BlissologyYoga 3 years ago

I remember getting interviewed for this film in Tahoe and the producer asked me, “is Gerry was a legitimate yoga teacher or if it was just a novelty do you have a famous surfer teaching?”

I told them that Gerry doesn’t just do yoga, he IS yoga. His whole nature embodies the essence of the practice. It’s not something he does for 1 hour, he LIVES it.

I’m so glad this film came out - keep rocking it, @gerrylopez

@tavakessler 3 years ago

The editing in this film is unreal!

@archstanton_live 3 years ago

Pumping off the bottom, carving off the top, yin-yang, wang-chung, life's highs, life's lows. A stable oscillation on a smooth line. Gerry did it so well.

@SiriusYoga 3 years ago

Gerry Lopez achieved what Yoga calls the 4 Life Goals (Purushaarthas) through the Magical Power of Mana.
The four are

"Dharma" (righteousness, duty)

"Alta" (wealth, honor)

"Kama" (desire, passion)

“Moksha” (liberation, enlightenment)

Gerry Lopez is a Soul Seeker who goes through the Yin and Yang of Life. You look too Good!

Thank you Patagonia!! for your wonderful work. Terima Kasih🙏🏾

🕉Sachio Kamei lives in Bali🇮🇩

@beachrunner428 3 years ago

Great Video. Thank you Patagonia for letting this video be public. You don't have to be a surfer to watch and appreciate this movie.

@oliviawoodson1292 3 years ago

thank you for featuring Gerry’s dad and his throw-netting. I can attest to it. I grew up in the same valley, on the East end of Honolulu, as the Lopez family. traveling to or from school, on countless days I would see “Senior Lopez” standing alone out in thigh deep water of Mounalua bay. his silloutte was recognizable from a far. he looked like a blue heron patiently perched and waiting to pounce. no doubt, zen focus runs in the family. much mahalos for making this film and sharing it. the timing is perfect to inspire the next phase of my life. aloha

@deanreutter3101 3 years ago (edited)

Being a goofy footer myself and at my peak of surfing during the 1970's I absolutely idolized Gerry and his surfing. Posters of him surfing lined my bedroom walls. Getting the chance to see him in those great surfing movies made during that was the main reason I went to see them. Something I learned watching this film was I never knew he had a son. Oh and that he "snaked" a lot of guys in the water.

@jakecolburn8946 3 years ago

The attention to detail, 5 Summer soundtrack, the sketch animation of Gerry's first wave.. .5 stars 👏👏👏

@h20doctor 3 years ago

As a video filmmaker I just wanted to say thank you for this movie I have never heard of this legend surfer but now I do thank you for all the time and effort that you put into pre-post production all the b-roll all the archiving footage you had to find I live in Seattle Washington and after watching this movie I'm ready to drive down and meet this man give him a hug because I learned a lot especially in this film when he said we have to be excited about in the moment now because it'll never happen again and I think I've lost that mentality of being alive because of the pandemic

@alvarobarrapontesnetoponte4913 3 years ago

I accidentally saw the title of the film and I'm 62 years old and I grew up watching Gerry Lopez.
It was great to see this golden side .... Congratulations

@nevanevans 2 years ago

Gerry is the coolest dude ever.

@haveaday1812 3 years ago

Once again, you knocked it out of the Park Patagonia. Gerry Lopez is a living legend.

@adammenhennett 3 years ago

What an incredible film. Especially where he is learning to foil at 70, and continually falling off in 1 foot onshore slop, but still doing it.

@scottycartercom 3 years ago

Finally! A film that expresses everything that matters to being in the moment for all the right reasons. Great Job Stacey🤙🏽☺️ thank you Patagonia for having faith in Mr. Lopez. This film in my eyes trumps any surf film or documentary because we get to live a mans life experience and his relationship with the ying and yang of the waves of life. Gerry chose the right path clearly giving us less experienced humans a chance to not only mirror, but express in a less selfish and dynamic way.

@M.Mae.M 3 years ago

One day while out surfing at Pacific City Oregon I look over and I am surfing next to Mr. Pipeline, that was an epic moment just the be in his space. He had some a calmness and glow to him that I will never forget. Great job on this film, thanks Patagonia!