My Surfing Film Was Nominated for an Emmy!

Roo Smith (May 21, 2025)—Surfing in Rivers Before They Disappear just got nominated for an Emmy and I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. This film started as something deeply personal. As a lifelong surfer who moved to Colorado, I found myself far from the ocean but still craving a connection to water. River surfing gave me that connection back and quickly became more than just a sport for me. This weird and wild activity became a lens to look at something bigger: how fragile these rivers are, how much they depend on snowmelt, and how climate change is altering everything we love about them. The film follows that journey. From mountain peaks to river waves. From personal stoke to environmental urgency.Huge thanks to the team at the Colorado Water Trust for sharing their time, insight, and dedication to keeping water in rivers. Their work shaped the heart of this film, and I hope this nomination brings even more awareness to the importance of what they do.Whether you surf, fish, paddle, or just sit by a river with your feet in the water – these places matter. The more we enjoy them, the more we protect them. Thanks for watching, supporting, and caring.- Roo

Roo Smith is a two-time Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Boulder, Colorado but travels all around the world for his filmmaking career. He has directed documentaries for Patagonia in California, produced films for Outside Magazine throughout Europe and Africa, camera operated for Netflix in the Rocky Mountain West, photographed among indigenous communities in South America, and has received notable recognition in the outdoor industry for his work telling uplifting stories in the outdoor space.