Crashing Waves and Crashing Dreams: Riding Giants

Alright, folks, let’s talk about Riding Giants. Directed by Stacy Peralta, this docu-flick rocks the boat and takes us deep into the world of big wave surfing. It’s like grabbing a fika and listening to an old friend tell you the craziest stories about their life. The film’s all about the thrills and spills of surfing – and that’s putting it mildly.

We get to meet some real legends like Greg Noll, Jeff Clark, and Laird Hamilton. I mean, these guys are the rockstars of the ocean! It’s like if Ingmar Bergman decided, “Forget the gloomy Swedish landscapes, let’s head to the beach.” And speaking of direction, Peralta really has a knack for capturing both history and that raw adrenaline punch. You can feel the salty air and the sting of the spray. The waves are ALIVE!

Now, I’m not a surfer—far from it. Closest I got to the ocean was taking a dip in the Baltic Sea and nearly freezing my buns off. But there was this one time in Båstad, midsummer night, during a storm. You could hear the waves crashing louder than the midsommar music, and I thought of those surfers. It’s almost poetic. But also slightly terrifying.

And here’s the thing, it felt a bit long, maybe like I had too much kladdkaka, you know? Exciting at first, and then, whoa, I need a break. But then, just when you’re questioning your life choices, Laird Hamilton’s monster wave hits, and you’re all in again.

So grab your kanelbulle, settle in, and imagine the rush of being on top of those giant waves—I think you’ll like where this ride takes you.

Check the trailer below