Facing the Waves

Bobby Vaughn is one of those characters who could originate from central casting in Los Angeles. Tough and charismatic, he’s a former gang member who has gotten into some trouble in the hood. Simultaneously, he’s an entrepreneur and helped build the cap company Von Dutch into a national brand and, of course, a surfer. But what makes this documentary by director Lee Quinby particularly compelling is that, after legal issues forced him out of L.A., Bobby has now taken root in Rockaway Park, NYC. He’s started a new surf clothing line in New York called FTW, which has a variety of meanings, some of which are unprintable, but one of which is Facing the Waves. It’s clear in this film that the waves represent a life force for Bobby as they rise and fall, much like this dynamic young man himself.
—DH