Big waves, big show

We heard more than one report that they were the most beautiful

couple in the world. Any surprise to find them in Newport Beach?

Laird Hamilton -- big-wave rider without peer (for our money,

anyway) -- and his wife, model and volleyball player Gabrielle Reece,

took in one of the premier shows of a new movie chronicling the rise

of an extreme side of surfing.

“Riding Giants” opened at the Lido Theater earlier this month, one

of three official locations in the U.S. to premiere the movie. This

being Newport Beach and all, there was the expected gala with stars

and strutting. Besides the beautiful twosome, big-wave pioneer Greg

Noll also passed the blue (yes, blue) carpet. More importantly, dare

we say, the opening also benefited two Orange County charities:

surfer-friendly Surfrider Foundation and The Ocean of Hope Campaign,

which raises funds through paddle boarding events to help people

suffering from sarcoma, a type of cancer.

A good cause and, it turns out, a good movie.