Place Of Thorns | The Story of Puerto Escondido

Place of Thorns tells the story of one of the world’s most incredible waves, Puerto Escondido, from its discovery by early surfers when it was just a small coffee port in Mexico, to the bustling tourist Mecca it has become today. After five decades, Puerto continues to draw surfers from across the globe to the town’s main beach, Playa Zicatela, as they pit themselves against some of the biggest, most deadly beach break waves on the planet.

Join us as we explore the dynamics of this unique wave while celebrating some of the best swells and rides ever documented on its shores. Along the way we discover why the Mexican Pipeline is amongst the most challenging surf spots in the world, and what it takes to ride it. But it’s not only the town that has changed. The iconic wave is under dire threat, galvanizing the local community as they take a united stand to save the wave and their home.

Featuring: Coco Nogales, Shane Dorian, Bianca Valenti, Greg Long, Matt Bromley, Nathan Florence, Quetzal Estrada, Jeff Divine, Craig Peterson and others.

A film by Now Now Media presented by Monster Energy
In Association with Saves The Waves and Ocean & Earth
Produced by Alan van Gysen and Edwin Morales
Executive Producers Ryan Franklin and Kazmira Krawchuk
Directed and edited by Will Bendix

Running time: 38 minutes

Place of Thorns is the pilot episode of our ORIGINS series, exploring the stories behind the world's most incredible waves. Stay tuned for more and please hit subscribe if you like what we do - your support helps us to keep making these films.

[NowNowMedia]

Please hit subscribe and share if you like what we do - your support helps us to keep making these films! Place of Thorns is the pilot episode of our ORIGINS series, exploring the stories behind the world's most incredible waves. Stay tuned, we'll be travelling to Indonesia, North Africa and the Pacific in Season One.

[sstim]

In May of 1971 I took the bus from Oaxaca city to Puerto. I didn't have a surfboard but a had fins for bodysurfing. In those two weeks I didn't see a surfboard. I surfed Zicatela and got the rides of my life. The last day the surf came up huge, as we stood on the point looking outside, my buddy asked if I thought it could be surfed, I said maybe with an aqua lung and a helicopter! In my journal I named it the "Mexican Pipeline".

[FluidSurfing]

This film is insane, beautiful and unforgettable.
Puerto Escondido is probably the scariest beach break in the world. I love it and admire every single guy who paddles out there.
Forever Zicatela ❤

[TSSurf]

This content is better than any of the surf content out there I swear this channel should have millions of views this is truly top tier surf journalism. Way better than any Surfline/Red Bull/ WSL stuff I hope you guys get the recognition you deserve

[bi]

Of all the amazing things about Oaxaca, the willingness to pull together and stand up for what is good for the community as a whole may be my favorite attribute.

[fredrit]

This place was an absolute gem when I first visited in the mid 80's it was truly paradise, un developed, friendly, affordable, un crowded, went there briefly in 2004 and I couldn't believe my eyes, it's really sad to see the changes, it almost looks like a different place altogether, but the memories will stay with me forever...

[GiancarloMergner]

México é INCRÍVEL!!! Un saludo de Brasil para todo pueblo mexicano

[AxelG]

Love those 70's pics with the lightningbolt boards and gerry Lopez, my fav surfer

[EldrZ]

I visited Puerto on my Mexico trip, thought I’d surf there, then I saw the wave when I came to Zicatela beach. Said fuck that and pussied out because I knew I wouldn’t be able to handle that. So much water moving, horrifying 40 foot closeouts. That shit can kill you instantly if you don’t know what you’re doing.

[Wyatt-Benson]

Dang! Great doc. I surfed Puerto 3x in the 90's and fell in love with it. Never rode one at Zicatella but tried and was absolutely crushed each time. I feel for these guys who ended up in the hospital, I was lucky. This makes me want to buy a

[jakemarlow]

This was probably the best surfing infomercial I've ever seen. Some super heavy waves.

[ismimeli]

This was a wonderful documentary; I hope the people in charge see this. My heart breaks for the people affected. I wish the best for Puerto❤

[lajedobode]

Beautiful movie! Congratulations to the professionals involved in the project, watching this masterpiece deeply touched my heart. I met incredible people in this documentary, my feeling at the end was that I had been with long-time friends, without having ever seen them before.

[Mexicantours]

Excellent production, a wave of respect, can eat anyone up if you are not 100% on what’s going on out there, I’m 63, so to heavy for me now, and just too dangerous. It is a wave for the brave when it’s big…may 3 …BRAVO! Respect to all the lifeguards ..

[mistermoredo]

Amazing film, a lot of emotions put together, and powerful waves, a great combination for a success. The tracks are perfect too, specially the last song.

[marianapontano]

Felicitaciones
Buen film
Y gracias por recibirme en sus playas, 6 veces fui, pude surfar, conocer a muchos surfer locales. Ver generaciones de grandes surfistas locales y compartir con ellos. Desde los 90 a esta parte, mucho vivido x alli.
Afortunada de conocer esos picos y esa gente.

[erimason]

Mad respect for telling this story and the people in Puerto, saludo!

[drewpickell]

this is amazing. thank you so much. my dad surfed puerto in the 80's and i lived there with him as a baby. i'm a skateboarder in austin, texas now days but i've dreamt of coming back to puerto my whole life. one day i'll make it back. thank you 🙏

[oheloai]

what a special wave and place...the soundtrack and local players interviews make the story complete...well

[alternativemedicinenyc]

Im a local from Oaxaca but this film is amazing, I just expected surf clips but the whole mix with local speeches and points of view was deep and this invites us to raise awareness about this beautiful coast, much respect and love fellas!! keep it real.
Saludos