After discovering Nazaré, Portugal’s monstrous swells, pro surfer Garrett McNamara sets out to achieve his dream of riding a 100-foot wave.
Despite unexpected setbacks during their second season in Nazaré, Garrett catches a wave that changes everything.
Brazilian surfers new to Nazaré fail to heed safety advice, while Garrett’s own appearance at a big wave competition takes a devastating turn.
In 2017, Nazaré’s largest swell to date paves the way for a broken record – and a broken back.
As the world's top surfers arrive in Nazaré for the WSL’s Tow Surfing Challenge, Garrett grows concerned over proposed safety measures.
After the WSL competition abruptly ends, the athletes reflect on their beloved, unpredictable sport. Garrett attempts to surf again.
After months of lockdown and global uncertainty, the 2020-21 big wave surfing season in Nazaré gets off to a roaring start with an unprecedented massive swell from Hurricane Epsilon. For the surfers, the stakes have never been higher as they battle to break the world record.
Portugal’s National Health Commission closes down all surfing due to Covid protocols, stranding the surfers for several weeks. Ramon Laureano, Tony’s father and tow partner, watches his son evolve as a big wave surfer. Garrett McNamara leaves town as he and others contend with their inability to surf waves in Nazaré.
Justine Dupont chases a swell in the Pacific at Mavericks, and then at Jaws in Hawaii, where three years earlier she suffered the biggest injury of her career. Returning to Maui, Dupont faces her fears and surprises even herself. Garrett McNamara’s brother-in-law C.J. Macias and superstar Kai Lenny also have successful runs at Jaws, while McNamara is not so lucky.
When the first WSL contest of the season approaches, Cotty grows cautiously optimistic about his future, while Tony’s hopes of participating are dashed. Meanwhile, after battling COVID, Garrett and Nicole prepare for the home birth of their baby.
Amid less-than-ideal conditions in Nazaré, Cotty has a harrowing experience in the water. Later, as he searches for inspiration to continue surfing, a newly reinvigorated CJ peaks just in time to compete in Gigantes de Nazaré. But the competition comes to an abrupt halt when CJ goes missing in the hazardous conditions.
In the wake of CJ’s frightening search and rescue, the surfers find themselves reflecting on the dangers of their sport. When another WSL contest in Nazaré is announced, Tony’s dreams of competing against the best in class are finally realized… then quickly fall apart. As for Garrett, the end of the surf season becomes a time to recalibrate his priorities.
