100 Foot Wave

⭐ 9.5/10

(Originally written by Tim)

This is a 6-part documentary on big wave surfing. It follows Garrett McNamara, a surfer in pursuit of the biggest waves in the world. He uncovers the gem of Nazare Portugal, and builds a surfing scene there until now it is home of all the best big wave surfing competitions.

To start, the cinematography here is 10/10. Every episode is filled with incredible footage of these unbelievable waves, which is something that has always inspired awe for me. Seeing this tiny person with a huge wave looming over them, the shadow of the wave slowly engulfing them, really takes my breath away.

Garrett is the heartbeat of the show, and he is a great lead. A lot like Alex Honold in Free Solo, this is a guy who has a single purpose in life, and is driven crazy in pursuit of that goal. You watch him over many years as he battles injury and builds a family, and even after his biggest successes you can tell he is hungry for more. I wouldn't call him inspirational, but he is for sure compelling.

There is a great extended cast too, other surfers who come out and experience Nazare as the surf scene grows. Seeing Garrett decline due to injury as these young surfers show up and literally do 360 flips on the glorious waves he struggled so hard to find is pretty stark. Success is fleeting, and Garrett's pursuit of inner satisfaction and peace would be relatable to anyone.

I feel like I know a ton about this whole scene, and I am fascinated by it all. Again, its a lot like Free Solo. You see the world through the eyes of its biggest fanatic, and that makes you invested. I loved this show, and Nazare has been added to my travel list.