NEW FILM: MALIA

On the eve of her retirement, Malia Manuel reached out to me asking to make a film that saw her surfing in both her favorite places around the world, as well as adventuring to new waves she dreamt of visiting... and so we set off, first to Tahiti, followed by Indonesia and South Africa, France and a quick jaunt to Spain, back to Tahiti for whales and weather redemption, and then concluding with a sublime winter on her home island of Kaua’i. 

From dancing with Humpback Whales to watching elephants pick fruit from trees in South Africa, sailing through Indian ocean archipelagos and being blistered by winter wind in the Atlantic... it was an incredible journey. We scored waves of all shapes and sizes, sampled cuisine and smelly taxi rides across multiple continents, surfed in the belting rain and counted bands on poisonous sea snakes... I could go on and on, with so many experiences that could fill an anthology of films. 

Direct/film/edit: Morgan Maassen

Supported by lululemon

NEW FILM: IIXI

I am immensely proud to share my latest film, IIXI. This movie is the product of spending most of this last winter and spring in Switzerland and the surrounding mountains with the @Korua_Shapes family. While some would call the season’s snow fickle, I would call it the winter of a lifetime. Road trips, pipe days, splitboarding adventures, hiking and skateboarding and gas station dining like kings! I’ve long admired Korua for their approach to both riding on the mountain, and the art disciplines they use to document how they do it. To make this film was an honor and a pleasure, an ode to time spent with people I admire and love so much.

Direct/film/edit: Morgan Maassen
Music by: The Daze, Trees Speak, Monster Rally & Dirty Arts Club

NEW VIDEO: UBEREGG

So excited to share my newest film, made with KORUA Shapes! We made this film over this winter/spring in Switzerland, based around the new Uberegg shape designed by Nicholas Wolken.  Shooting him riding in these incredible powder days, traversing the glacier and racing down the frozen groomers, was such a blast! Please check it out, and if you are into snowboards, check out the website page for more photos & videos: https://koruashapes.com/products/uberegg

NEW VIDEO: WATER III

A short film about my infinity for the ocean, its mystery and power.

No project challenges me more creatively and physically; making these films is an absolute honor of a lifetime.

Filmed on a Red Weapon, using a Nikon 14mm F/2.8 and 35mm f/1.4 lens in a SPL waterhousing

Filmed in: Tahiti, Hawaii, Australia, Barbados, Maldives, Philippines and California

NEW VIDEO: TURBULENCES

As Ben Thouard releases his latest book, “Turbulences”, I am proud to share this short film I made, documenting him in the throughs of his creative process. 

Ben Thouard is based out of Teahupo’o, Tahiti, where he spends the vast majority of his time and energy swimming under the waves, obsessing over the power and mystery of their extreme hydrodynamics. It’s no coincidence that this is considered the strongest wave in the world; his creative process is aimed at documenting the detail of their massive and violent explosions as they break overhead. Watching Ben work is akin to a Swiss watchmaker – there is so much precision in what he moves to capture, the end result is so finely tailored for the public in what he shares. 

If you’d like to see more of Ben’s work, you can view his new website, social media, and purchase “Turbulences” via the links below:
benthouard.com • instagram.com/benthouard/

Direct/film/edit: Morgan Maassen
Music: "Eel Drip" by Penelope Trappes

NEW VIDEO: GODDESSES

A short film on Vahine, Heimiti and Kohai Fierro of Tahiti.

Over the years of visiting what I’d reckon to be the most beautiful place in the world, I’ve also met some outstanding characters, forged by the power of their connection with the land and sea. Recently, I’ve had the honor and pleasure of getting to know the Fierro family. Loving parents Andrew and Hina have raised three young women who are pushing women’s surfing while gracefully sharing their Tahitian lifestyle with the world. 

Vahine, Heimiti, and Kohai exude the vibrancy of life, and do it together. Their bond is nothing short of magic; these young women are woven into each other’s growth and success. Watching them knock on the door of Teahupo’o one-by-one, Vahine leading the way into some of the heaviest waves I’ve ever seen women surf, is enthralling. And so, to visit them at their home, to spend time with the family, to explore nature and the sea with them, all the while chasing swells and watching these women charge bigger and bigger surf, has been utterly moving. I am such a huge fan of these sisters, and the opportunity to point my lens at them as they live and grow was the thrill of a lifetime. 

Direct/film/Edit: Morgan Maassen
Music: "Young Girls" by Princess Nokia

NEW VIDEO: RAIN DOGS

Korua Shapes just dropped their newest film, Rain Dogs. It was such an honor to film for this, as this brand/athletes/family are truly my heroes... and shooting this was one of the most exhilarating and challenging tests yet; chasing after these dudes with the Red camera was utterly terrifying!

NEW VIDEO: SOLI BAILEY

10 years ago, an Australian surf magazine editor handed me one of my first photography assignments and said "capture Soli". We had only a few hours together, shooting portraits and action on a small day in Hawaii, but I was immediately struck by the incredible demeanor of the teenager. Polite, quiet, but so fiercely determined to make his mark, Soli was rising through the junior ranks and dreaming of make the World Tour. As time went on, we crossed paths countless times in random, far-flung places... but this last year i was bestowed both the pleasure of travel with him to Indonesia to score perfect waves, and to watch his inaugural year competing on the tour. The highs of his performances in incredible surf, and lows of watching him struggle with the complexities - and literal luck - that comes with being a professional surfer, was nothing short of amazing, and as I release this short film, I cannot express how proud I am of this human's fruition into a young adult who surfs with incredible talent and carries the flag for Indiginious Australians with dignity.

direct/film/edit: Morgan Maassen
additional filming: Blake Myers & Shane Fletcher
Supported by O'Neill

NEW VIDEO: JORDY SMITH

My longstanding attraction to surfing has always been through the elegance of style. Watching the way someone can navigate a wave, connecting moves, making every motion look effortless... it's why I see this sport more akin to an artform. And while there are many surfers I admire for their style in the water, Jordy Smith has distinguished himself on a level above all else. Jumping from Hawaii to South Africa to Indonesia this last year, I witnessed Jordy push his surfing to another level, as he paired his talent with his insane personal drive. Being courtside to him surfing, whether sweating on the shores of a jungle atoll or dodging white sharks swimming with my waterhousing... it was like running with the bulls, witnessing a display of raw power and energy only so few have ever achieved athletically.

direct/film/edit: Morgan Maassen
additional filming: Blake Myers
Supported by O'Neill

NEW VIDEO: NOAH WEGRICH

I first heard Noah Wegrich's name over a surf contest loudspeaker almost two decades ago, but it wasn't until early last summer that we finally crossed paths. We both met bleary-eyed in the Jakarta airport, on the other side of the world from our small California homes, with a slew of flights, busses and boat rides ahead of us still. Several days later, we arrived at our small island outpost, and Noah proceeded to steal everyone's breath with his insane surfing. Threading barrels, sharp turns, massive airs... it was wild, but also so mature, as his smooth style made everything so natural. Countless adventures later, I'm proud to share this film exploring his talent at home and abroad, a short flick who's filming process solidified Noah as one of my absolute favorite surfers. 

direct/film/edit: Morgan Maassen
Supported by O'Neill

NEW VIDEO: VICTORIA VERGARA

Almost a decade ago, I met Victoria Vergara on a small volcanic landmass deep in the Indian Ocean, known as Reunion Island. Now famous for its shark-infested waters, the incredibly rugged french island is a far-fetched idea from where you'd think this longboarder and model would hail from. Now, after many fun adventures traveling the world together with cameras and surfboards, it's an honor to share this short film on this incredibly unique human being.

direct/film/edit: Morgan Maassen
Supported by O'Neill

NEW VIDEO: STORIES IN PLACE

Earlier in the month of April, Vimeo commissioned this piece as part of their “Stories In Place” series studying businesses affected by the Coronavirus. I pointed the camera at my father, Jeff Maassen, to observe the ramifications of the global pandemic on his life-long career of Sea Urchin diving.

NEW VIDEO: HONOLUA

At the age of twenty one, Honolua Blomfield’s two world titles are an absolutely incredible feat. What I find even more remarkable, however, is her casual demeanor. She exudes an honest simplicity in her approach to surfing, which serves as a refreshing breakaway that competing for a world title both fosters in and demands of people. A surf session with Honolua is spent smiling and laughing, trading gossip and watching her share waves generously with everyone. Coupled with background Hawaiian surfing history spanning generations, her kindness and graceful presence makes her a true ambassador of Aloha. direct/film/edit: Morgan Maassen Supported by O'Neill Music by: Lucy and The Daze, Monster Rally

At the age of twenty one, Honolua Blomfield’s two world titles are an absolutely incredible feat. What I find even more remarkable, however, is her casual demeanor. She exudes an honest simplicity in her approach to surfing, which serves as a refreshing breakaway that competing for a world title both fosters in and demands of people. A surf session with Honolua is spent smiling and laughing, trading gossip and watching her share waves generously with everyone. Coupled with background Hawaiian surfing history spanning generations, her kindness and graceful presence makes her a true ambassador of Aloha. 

direct/film/edit: Morgan Maassen
Supported by O'Neill

NEW VIDEO: IMOGEN

I'm incredibly proud to present my newest film on Imogen Caldwell!

Imogen is a 23 year old woman from Red Bluff, Western Australia - one of the remotest regions I've ever traveled to, known for its abundance of perfect waves, Outback dust and treacherous wildlife. Over the course of a year, our adventures took us from her homebreak to the icebergs of Iceland, forrests of France and the jungles of Indonesia.

direct/film/edit: Morgan Maassen
Supported by O'Neill

NEW VIDEO: DUSTS OF GOLD

I think the best part of my passion of filmmaking is being able to point the camera at my friends and their own pursuits and adventures. Ryan Lovelace has been one of my closest friends since we met a decade ago and is constantly inspiring me with his craftsmanship and creativity. Stir in the slightly grumpy yet ever-stylish Trevor Gordon into the mix and you have my latest video, “Dusts of Gold”, a short film about a weird idea Ryan brought to fruition...

NEW VIDEO: FISSURES

I’ve just launched a new film, Fissures. It’s a compendium of various moments, visions, places, like a dreamscape… but also, simply, a longform visual odyssey.

Shot in Tahiti, Maldives, Indonesia, Australia, Philippines, Mexico, France, USA, Italy, China, Chile and Greenland...

NEW VIDEO: SOUTH AFRICA

My latest video: visiting South Africa with Stephanie Gilmore… A truly spectacular land filled with world-class waves, watching Steph win the contest and free-surf Jeffrey's Bay was truly a sight to behold. Please check it out!

CORONA X PARLEY

In 2017, we embarked on a 50-day, around the world journey documenting plastic pollution in the ocean, those who are affected by it, and those who seek to fix it. Corona has teamed up with Parley.TV and a range of characters to help do there part and tackle one of the most dire issues our environment has ever faced.

starring: Chris Hemsworth, Diego Luna, Ramon Navarro, Nashla Bogaert, and more.

Director - Morgan Maassen
DoP - Will Adler, Morgan Maassen, Blake Myers & Andrew Schoener
Editor - Joe Walton
Producer - Lindsay McGill
Agency - Wieden + Kennedy Amsterdam
Creative Director - Alvaro Sotomayor
Production Company - Minnow 11
Client - Corona x Parley

NEW VIDEO: PASSAGE

I've always made these yearly iPhone videos that were inane compilations of all the things I'd see as I went about my life... so I thought I would make something a bit more meditated, something that could both respect and relax the speed of which I fly by the seat of my pants.

locations: USA, Panama, Indonesia, Maldives, Japan, Hong Kong, Brazil, Marshall Islands, Bahamas, Alaska, Sri Lanka, Chile, France, Australia, British Virgin Islands, Hawaii, China, Mexico, Costa Rica, Barbados, England, Amsterdam, Nicaragua, Singapore, Morocco, South Africa, New Zealand, West Sahara, ikea, Greenland, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Philippines, Tahiti, and more.

Shot on an iPhone (no waterhousing/cases)
music by: Akira Rabelais

NEW VIDEO: JUNGLE

An unintentional surf film... sort of.

I created this film to explore long-form editing, give a home to so many projects/trips/travel that needed some context, and as a tip of the hat to my passion, surfing. 

Direct/film/edit: Morgan Maassen

starring: Marlon Gerber, Lee Wilson, Noa Deane, Sterling Spencer, Dillon Perillo, Rob Machado, Laura Enever, Alessa Quizon, Bella Nicols, Nat Young, Andrew Doheny, Dane Reynolds, and Stephanie Gilmore.

Additional footage (Stephanie in Mexico) by Andrew Schoener