100 Foot Wave Crashes to Shore

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Spoilers follow for the third season of 100 Foot Wave, which concluded on HBO on Thursday, May 29. 

As a dedicated fan, I’ve been riding the waves of “100 Foot Wave” for years, witnessing the fearless surfers conquer the ocean and ride through colossal cyclone barrels. This third season, however, seems to hint at their final days on the water. The term ‘finish’ echoes frequently, along with contemplative discussions about knowing when to call it quits. Whether this is the series’ last hurrah or not remains unconfirmed; HBO hasn’t made its renewal decision yet. But there’s a melancholic, nostalgic undertone that undeniably feels like an ending – at least for our main protagonist, Garrett McNamara. His pioneering work in big-wave surfing is the very essence of this show, and now, he grapples with accepting that it’s time to leave the sport as his body starts to falter. It’s a heart-wrenching realization, even for a tough and unpredictable character like McNamara, and it transforms the series into a profound exploration of who we become when the love of our life slips away from us.

In simpler terms, “100 Foot Wave” season 3 explores a common theme in American narratives – the struggle of an aging individual who finds it challenging to adapt after spending most of their life identifying with their profession. This story is often depicted through characters like Willy Loman, John Rooney, Don Draper, and Kenny Powers. However, when told through the perspective of sports, where one’s identity is closely tied to their physical abilities and performance, it becomes even more intriguing.

“100 Foot Wave” shares similarities with other stories in this genre, such as discussions about Michael Jordan’s intense competitiveness in “The Last Dance,” or the portrayal of aging athletes in two separate episodes of “Poker Face.” The series questions how intense focus and achievement in a specific field can lead to profound loneliness and aimlessness when success is no longer attainable.

The thrill of surfing intensifies the experience significantly: the vast expanse of the sea, its unfathomable depths, and how minuscule the athletes appear on its surface. The series 100 Foot Wave captures the delicate balance between triumph and tragedy with each aerial shot of a surfer navigating through a wave and every splatter of frothy spray on the camera lens. Moreover, the narrative subtly interrogates McNamara’s evolving understanding of his marginalized position in a sport he once ruled. The second season introduces younger surfers who were inspired by McNamara to explore locations such as Nazaré, Portugal, and their stories, sponsorships, and aspirations are traced instead of him. However, when the third season refocuses on McNamara, it avoids portraying him as a hero overcoming his injuries or suggesting he should; rather, it honors his accomplishments while allowing his loved ones to grapple with all they’ve sacrificed and the time he’s spent pursuing the elusive 100-foot wave. Ultimately, McNamara serves as the emotional core of this series without being idolized for that purpose; the heartbreak of a dream shattered is moving regardless of one’s perfection.

He works on his fitness, spends more quality time with his family, and even offers to drive Jet Skis for other surfers. However, the strain of this enforced responsibility gradually mounts, much like the relentless waves he so desires, until it boils over. McNamara becomes excessively enthusiastic about his younger relatives taking up surfing, often pushing them beyond their comfort zone; he treats every surfing trip as if it’s his last, and erupts in anger when he believes friends like Andrew “Cotty” Cotton aren’t navigating the waves as skillfully for him as he does for them.

The man is racing against his own obsolescence, yet time keeps marching on, our bodies keep failing, and there’s always a new face eager to take your place. Even if you’ve never surfed in your life, 100 Foot Wave resonates deeply with McNamara’s fears of becoming insignificant and his family’s fear of losing him, whether physically or mentally.

Even amidst the sadness and doubt, the documentary “100 Foot Wave” manages to highlight reasons for the allure of this extreme sport. It underscores friendships strengthened and the camaraderie among the global surfing community as they traverse the world seeking storms and swells. Some moments are joyful, such as the affectionate Brazilian team doting on Lucas “Chumbo” Chianca’s newborn daughter or amateur surfer Luke Shepardson’s unexpected victory at the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational in Hawaii. Other scenes are more melancholic, like when surfing partners Justine DuPont and Tony Laureano part ways professionally, or when fellow Portuguese surfers pay tribute to the late Brazilian legend Marcio Freire by scattering flowers in the waves of Nazaré in January 2023. The series reaches its wildest point in episode three this season, as McNamara, Cotty, DuPont, Chumbo, and others venture 100 miles off the California coast to Cortes Bank, an extremely isolated location where surfing is especially hazardous due to the lack of nearby land. Bill Sharp, a surfer, editor, and “Cortes Bank pioneer,” describes it as the “most disorienting surf spot on the planet,” and the footage there evokes the part in Interstellar where Matthew McConaughey encounters an alien world that defies our understanding of geography and gravity.

As a devoted film enthusiast, I find myself deeply moved by the portrayal of McNamara in “100 Foot Wave.” It’s undeniable that these surfers are all too aware of the potential fate they share with him, yet they extend an incredible amount of respect and compassion towards him. Despite his occasional bullying behavior or stirring up conflicts, he is, as DuPont puts it when inviting her on the Cortes Bank trip, the guiding light for every surfer – a mentor who lifts up the young ones.

McNamara, like many of us, may succumb to bouts of self-loathing, but each time he emerges, it’s with praise for Cotty’s surfing, encouragement for his brother-in-law CJ Macias to face his PTSD, or a renewed commitment to his younger children. As Nicole puts it, “He just festers. He’s his own worst enemy.” Yet, the film reminds us of the challenge and the significance of loving someone complex like that, especially when they are willing to change too. This season becomes all the more precious and poignant as a result.

the difficulty of letting go of one identity to embrace another.

On a more universal, humanistic note, the concluding shot signifies why McNamara’s journey in “100 Foot Wave” should reach its conclusion, regardless of the fate of the series itself. The show portrays surfing as a delicate harmony between submitting to nature and mastering a wave, a duality that thrives only in balance, and McNamara has been an engaging embodiment of this, someone who diligently prepares, strives, and competes to maintain composure. The most considerate action now would be to continue “100 Foot Wave” without him, enabling him to find that harmony within himself.

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2025-05-30 05:56