Arts & Entertainment
Telling Central Coast Stories: 805 Premiers Conner Coffin Documentary
Well-known Cali beer 805 told the story of hometown hero and pro surfer Conner Coffin, who always goes back to his central coast roots.
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA — With the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in full swing in Huntington Beach, central coast brewers and Conner Coffin fans came together to watch a documentary about the pro surfer's life in the Golden State.
The documentary "Mind Surfing: The Conner Coffin Story" premiered Wednesday at the Bungalow in Huntington Beach. Hundreds of attendees whooped and cheered as they watched Coffin surf on two massive screens telling the young phenom's central coast story.
The documentary was produced by 805 Beer, a Firestone Walker Brewing Company beer named after the 805 area code. Coffin was the perfect subject for an 805 production, said Dustin Hinz, Chief Marketing Officer for Firestone Walker Brewery.
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"Mind Surfing" is one of over 30 short films and documentaries produced by the beer company to highlight talented central coast natives including X Games skater and surfer Greyson Fletcher and musician Jade Jackson.
"805 is a brewery that represents the central coast," Hinz said. The brand is focused on "telling the incredibly stories of people from our hometown," he said.
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Coffin was born in Santa Barbara and grew up surfing at Rincon Beach, a well-known surf spot between Santa Barbara and Ventura.
The documentary, which appeared on Youtube Friday, follows Coffin's surfing career from the first time he surfed at four years old to his two young U.S. Open wins, to his present love for boating.
Throughout the documentary Coffin attributes his success to his Central Coast upbringing, always being surrounded by successful surfers.
"Home in Santa Barbara has just always been that place where I come back and feel super connected and grounded," Coffin said in the documentary. "I could live in Hawaii and I'd love it but I don't know, I just keep coming back here."
Guests at Wednesday's premier enjoyed free 805 beers, "the perfect brand for the perfect beer," said Nick Firestone, COO of the Firestone Walker Brewing Company.
"[805 is the] perfect brand for the perfect beer. ... it's for surfers and cowboys because that's who we are in the central coast of California," Walker said.
Watch "Mindsurfing: The Conner Coffin Story" here.
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