Without a doubt, Koby Abberton has put himself on a very short list of surfers in the world who are constantly pushing their limits and charging each session as if it were their last. As you dive deeper into the life of the Bra Boy Abberton, beyond the surfing, you begin to understand this approach. Koby has faced and endured challenges throughout his life that would make many others crumble. Even then, no matter what Koby was being confronted with in what has been at times a very turbulent life, one thing has remained a constant, he loves to surf, is damn good at it, and is constantly pushing and inspiring those around him to push themselves just as hard, no matter what it is.

This is part two of a two-part 5 with 5’s with Sunny Abberton and Koby Abberton. The unprecedented success of the documentary Bra Boys continues it’s roll following the July 29 release of the Bra Boys Collectors Edition DVD. Sometime in between ripping sessions in Bali and West Oz, Koby was kind enough to give us some of his time and insight and be the next guest on 5 with 5’s.

5ones: Koby, Thanks again for your time and congratulations on everything you accomplished with the release of Bra Boys. How has the massive success of the film affected the city of Maroubra, as well as the rest of the Bra Boys?

Koby: Well the boys are pretty much the same, they just all seem to be getting a lot more girls, hahhahahahah… The police are really pissed with the movie’s results and they seem to be doing everything they can to make us look bad… but all good besides that.

5ones: What were some of your biggest obstacles when trying to break through and become successful as surfers, and what was it that you feel kept you pushing through all of the turmoil toward reaching your goals?

Koby: I WAS BORN TO SURF AND I WOULD SURF AT ANY MEANS SO IT COMES EASY FOR ME.

5ones: What words of wisdom would you hand down to the younger, up and coming surfers who are from rougher areas in the world and face similar struggles to those that you guys faced growing up in Maroubra?

Koby: Keep away from drugs and just take notice of who your friends are and what they are doing when you’re not around.

5ones: 5 words that would best describe the Bra Boys and what they are about?

Koby: Loyal, Honour, Respect, Brothers, Death.

5ones: It’s just Sunny, Jai, and Koby heading out for a dream session… Where would this take place and who will be charging the hardest?

Koby: Me of course, they are both fags!!! HAHAHHAHAHAHHAHHA. Tahiti would be great because we could drink beers after and eat sushi…. Perfect!

For Bra Boys Sunny and Koby Abberton of Maroubra, N.S.W., Australia, this was just a recounting of their lives, their home, and their brotherhood. With the production and release of the Bra Boys documentary in the spring of 2007, they set out to simply tell their version of what they believed to be a very one-sided story at the time. In doing so, they ended up breaking box office records and seeing an unprecedented level of success that never could have before been imagined.

The demand by those not only throughout the surfing community, but all over the world, to witness their story has continued to grow over time and has seen the film end up in very unexpected markets. The Bra Boys Collectors Edition DVD just hit stores on July 29, and with a Hollywood version of their story in the works being directed by Oscar-winner Russel Crowe, the success of their story is sure to continue.

It´s been a whirlwind ride of success for the first family of the Bra Boys brotherhood, but through it all they have remained what they have always been at heart - an extremely tight-knit family that’s as passionate about surfing as any I’ve ever come across.

This is part one of a two-part 5 with 5’s with Sunny Abberton and Koby Abberton. Sunny and Koby were kind enough to give 5ones some of their time to give us a glimpse into what´s going on with them and their journey following the release of Bra Boys. We thank them for that, congratulate them on their massively successful project, and encourage any of our 5ones friends who have yet to see the film to go out and do so.

5ones: Thanks again for your time and congratulations on everything you accomplished with the release of Bra Boys. How has the massive success of the film affected the city of Maroubra, as well as the rest of the Bra Boys?

Sunny Abberton: You see people, a lot of people come and take photos of the beach with them in it like it was a tourist attraction. It has also helped the boys with gaining more respect for what we do. As well, its been better for some of the younger guys like Richie Vas (guy who gets stabbed in the neck and laughs) to gain sponsorship as a big wave rider. Johnny Gannon who trains the boys and who does the training in the extra section on the DVD has been picked up by World no. 3 Taj Burrow to travel the World Tour with him as his trainer in the hope Johnny will help him win a world tittle.

5ones: What were your biggest obstacles when trying to break through and become successful as surfers, and what was it that you feel kept you pushing through all of the turmoil toward reaching your goals ?

Sunny: The biggest obstacles to succeed at anything is just trying to remain focused on your goals and stay on the right path of being fit and healthy.

5ones: What words of wisdom would you hand down to the younger, up and coming surfers who are from rougher areas in the world and face similar struggles to those that you guys faced growing up in Maroubra?

Sunny: Don’t get caught in the cycle of your area; drugs, crime, and jail. You can rise above it. You just have to find an outlet, like the surf.

5ones: How would you best describe the Bra Boys and what they are about?

Sunny: A big family over 100 years old.

5ones: It’s just Sunny, Jai, and Koby heading out for a dream session….Where would this take place and who will be charging the hardest?

Sunny: Well Koby, Dakota, and I are all natural footers so Jai would have to listen to us. It would probably be in the Mentawai Islands and it would be very competitive.

When the highly anticipated documentary Bra Boys was set to be released this past spring, I had a lot of questions swirling in my mind about how a film that seeks to tell a very controversial and very real story would be received. As with most films, especially those dealing with as sensitive and highly charged story-lines as those throughout Bra Boys, the weeks leading up to and then following the film’s release invoked a wide variety of thoughts and points of view. Now here we are a little over two months following the opening premier in Sydney and it appears Bra Boys has successfully grabbed the attention of those not just within the surfing community, but all over the world.

After a successful launch in Southern California, New York and Hawaii, Bra Boys is now trying to fulfill the unexpected demand to markets outside of those that you would typically expect to see a surf-film be received. Berkela Films has announced more showings of the film in states such as Texas, Oregon, South Carolina, and many other areas that weren’t originally anticipated. “I couldn’t be more pleased with the film’s momentum since its premiere in LA last month,” said Berkela Films co-founder Jason Bergh. “Many weren’t sure how the film would be received in the U.S., and their queries are easily answered with the amount of new theaters we are opening and the myriad of requests we are doing our best to honor.”

I came away from Bra Boys very impressed and I’m looking forward to seeing it again. Clearly there are going to be some very different views from others who’ve seen it, but to me it was a very rewarding dive into a story that has been surrounded with so much controversy. Many within the surf community are familiar with the Abberton family and the issues they have faced in recent years but Bra Boys opened the door and helped to show the dynamics of a community that embraces surfing and brotherhood as much as any I’ve ever known.

And for those who have yet to see it but are putting it on their “to-do” list, remember the name “Cyclops.” Bra Boys contains surf footage that went beyond anything I have ever even dreamed of surfing and that in itself made this a movie that I will not soon forget.