Chasing Waves
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Chasing Waves
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Chasing Waves is a docuseries centered on the hard work and perseverance it takes to be a professional surfer. Surfers tell stories of sacrificing a lot to realize their dreams of excellence. The series also explores the history of surfing in Japan, and gives some insight into Japanese and Hawaiian culture in general and specifically their surf culture. It also includes a look at an alternative surfing lifestyle that doesn't include competing and focuses instead on being a surfing influencer to make money.
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What's the Story?
CHASING WAVES is the story of the two men and two women that make up the first ever Olympic surfing team for Japan, as well as a Japanese surfer who has opted to forgo competing for the alternative surfing lifestyle of traveling and surfing while living in a camper van he built himself.
Is It Any Good?
This is a visually stunning and emotionally powerful docu-series that delves into the world of surf culture. Chasing Waves follows the inspiring stories of up-and-coming surfers in Japan, Hawaii, and California striving to make the first Japanese Olympic surfing team. A study in contrasts, the series presents a fascinating look at the different ways to live, work, and breathe surfing. The lens zooms in on the grueling amount of preparation involved in competition at the highest level, alongside the romance of a nomadic existence in search of the perfect wave, and the value in both.
Also interwoven into the narrative are stories of first and second generation immigrants and themes exploring assimilation, bullying, and media pressure. Overall, Chasing Waves is a must-watch for surf enthusiasts, as well as for anyone interested in the human stories behind the sport.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the show explores the themes of representation and choice, How do the surfer's decisions on which country to represent, align or challenge your values and beliefs? How would you make the same decision if you were in their shoes?
Talk about the amount of media pressure faced by the surfers, especially what's shown for the surfers who live in Japan. What does the female surfer who doesn't make the team say about how it made her feel? Do you think the media allowed her to convey her real emotions? Why not?
Some of the surfers choose to pursue their love of the sport by competing professionally and others by posting their adventures on social media. Which route seems more attractive? Does making money doing the thing you love change your enjoyment of it?
TV Details
- Premiere date: January 11, 2023
- Cast: Mahina Maeda, Kanoa Igarashi
- Network: Disney+
- Genre: Reality TV
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts
- Character Strengths: Compassion, Courage, Perseverance
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: January 19, 2023
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