Known for his ever-present smile, Chris Brown was a fixture in the Santa Barbara surfing community until his death in 2019. A new documentary by award-winning filmmaker Josh Pomer explores the highs and lows of Brown’s salt-infused life story. “Chris Brown is one of the best surfers to come from Santa Barbara and also one of the beloved,” said Pomer in a phone interview. “It’s a Santa Barbara story and a growing-up story.” His film, Eternal Stoke, will premiere on June 14 at 7 p.m. at the Lobero Theatre.
A larger-than-life figure, Brown had an electric style as a surfer that reflected his high-energy personality. At age 10, he learned to surf from his father, Dave, at Hendry’s Beach, and by his teens, Brown drew comparisons to three-time world champion Tom Curren.
“He was ridiculously good at that age,” said surf historian Matt Warshaw in a 2019 interview. “Fast and quick, he could put his board anywhere, and in that respect, he was like Curren.” At 18, Brown qualified for the ASP World Tour, the highest level of competition in surfing at the time.