Photo: Patrick Ruddy
An ornery, but delightful sham by the name of Richie Fitzgerald shared tales of visiting the late, great Malloy Sr. and his ranch in Oji, progenitor of the brood we’ve come to know for top surfing talent among many other skills. Guns, cattle, blue jeans, cowboy boots, tractors, and surfing. Dickie Fitz was a pig in shit; a “black” Irish kid, from the tourist backwater of Bundoran (it’s holding surf by the way), laboring on the ranch for a few days was his version of 8 foot and pumping. It was City Slickers, but for a surfer, but even before those stories, I wanted to be a Malloy. Richie can tell a story… And so can Keith, a veteran of our festival. He’ll try to be back this November, if possible. He may even have a short film in mix for November. All in all, the thrill, the pleasure is all ours to have his sturdy frame set on the feature documentary films for 2019. He will serve as a juror alongside other notable panelists.
Keith’s late father pushed him into his first wave at age four in Ventura County where he surfed until moving to Hawaii in his late teens. Keith surfed on the US National team as an amateur and qualified for the world tour at age twenty-six. He made the decision not to compete after an injury and went back to free surfing, traveling, and big wave riding. He was featured in numerous films and magazines including the cover of Surfer and Surfing seven times. His outdoor exploits include climbing the North American Wall of El Capitan in Yosemite, California. He also finished second place finish in the Molokai 2 Oahu Paddleboard Race and was a finalist at the Pipeline Bodysurf Contest. Keith has directed two feature films including the award-winning Come Hell or High Water and Fishpeople, winner of the 2017 Florida Surf Film Festival Viewer’s Choice – Feature award, among others.
Like his brothers, Keith is a master of all forms of waveriding. Whether it’s a gun, a thruster, or a pair of swim fins, his approach speaks of a lifelong commitment to the sea. After years of surfing in front of the lens, he recently stepped behind the scenes to direct the bodysurf film Come Hell or High Water. He lives in California with his family.