Southampton Village Ocean Rescue has partnered with Southampton Arts Center to host their first Big Wave Surf Movie Night. The event will take place this Sunday, July 14th at the Southampton Arts Center located at 25 Jobs Lane, Southampton. It will go from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., beginning with a dance party and silent auction from 5:30 to 7:30, followed by a big wave surf panel from 7:30 to 8:00, before the main event, a screening of the movie Ground Swell: The Other Side of Fear at 8:00 p.m.
Southampton Village Ocean Rescue is a volunteer first responder organization. Alex King, chief of SVOR, says their mission is “To waterproof Southampton and prevent drownings in and around the Village of Southampton, a community surrounded by beaches.” She went on to explain, “Many of these beaches are unguarded most of the time and some are unguarded all the time. SVOR responds to emergency calls twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, year-round via 911. Members of our team are certified ocean lifeguards, specially trained for rapid response to open water emergencies at unprotected beaches, thereby providing an invaluable service to Southampton. Unfortunately, there have been too many drownings in the past. One drowning in a community is too many!”
This fundraising event is important for SVOR to carry out their mission, and the help of the community allows them to obtain the equipment and training needed. Alex says, “As a relatively new organization, SVOR is in the process of trying to acquire additional essential equipment, including a second jet ski, more storage space, better communication units, and specialized cold-water gear.”
Alex explained that SVOR is primarily funded by the Village of Southampton, and raises additional funds through Southampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue, Inc. (SVORI), a non-profit 501(c)(3), created to subsidize equipment upgrades, supplemental costs associated with lifesaving operations, and extensive membership training. She says, “These types of fundraising events enable us to operate more effectively and significantly help us to save lives.”
The Big Wave Surf Movie event will include a silent auction and raffle for high-level artwork by esteemed local artists, which has been made possible by the partnership with Southampton Arts Center. The art for auction can be previewed prior to the event at this link.
The evening will begin with a dance party where Dan Bailey will be playing his signature funk reggae music that is sure to energize any crowd. Alex says, “When anyone wants a break from the dance floor, they’ll be captivated by the magnificent artwork on display.”
Attendees can enjoy a cash bar and a variety of food trucks onsite at Southampton Arts Center. Sponsors for the evening include Dos Hombres, Wölffer, Herbert and Rist, McCall Wines, and Montauk Brewing Company, all providing a great selection of local beer, wine, and spirits.
Two world-renowned big wave surfers, Kurt Rist and Will Skudin, will be part of the event. They will engage in a panel discussion prior to the movie to share their personal experiences from the surf world, which is sure to have the crowd enthralled. The evening will be capped off with the main event, a screening of Ground Swell: The Other Side of Fear. This film delves into the big wave season of 2021-2022 as several surfers tackle their fears and take on the massive waves in various locations from Nazare in Portugal, Jaws and Pipeline in Hawaii, and Mavericks in Northern California.
This is a rain or shine event and will be held indoors if it rains. Proceeds will support both Southampton Village Ocean Rescue and Southampton Arts Center. Tickets are $10 for members and $20 for non-members. Get ready to immerse yourself in the surfing culture that has been woven into the fabric of the East End, and enjoy a spectacular night out for music, art, food and drink, a great film, and, especially, community. Big Wave Surf Movie Night is expected to sell out, so head over to purchase tickets!
