Episode 26 – Jack McCoy

Jack McCoy developed and directed the 1995 Billabong Challenge surf contest, held in remote Western Australia and featuring an elite group of eight surfers, including Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, and Sunny Garcia. McCoy’s Billabong Challenge documentary brought him a Surfer Magazine Video of the Year Award in 1996; he earned another award three years later for Occy: The Occumentary, about 2000 world champion Mark Occhilupo. Other McCoy surf movies, among roughly two-dozen total, include Sabotaj, Blue Horizon, and Free as a Dog. A Deeper Shade of Blue, McCoy’s 2012 surf history movie, won the Best Documentary Award at the X-Dance Action Sports Film Festival; McCoy also took home a Lifetime Achievement Award at the festival.

Still interested? Visit the Encyclopedia of Surfing entry to learn more about this episode’s guest.