The Ugly Duckling: Torren Martyn’s Surfboard Odyssey by Sail
In The Ugly Duckling, Torren Martyn teams up with shaper Simon Jones and filmmaker Kelly Foote for a sailing-surfing journey through Southeast Asia—crafting boards, chasing waves, and redefining twin-fin performance in remote reef passes.
In a cinematic blend of sea voyage and surf innovation, The Ugly Duckling follows renowned surfer Torren Martyn and partner Aiyana Powell as they set sail aboard the 35ft ‘Calypte’ through the Malacca Strait toward Sumatra. When experienced sailor and filmmaker Kelly Foote joins their journey, a film is born—not just about travel, but about the evolution of a surfboard.
Official trailer
Martyn, known for his fluid style and twin-fin experimentation, collaborates with master shaper Simon Jones to develop a performance-driven board that could handle the shallow reefs and heavy sections of Indonesia’s remote surf breaks. What emerges is “The Ugly Duckling,” a unique craft with a radically different outline—shorter, straighter, and faster.
Shot with care and intention, Foote’s lens captures not just surf action but the craftsmanship, trust, and connection between surfer and shaper. The film speaks to the quiet beauty of discovery—both in design and destination.
More than a surf flick, The Ugly Duckling is a reminder that some of the best lines, in water and in life, are drawn off the beaten track.
After a sold out SurfAid fundraiser film tour in 2024, The Ugly Duckling is now freely available for streaming via needessentials films.