3 Epic Surf Films That Go Beyond the Wave
Surf documentaries have long been a staple of extreme sports cinema, but the genre has evolved far beyond simple highlight reels set to upbeat soundtracks. Here are three standout films that redefine the surf documentary experience. From a stylised, tongue-in-cheek retrospective to high-stakes crossovers between snow and sea, these features capture the unrelenting pull of the ocean and the lengths athletes will go to chase the ultimate thrill.
Let’s Be Frank
Let’s Be Frank is a surf film with a difference. While most surf documentaries resemble music videos – pairing epic footage of massive waves and gnarly wipeouts with upbeat tracks to capture a holiday lifestyle – this feature flips the script. Instead of a conventional sports documentary, Let’s Be Frank is a quirky, stylised and artful retrospective of big-wave surfer Frank Solomon that blurs the lines between myth, legend and reality.
The filmmakers opted for something much more retro and fun, capturing the enigma and legendary status of a hard-living, fearless athlete. This tongue-in-cheek approach offers a playful and entertaining look at Solomon’s life, achievements and allure without taking itself too seriously. Driven by the dulcet tones of a narrator relaying the story, it blends curated sequences with Solomon’s incredible surfing to create a curious, rock-and-roll retrospective.
Shaka
Shaka follows the intrepid Mathieu Crepel as he embarks on a journey to tackle the legendary breaks of Jaws Beach in Hawaii. As a snowboarding world champion, Crepel showcases the agility and finesse that made him a gifted athlete on the slopes. Taking him entirely out of his comfort zone, the build-up to his final challenge reveals a champion who is momentarily out of his depth yet quietly confident in his abilities.
Featuring insightful commentary from friends who emphasise the sheer magnitude of the endeavour, this spiritual quest finds Crepel preparing for an ultimate adventure with life-or-death stakes. Never shying away from the inherent dangers of big-wave surfing, Morgan le Faucheur’s Shaka captures the true spirit of adventure, documenting Crepel’s makeshift solutions and specialised training. Beautifully shot, it is an entertaining and vicarious road trip alongside an extraordinary athlete.
Chasing That Feeling
Chasing That Feeling chronicles a globetrotting adventure between two best friends, Blake ‘BT’ Thornton and Matt ‘Gilso’ Gilsenan, who embark on numerous surf and snowboarding trips across the world, visiting Canada, Alaska, Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia and Iceland. These adventurers make it their mission to squeeze every drop out of life, delivering breathtaking visuals along the way. This travelogue and documentary effectively captures their many trips, often using motorhomes to navigate some of the world’s most beautiful wildernesses, seascapes and mountainsides.
The film offers a true reflection of just how grand, dangerous and exquisite these quests can be. At its core, Chasing That Feeling speaks to a universal desire to live life to the fullest. The duo jets back home to work and save up for each new trip, eventually expanding their repertoire to include wingsuit jumps, skydiving and other extreme sports. While the adrenaline remains high throughout, the narrative is kept grounded by the hard realities of life, ultimately offering a poignant, reflective ending built on years of red-blooded sports adventure.
