6 top surf documentaries for 2023

From exploring the world's most dangerous waves to learning the personal stories of the world's most talented surfers, these surf documentaries will take you through the world and leave you inspired to make your own waves.

1. Under an artic sky

A documentary that follows the adventures of several surfers who, along with photographer Chris Burkard and filmmaker Ben Welland, travel to Iceland in search of the best waves. They rent a boat in the middle of one of the strongest storms ever experienced in the country, knowing that such storms cause big waves.

You can't miss this impressive production in which you will enjoy a spectacular story, images and frames. You can watch it on platforms such as Prime Video or Apple TV.

2. Discovering Mavericks

Mavericks is one of the biggest and most lethal waves in the world. Due to the great recognition of these waves, there have been multiple film projects that show us countless stories that have occurred in California.

Discovering Mavericks is a documentary that shows through various characters such as Jay Moriarity, Peter Mel, Mark Foo and Jeff Clarck, the memories lived surfing these waves. In our channel, Nautical Channel, you will be able to see one of those programs based on the idea of Discovering Mavericks called Of Brave and Mavericks.

3. Momentum Generation

It is one of the most current surf documentaries. It follows the story of a group of well-known surfers who have marked an era in the sport, Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, Shane Dorian, Taylor Knox, Benji Weatherley, Kalani Robb, Ross Williams, Taylor Steele and Pat O'Connell.

It tells us the experiences of a group of friends and all they have had to work to become professionals, pioneers of the sport that thanks to all of them surfing is what it is now.

It is much more than a surfing documentary; it is a chorus of testimonies, images and memories that, with waves and surfing as a backdrop, talks about life and death, the price we are willing to pay to reach our goals and the wound that the leap to maturity leaves in the soul. E. Torrichelli.

It is available on HBO Max, Apple TV or Prime Video. Undoubtedly one of the best shootings of all time.

4. Sofía

Short film focused on the personal story of a professional surfer. As we all know due to many championships that have been held in this location, the Canary Islands are one of the best places in Europe and the world where you can find enviable conditions throughout the year for surfing.

Sofía follows the life of the young surfer Sofía De Tomás, Canarian surfing champion from La Orotava, Tenerife. This surfer is quite special since she started when she was very young and, as a peculiarity, she didn't need any surfing instruction since almost everything she knows she has learned by herself. This incredible story can be found and enjoyed on Nautical Channel.

5. Riding Giants

This is one of the best known and most valued surf documentaries in the community, directed by Stacy Peralta, professional skateboarder and member since the beginning of ZBoy. It explains all the steps that surfing has undergone, from its beginnings in Polynesia to the date of release (2004).

This report shows the beginnings of the water sport par excellence, the evolution of surfboards and how great exponents such as Greg Noll, Laird Hamilton... came to surf incredible waves. It is available on Apple TV and Prime Video.

6. Unstoppable: Bethany Hamilton

A deep and intimate documentary about Bethany Hamilton's life, about all the difficulties she went through and how she overcame them, a true example of overcoming for everyone, especially for the surfing world.

Bethany Hamilton lost one of her arms in a shark attack when she was only thirteen years old in Kauai. This did not hinder her in any way from pursuing her dreams. That of becoming a professional surfer, being present in various competitions of the World Surf League, the most prestigious and important surfing competition in the world.

These are just some of the surf documentaries that we can watch to get the most out of the sport and its lifestyle. If you still want more, you will find many more programs and movies on various platforms as well as on our channel, in Nautical Channel you can also enjoy programs and championships.