Daydream Case Study: Ford Archbold

For those who don't know him, Kennelly says, "Ford is firmly rooted in the global surf scene as a free surfing bad ass who’s made a career for himself by abstaining from surf contests in favor of punting airs here in Newport Beach. He’s an artist and musician who played in several bands and toured around the world in Tomorrow’s Tulips."

His father, Matt Archbold, was a pro surfer in the 80s and 90s well known for his raw power and radical style, in Ford's case, you can see the apple didn't fall from the tree. The short film showcases his talents on punchy Newport surf and explores his artistic endeavors, namely painting, that has been a larger part of his life for the past several years.

"As of recently, there seems to be a rebalancing in Ford’s life. He’s still hell bent on making art but he’s reincorporated surfing into his regular life and his performance hasn’t skipped a beat. In fact there seems to be a renewed interest in surfing that’s inspired by switching up surfboard styles and breaking out of Newport Beach and venturing to some new waves. He’s still hunting punchy, beachbreak wedges and mining tubes and air sections in the same stylistic way he always has, yet there seems to be a new spark, one that can only be explained by the distance he put between himself and surfing that made his love for the recreation grow stronger."

Ford’s art installation at the Daydream Surf Shop gallery that will span from January through March of 2025.