The Observation Deck

Hey all,

I just got back from a tremendous movie showing at the library called "Out of Place" about these crazy people who surf at Edgewater Park in the Fall and Winter, because that's the only time Lake Erie kicks up high enough waves. (Though I'm remembering being stuck swimming in some summer storms with waves I could have surfed on.)

Scott Ditzenberger is a local filmmaker and a local surfer and this movie was about this amazing group of people from around here who are out on surf boards whenever they can be. After the movie tonight Scott said that the movie won an audience choice award at Tribeca and has been popular in Santa Barbara, Honolulu, and did well at last year's Cleveland International film festival. I missed it last year and was so glad to have caught it tonight. The movie captured the beauty of Lake Erie in a way you rarely see.

Scott said that most places the movie showed when the audience saw surfers walking right into the water in the middle of a snowstorm you could hear the people gasping at how cold it must of been. He said when he screens in Cleveland people barely react-- It was great hearing his talk about the film afterward.

I wish I would have posted before to let people know, I know it was listed in the paper and in the calendar on the front page. Scott said there's a website where you can buy DVD's of the movie, and I think he said they might be selling them at the Root.

The site is http://www.outofplacemovie.com and there's a trailer there to watch.

It's really worth checking out. I brought my son and now I guess we're going to have to try surfing, though we will be trying it in the summer.

Betsy Voinovich

When Anthony Bourdain did "No Reservations" in Cleveland a few years ago, they did a segment about a guy surfing Lake Erie in the winter. I always thought that was weird, because I had never heard of it before or since. I'll have to check that movie out.

Brad Hutchison wrote:When Anthony Bourdain did "No Reservations" in Cleveland a few years ago, they did a segment about a guy surfing Lake Erie in the winter. I always thought that was weird, because I had never heard of it before or since. I'll have to check that movie out.

Brad

I have a friend Clif Brennan, who used to take great pride in being in the Plain Dealer each
year wind surfing with ice and snow in the photo. I was telling Betsy last night, one cold
January day I got a call from him that he had tied himself and his board to the breakwall
and needed help getting it back in. As I walked out from my office job to help him, I was
freaked out, and just how nasty it was out there, and yes others were windsurfing farther
away. He was diagnosed with Lime Disease that week, which explained show tired he was, but it also gave him reason to continue, as he would say, "It's just Lime ..."

I would say it take on near religious overtones for many.

Scott, his crew and friends have been a great addition to Lakewood these past couple
years.

One of the many, like yourself great local filmmakers.

.

There are a number of places on the great lakes with good beaches and great surf in fall and spring. As a boater, however, I too prefer calm waters in the summer.

Very interesting. I just saw a guy last night parked on the shoreway, with his board on top of the car, looking at the waves at Edgewater. Brought me back to my days of living in Orange County, CA. I do have a friend on the east side that surf's.