Singular Soul with Jose Plaza

From Surf Stories by Florida Surf Film Festival

April 17, 2026 · 1h 28m · Episode 117

About this episode

José Plaza shares his journey from a surf culture upbringing in Peru to becoming a filmmaker, highlighting the beauty of Peruvian surfing.

Born and raised in Punta Hermosa, Peru, José Plaza grew up steeped in surf culture — his father Miguel was a pioneer wave rider in Peru and Hawaii during the 1960s, befriending legends like Eddie Aikau and Greg Noll. That legacy pushed José into the water early and eventually behind the camera. After a chance encounter with filmmaker Wes Brown deep in the Peruvian jungle, José transitioned into filmmaking, starting with surf films featuring top Peruvian athletes. Today, he documents the raw beauty of Peruvian surfing, blending insider knowledge with a filmmaker's eye. And he share some incredible stories with Kevin Miller and John Brooks. Enjoy.

People in this episode

Hosts: Kevin Miller, John Brooks

Guest: José Plaza

Topics covered

surf culture
filmmaking
Peruvian surfing
athletes
storytelling

Keywords

surfing
Peru
filmmaking
athletes
surf culture
stories

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Punta Hermosa, Peru, Hawaii