How We Preserve Surfing Film History
At the Nalu Film Foundation, preservation is not a service — it is our mission. We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing, digitizing, and protecting the world's most significant action sports film archives before they are lost forever. From rare 16mm surf reels shot on Hawaii's North Shore to analog videotapes documenting skateboarding and snowboarding's earliest days, we have built the tools, expertise, and infrastructure to ensure this history survives for future generations.
Rescuing Archives Before It's Too Late
Film degrades. Videotapes deteriorate. Every year, irreplaceable footage is lost to time, humidity, and neglect. The Nalu Film Foundation works directly with filmmakers, photographers, estates, and families to identify at-risk collections and bring them into our preservation program. We assess each archive individually — evaluating the volume, format, and condition of materials — and develop a tailored plan to recover and protect them.
Our Digitization Capabilities
We have invested in professional-grade equipment to handle the full range of analog formats found in action sports film history: Motion Picture Film — 8mm, Super 8mm, 16mm, Super 16mm, 35mm, and Super 35mm film negatives scanned with our Cintel Scanner by Blackmagic Design. Analog Videotape — Betacam, 3/4″, VHS, Video8, Hi8, MiniDV, DVCam, and 1″ broadcast video transferred with professional broadcast decks. Still Photography — 35mm slides, prints of all sizes, magazines, and printed materials. Every format is handled with care, digitized at the highest quality, and prepared for long-term archival storage.
Secure Storage and Organization
Once digitized, archives are stored in climate-controlled facilities designed to protect physical materials from heat, humidity, and deterioration. Digital files are systematically organized so that specific clips, reels, or images can be retrieved quickly and efficiently. We maintain LTO tape backups alongside cloud storage to ensure every archive has multiple layers of protection.
Delivery and Access
Digitized archives are delivered via cloud transfer or hard drive, with LTO backup copies maintained by the foundation. Our goal is to make these collections accessible — to researchers, filmmakers, educators, and the public — while ensuring the originals are protected for generations to come.
Why It Matters
The films and photographs in our archives are more than historical records — they are the visual language of surf, skate, and snowboard culture. They document the athletes, the waves, the mountains, and the communities that shaped action sports into a global phenomenon. Many of these materials exist in a single copy. Once lost, they cannot be recreated. Your support makes this work possible.
Support the Mission
If you believe in preserving action sports film history, we invite you to donate to the Nalu Film Foundation. Every contribution directly funds the digitization, storage, and protection of irreplaceable archives. Do you have historical surf, skate, or snowboarding footage, film, or photographs that need preserving? We want to hear from you. The Nalu Film Foundation accepts archive donations from filmmakers, photographers, estates, and families who share our commitment to protecting this history. Contact us about your archives.