Shaft - A Wakeboarding Incident

Just in time for the early-summer thaw comes Shaft, a 45-minute wakeboard video "incident" that features some of the top riders in wakeboarding, both on and off the water. You may have seen parts of this video already: You know, the one with Shaun and Parks dressed up like Beastie Boys'-style undercover cops a la "Sabotage" video. Well, the cops are back with more riders playing undercover including Darin, Brannan, Tara, the Heaneys and more. It almost seems as though way more time was spent making the "cops" scenes than actually filming the riding. Shot entirely on 16-mm film, Shaft has a smooth, fluid look. It was filmed on location in Oregon, northern California and Florida, providing a variety of backdrops. Although it boasts a long list of riders, it mainly features Necrason, Murray, Shapiro, Bonifay, Lavelle, Johnson and Siebring with a cameo by Randy Harris and a nice introduction to Shawn Watson.

Directed by —, Shaft - A Wakeboarding Incident leans on a strong ensemble — Gregg Necrason, Shawn Watson, Chris Ramirez — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 1999.