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Can ticked off two more on our list of sports we’ve filmed in 3D when we were commissioned by AMP to cover the Quiksilver PRO France 2010 and the DC Shoes FMX events in Hossegor on the south west coast of France.

One of France’s most luxurious coastal resorts, the usually sedate seaside town better known for its fine hotels, boutiques and casino became host to the French round of the ASP World Surfing Tour and DC’s “All in Show”, a concert and Freestyle Motocross (FMX) featuring incredible aerial motorbatics and stunts.

To fully cover the surfing, the team used three types of camera setup. An Element Technica Quasar rig with twin Sony 1500’s for long lens surfing shots, a 3D Steadycam for roving beach activity and following the surfers into the sea and for close action a Panasonic AG-3DA1 twin lens camera mounted onto a jet ski.

John Perry, CAN’s Head Stereographer, said: “While we’ve filmed a lot of sports in 3D, surfing presented us with completely different challenges. Given that surfing naturally takes place in water we had to place our jet ski camera in an under water housing and as far as possible ensure that no water got on the lenses which is potentially a huge problem when filming 3D. Also, as the event can physically change location up to 80km depending on where the best surf is, we found ourselves in completely different locations on each day. Another challenge was giving up our usual breakfast of bacon sandwiches. Being with surfers it was all a smoothies, yoghurt and granola”.

Despite such hardships as sun, sandy beaches, smoothies and conditions that at times weren’t exactly conducive to surfing, the team captured some fantastic 3D footage of the competition which was broadcast and streamed on Quiksilver’s website.