Surfing legend Allen Sarlo shares memories from the filming of the iconic 2005 movie.
The 2001 documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys immortalized the legendary Zephyr team, hailing from Venice Beach, California, and showcasing their groundbreaking impact on skateboarding and surfing. Featuring notable figures like Jay Adams, Tony Alva, and Stacy Peralta, the documentary captured the essence of their innovative approach to both sports. In 2005, the story was adapted into the biographical film Lords of Dogtown, which brought the era to life with Hollywood actors like Emile Hirsch as Jay Adams and Heath Ledger as Zephyr co-founder Skip Englbom.
While Lords of Dogtown was a fun film, it never quite matched the raw authenticity of the original documentary. Nevertheless, the film did a good job of recreating the iconic locations from the Z-Boy era, particularly with the surf scene at the old Pacific Ocean Park (P.O.P.). To achieve authenticity, stunt doubles were needed to ride the psychedelic single fins and wear the classic beaver tail wetsuits. This is where Allen Sarlo, a former Z-Boy and Los Angeles surf legend, stepped in.
In a behind-the-scenes video, Sarlo recounts working with Heath Ledger and sharing stories about the old days. “Stacy [Peralta] and I were really best friends in high school,” Sarlo explained. “I was working and going to college, so I had a small part in the film. My dad, who was a lifeguard in Santa Monica and also a cop in Culver City, helped get the surfing area in Santa Monica. It just happened to be at Bicknell Avenue – there used to be a designated surfing area in the summer.”
Sarlo, who is still seen regularly in Malibu today, was part of the Zephyr surf team during its heyday. Having been there for the birth of the movement, Sarlo was brought on to stunt-double in the film’s surf scenes. Reflecting on his early days, he said, “Jeff Ho was a visionary. He could see where we were going. I was just a kid, a competitive surfer. I was on the skateboard team, but I was more focused on surfing. I won all the amateur contests during that time. Skip Englbom coached me, along with Jeff Ho. They made my surfboards and taught me about style—how to hold my hands, everything. It was pretty cool.”
Sarlo’s unique experience with the Z-Boys and the surf culture of the time brought invaluable authenticity to the making of Lords of Dogtown. His firsthand knowledge and connection to the era gave the film a deeper sense of realism, allowing viewers to glimpse the revolutionary spirit of the ’70s surf and skate scene.