Watch Video2 min
Surfing

Tune in as Ian Walsh looks back at the best big wave winter of his life

This Thursday, we’re calling up Ian Walsh, along with a few special guests, to relive the epic El Niño season recounted in the film Distance Between Dreams – and talk about what’s to come this winter.
Written by Andrew Lewis
3 min readPublished on
This Thursday, September 10, you’re going to want to tune in to the Red Bull Surfing YouTube channel as Ian Walsh hosts a few special guests for a live breakdown of the El Niño winter that changed Ian’s life and lead to the creation of his film, Distance Between Dreams.
Beginning at 11.30am Hawaii time (9.30pm UTC), the show will kick off with Ian, his brothers and Distance Between Dreams director Rob Bruce, breaking down the ins and outs of the Walsh brothers’ unique big wave partnership and how they work hand in hand with the rest of the local Jaws crew.
Got questions for Ian? Hit him and the boys up in the comments as you watch along, and they’ll tell you everything you want to know about what it’s like to be on the front lines of Jaws, one of the world’s biggest and most perfect big waves.
Be sure to download the free Red Bull TV app and catch the surfing action on all your devices! Get the app here.
While the El Niño super sessions are without a doubt some of the best viewing in Distance Between Dreams, what makes director Bruce’s film so memorable is all the detail woven in between the epic big wave surfing. From how DK Walsh saved big wave surfer Greg Long’s life after a harrowing wipeout at Cortez Bank in 2012 to the training and rescue regimine the brothers have built since, there are few big wave films that take you so close to the fear and exhiliration of surfing 50ft-plus waves.
Ian Walsh rides the Jaws wave in Maui.

Ian Walsh's wave of the winter

© Clark Fyans

Ian Walsh, DK Walsh, Greg Long and Shane Dorian (L to R) seen in Peahi, Maui on January 4, 2016.

Ian Walsh, Shane Dorian and Greg Long

© Zak Noyle / Red Bull Content Pool

Ian Walsh riding a perfect reef pass in the Pacific.

Ian Walsh reaping the rewards of hard work

© Red Bull Content Pool

Big wave surfer from Hawaii Ian Walsh watches a huge set wave roll through at Jaws, in Maui, Hawaii.

Ian Walsh watches a huge set wave roll through at Jaws

© Zak Noyle

John John Florence and Ian Walsh on the hunt

© Zak Noyle/Red Bull Content Pool

A packed lineup at Pe'ahi for Distance Between Dreams.

© Zak Noyle

For a discussion on how to build surfboards for a playing field as chaotic as Jaws, Ian will ring up his shaper Chris Christenson to break down what makes Ian’s famously numbered baby blue guns so effective at Jaws. And don’t worry, they’ll spend some time brainstorming what the future may hold for big wave surfing equipment.
As the northern hemisphere welcomes yet another big wave season, there’s no better way to prepare for it than to have Ian Walsh answer all your questions. How big can you paddle? Ask Ian yourself. What’s the next great innovation in training? Join the conversation! We’re looking forward to having on board.
Ian Walsh’s Distance Between Dreams El Niño Breakdown kicks off live at:
  • 11.30am, Honolulu
  • 2.30pm, Los Angeles
  • 6.30pm, Rio de Janeiro
  • 11.30pm, CEST
  • 7.30am (+1 day), Sydney
And don’t sweat it if you can’t watch live – we’ll be posting the whole show on our YouTube channel for you to view whenever you want.
Surfing
Surfing