For the FUTURE OF ICELANDIC SURF.
Aldan Okkar Allra is the story of the beautiful community that has grown around the world famous surf break in Þorlákshöfn, Iceland.
As foreign companies and powerful industrial interests move forward with a monster development of the Icelandic coast, this tight-knit group of surfers is all that stands in the way of an irreplaceable natural wonder being covered underneath an inexplainable and senseless landfill.
With the outcome hanging in the balance, the future of surfing in Iceland will be decided by the local community - will they see the value of this natural gift before it’s too late?
Key Art: Stefán Yngvi Petursson
Watch the film aNd read on below…
Aldan Okkar Allra — Part.1
“After drowning for a thousand years, we deserve to surf. The forces of nature at least owe us that” ”
— Andri Snær Magnason
Icelandic writer and documentary film director
Timeline of the story
TALKING points
Portum engineers issued a report for Ölfus council stating that surfing takes place 500 metres from shore. This observation is proven incorrect by GPS data, photo evidence or even a small amount of common sense. By stating the location to be out in open water, the true impact on wave dynamics of the proposed landfill can be ignored. Their statement the landfill will have no impact on the wave is based on an incorrect location and insufficient hydrological surveying.
Ölfus council have not been receptive to efforts from the Þorlákshöfn and surf communities to find a shared solution. Danish marine engineers DHI have offered technical input from Simon Brandi Mortensen, a world renowned Australian harbour specialist. He prepared alternate plans and offered design input that would minimise the impact on the surf break with little to no compromise for the council. These plans have been ignored despite the considerable expense for Icelandic citizens that funded this work.
Þorlákshöfn have already completed their harbour expansion. This landfill is an afterthought to create an activity area for the benefit of a private company with close ties to the town. This would represent the destruction of public recreation space to create private land for industrial purposes.
If this wave is destroyed, Icelanders will no longer have the opportunity to enjoy and progress in the worlds fastest growing water sport. Surfing in Iceland will become a sport practiced only by those with the means to travel abroad, or by foreigners coming to visit who have honed their skills elsewhere.
This wave represents the Bláfjöll (Icelandic ski resort close to the capital) of surfing. A place where all abilities can have fun and spend time doing what they love, easily accessible to much of the population and an essential stepping stone to progress to bigger mountains anywhere else in the world.
Articles about the wave and community
íslensk hlaðvörp sem fjalla um málið
“In much of the world. a wave like this is a national treasure. It's something thats celebrated, protected - it's something that people travel far and wide to experience once in their life”
— Chris Burkard
Internationally known adventure photographer
Bíó paradís premiere
Hundreds showed up in support of the surf community, as the film premiered in Reykjavik, þorlákshöfn & Ísafjörður. Good times were shared amongst the community as BBFÍ invited those who are passionate about protecting the Icelandic nature for a night of cinema and discussion.
This event was made possible by the wonderful support of our project partners - Patagonia, Fjallakofinn, Go Campers, Arctic Surfers, Fischersund, Bio Effect, Feldur. Special thanks to Chris Burkard and Benjamin Hardman for the pop up print store for the benefit of Brimbrettafélag Íslands.