After two years of traveling, filming, and abundant big wave surfing, the two-time Emmy Award-winning cinematic docu-series, 100 Foot Wave, returns for another season. Highlighting the struggles and achievements of professional big wave surfer Garrett McNamara, the third installment of the years-long project continues the story of riding the biggest and most intense waves on the planet.
McNamara, along with his wife Nicole, is joined by fellow big wave surfers Andrew “Cotty” Cotton, CJ Macias, Justine Dupont, Lucas “Chumbo” Chianca, and others to chase the waves along a breadcrumb trail of breathtaking locations, including Nazaré, Portugal, Cortes Bank in the Pacific Ocean, O’ahu, Hawaii, and Montaldo, Italy.
As the crew traveled worldwide, honest and raw moments were captured through the lenses of the cameras, giving its audience a peek inside the lives and struggles of extreme surfers and what it takes to navigate the most massive waves on earth. As I sat down and chatted with the McNamaras, they expounded on some major themes and experiences.
Nicole McNamara, Garrett McNamara / Photograph by courtesy of HBO
“We honestly didn’t know what it would be, season three. We didn’t think it’d get better than season two, but it turned out phenomenal,” Nicole McNamara shared with AdventureOnSI. “When we watched the first cuts, our minds were blown.”
The documentary began filming in 2019 and was meant to capture McNamara as he sought to be the first to surf a 100-foot wave. He set the world record in 2011 by surfing a wave measured at 78 feet in Nazaré, Portugal. In the latest episodes of the series, McNamara and his crew of fellow big wave surfers return to Nazaré to give the record another go.
The journey, however, didn’t pause everyday life, and the series highlights the very personal waves of triumphs and pitfalls that the surfers struggled with throughout the last filming sequence. Grief is underlined as a legendary member of the surfing community was lost. Márcio Friere, a Brazilian big wave surfer and part of a pioneering group of surfers known as the “Mad Dogs,” suffered a fatal injury while surfing in Nazaré in January 2023.
The second episode of the season, “Undertow,” pays homage to Friere’s impact on not only those closest to him but also on the community as a whole. “I wanted to make sure his life was honored and with a lot of respect,” Garret said. “And it was a ten. That’s my favorite episode in all the seasons, regarding how well they did it.”
“I wasn’t there, so I didn’t see it first-hand,” he continued. “I knew him but not well, just in passing. I respected him as one of the most legendary big-wave paddle surfers ever. So it wasn’t close to home, but it was in the community, and I felt for [them].”
Garrett McNamara, Season 3 – Episode 2 / Photograph by courtesy of HBO
In addition to grief, overcoming inner struggles and human weaknesses is key as viewers watch the McNamaras and other crew members battle with and embrace the human condition. The documentary exposes a new side of Garrett that allows the audience to connect with these remarkable athletes.
“This is a documentary, so it’s real, and these are real experiences,” Nicole remarked. “We have all shown up sometimes with people we love and regretted it, and we have to take responsibility. I think it’s wonderful how he is processing being exposed in that way to the whole world, but using it to better himself instead of spiraling down.”
When asked if these aspects of life are hard to share in a public space, Garrett said, “I’ve accepted that if they capture it, I have to live with it, and if I don’t like it, then I should show up in a much better way next time.”
But the pitfalls make the triumphs that much sweeter and while there are some heavy subject matter in the series, there are also some major success stories as well. Spending time with family, slowing down and expressing gratitude all accentuate the victories in life in the best way.
Garrett McNamara and his son, Titus McNamara / Photograph by courtesy of HBO
The beginning of 100 Foot Wave documents the biggest waves of McNamara’s career, and now it consists of several victorious moments for his crew of friends and family, inspiring people across the globe. “I am just on the moon, watching everybody accomplish their goals and dreams,” the surfer explained.
“From the beginning, the Portuguese people would come up and want to take pictures and say, ‘Thank you for what you did for my country,'” he elaborated. “And now, the series has turned to the world, saying “Thanks for inspiring us to do this.””
He continued, “We do hope that something we’re doing inspires people. And it feels so good to have people smile and say they were inspired by something that we shared, and it’s a love story across the world now.”
The genuine openness that the audience can see in the McNamaras and throughout the entire documentary make it one to remember. The third season of 100 Foot Wave and the previous seasons can be watched on HBO and streamed on Max. Episodes of the latest season are being released weekly on Thursdays at 9:00 ET/PT throughout May.
Women’s Track & Field Rookie of the Week – Lola Gitlin
Lola Gitlin won the 3,000-meter race by more than 12 seconds at Cornell’s Southern Tier Invitational as she clocked a time of 10:37.55. Gitlin’s time is good for 24th nationally.
Women’s Track & Field – Field Performer of the Week – Lily Seyfert
Lily Seyfert placed third in the shot put at the Cornell Southern Tier Invitational with a mark of 12.72 meters, which is just shy of her top mark of 12.78 this season (17th in Division III). Seyfert also finished third in the weight throw at 16.20 meters and ranks eighth in the country after that performance.
Men’s Track & Field Rookie of the Week – Raphael Campanile
Raphael Campanile placed fifth in the pole vault with a mark of 4.50 meters at the Cornell Southern Tier Invitational on Saturday and currently ranks 25th in Division III with that performance.
HONOR ROLL
Matthew Zenker totaled 44 points on 18-of-31 shooting, to go along with nine rebounds and three steals in a 1-1 week for Ithaca. Zenker netted 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting in a 101-72 win over RIT and followed up with 24 points and eight rebounds as he shot 10-of-15 from the floor in a loss to Union.
Junior forward McNamara delivered a pair of strong performances despite setbacks against RIT and Union. Against the Tigers, she was flawless from the floor, going 3-for-3 while adding seven rebounds and two blocks. She carried that momentum into the Union matchup, coming just shy of her first career double-double with nine points and eight boards.
Shenandoah University men’s volleyball freshman Simon Bellenbaum was named the ODAC’s Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.
The York, Pennsylvania, native accumulated six solo blocks and eight digs in SU’s two matches against Randolph and Regent, with three blocks in each game and five digs versus the Royals.
Boys’ basketball: Sherando 48, Strasburg 44
STEPHENS CITY — Sherando defeated Strasburg for its fourth straight win on Monday. The Warriors are 9-4.
Girls’ basketball: Strasburg 39, Sherando 29
STRASBURG — Strasburg completed a season sweep with a win over Sherando on Monday.
The Warriors (3-11) trailed 18-7 after one quarter, 23-10 at the half and 29-22 after three quarters.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Two Keene State College student-athletes honored by the Little East Conference for their achievements accomplished for the week of January 5-11.
Men’s Swimming and Diving
Freshman diver Keegan Johnson (Durham, N.H.) was named the LEC Diver of the Week and the Rookie Diver of the Week from his dives across the Owls’ final two home meets this season over the past weekend. Against Eastern Connecticut State University, Johnson placed first in the 1M diving with a score of 129.75 on Friday afternoon, and on Saturday morning against Norwich University, he placed first in the 1M diving with a score of 141.38 and first in the 3M diving with a score of 170.31.
Johnson and the Owls return to action for a double-dual meet against Brandeis University and Bridgewater State University on Saturday, January 17 at 12:00 PM.
Men’s Indoor Track and Field
Senior Eden Damis (Nashua, N.H.) was named the LEC Field Athlete of the Week from his performance at the Middlebury Snowflake Invitational on Saturday for the Owls. In the long jump, Damis posted a mark of 14.00 in the triple just for a new personal record in his final attempt of the day. His mark became the 21st best mark in NCAA Division III on the season, just one position for qualifying for nationals later this season.
Damis and the Owls return to action at the Panther Invitational I at Plymouth State University on Saturday, January 17, at 10:00 AM.
PITMAN — The New Jersey Athletic Conference announced its women’s indoor track & field weekly honors for the week ending Jan. 11
TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
LUCIA GARCIA-BELTRAN • The College of New Jersey
Senior • Hopewell, NJ/Hopewell Valley Central
Garcia-Beltran earned NJAC Track Athlete of the Week honors after setting a new program record in the 60 meters at the Lions Indoor Invitational. The senior sprinter and Rutgers transfer clocked a time of 7.63 seconds, which ranks fifth in NCAA Division III.
FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
SARAH SCEPKOWSKI • The College of New Jersey
Senior • Garwood, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson
Scepkowski claimed NJAC Field Athlete of the Week recognition after clearing 1.60 meters in the high jump at the Lions Indoor Invitational. The senior’s mark ranks 20th in NCAA Division III and stands as one of the top performances in the conference this season.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
AMELIA VITALE • Farmingdale State College
Freshman • Hauppauge, NY/Hauppauge
Vitale was named NJAC Rookie of the Week after posting a time of 2:30.87 in the 800 meters at the Spartan Invitational. The freshman’s performance represents the top mark in the event thus far in the NJAC this season and establishes her as the conference’s early leader in the middle-distance event.
PITMAN — The New Jersey Athletic Conference announced its men’s indoor track & field weekly honors for the week ending Jan. 11.
TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
MAXIM RYCHKOV • The College of New Jersey
Sophomore • Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville
Rychkov earned NJAC Track Athlete of the Week honors after setting a new program record in the 400 meters at the Lions Indoor Invitational. The sophomore clocked a time of 47.95 seconds, which ranks sixth in Division III. Rychkov’s record-breaking performance also leads both the NJAC and NCAA Metro Region in the event.
FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
BRADEN PAULMENN • The College of New Jersey
Sophomore • Monmouth Junction, NJ/South Brunswick
Paulmenn claimed NJAC Field Athlete of the Week recognition after a strong showing in two throwing events at the Lions Indoor Invitational. The sophomore recorded a mark of 15.38 meters in the shot put (third place) and 13.98 meters in the weight throw (fourth place). His weight throw mark ranks third in the NJAC and 10th in the Metro Region. Paulmenn also owns the second-best shot put mark in the NJAC and NCAA Metro Region and is 26th in Division III.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
VICTOR AKINBOBOYE • The College of New Jersey
Freshman • Jackson, NJ/Jackson Liberty
Akinboboye was named NJAC Rookie of the Week after clocking a time of 35.54 seconds in the 300 meters at the Lions Indoor Invitational. The freshman’s performance ranks 18th in Division III and establishes him as one of the top first-year sprinters in the conference.
Oldani had a match-high and career-high 10 digs in BYU’s season opener Friday night in Provo. He added another three digs on Saturday. Oldani also had five blocks over the two matches, as the Cougars started the season 2-0 for the fourth consecutive season.
Oldani is one of three transfers from Grand Canyon on this season’s BYU squad. He was a key contributor as a freshman last season for the Antelopes and has picked up where he left off with the Cougars.
Oldani and the No. 8 Cougars won in back-to-back sweeps last weekend over Saint Francis and have two more home matches this Friday and Saturday, as No. 10 UC San Diego visits the Smith Fieldhouse.
