Stab Magazine | A Film About Laird Hamilton Goes To Sundance!
522 Views

A Film About Laird Hamilton Goes To Sundance!

Visualising, and humanising, a living God.

news // Jan 19, 2017
Words by stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

It’s hard to reckon where we would be without Laird Hamilton. Imagine, a world devoid of the millennium wave at Chopes, hydrofoils and the Golfboard… A nightmare scenario, no doubt. Thankfully, this is not the case, and Laird continuously blesses us with his miracles. 

And for his next act, he will take to the silver screen in an in-depth portrait of the hard-charging explorer of fear, courage and ambition that he his. Peddling the cost of greatness and taking advantage of every opportunity narrative, the film is aptly titled Take Every Wave: The Life Of Laird Hamilton.

Interestingly, Laird has been silent about specific details (there’s not even a trailer on the web) on the film, but is it known that he has employed renowned Hollywood documentary director, Rory Kennedy, to help him shoot it. Kennedy – the youngest child of the late U.S. Senator Bobby Kennedy – previously produced profound films such as Last Days in Vietnam, and Ghosts of Abu Ghraib. She hopes that people not just from the surfing world will start a conversation after watching it.

“Laird’s story is relatable across the board, and that’s what drove him to be who he is, his personal story, goes well beyond any surf film,” Rory told Park Record news. “Although his high-school quarterback good looks might make you think otherwise, Laird has a toughness born of the bullying that comes with being a white kid growing up and going and going to school in Hawaii.”

Although the film is clearly focused on Laird’s personal journey, his pro-volleyball player wife, Gabby Reece, and their children, will play large roles. Laird, despite being an invincible, chiseled, water god, still has complex emotions born from his insatiable appetite for the ocean, and sometimes needs all the help he can get. 

It was just awarded a slot at the illustrious Sundance Film Festival, which kicks off Jan 21 in Park City, Utah.

Will you watch? How will you not!

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

A New Rule For The 2026 CT Season Puts Carissa, Steph, + John John At An Immediate Disadvantage

The revamped CT format is gloriously cutthroat.

Nov 25, 2025

From The Indies Trader To Vela: How Boats Are Debunking Surfing’s “Crowded World” Narrative

Torren Martyn + the man who named Cloud 9 discuss the laziness of surf tourism…

Nov 23, 2025

“It’s A Gene Pool Of Cool, But It Comes With Every Bag Of Shit That Goes With It”

There’s a new Fletcher documentary you’ll probably want to watch.

Nov 23, 2025

Ikea Is Not A Surf Brand

Is surfing facing a ChatGPT epidemic?

Nov 21, 2025

EAST With Mikey February, Episode Three

Task: Find bluewater barrels in the USA... in summertime.

Nov 21, 2025

Did You Actually Think Gabby Medina Would Sit Out 2026?

The comeback tour just keeps getting bigger.

Nov 20, 2025

Yet Another World Champ Announces His Return To The 2026 World Tour

JJF is back. 

Nov 19, 2025

Steph Gilmore To Join Carissa Moore On 2026 Tour

13 World Titles rejoined the CT WhatsApp thread this past week. How will they fare?

Nov 18, 2025

A Brief History Of The Aerial ft. Bruce Irons, Christian & Nate Fletcher And More

Dylan Graves unearths the facts, the firsts, and the controversial debates shaping surfing's above the…

Nov 18, 2025

Who Has The Right To ‘Protect’ A Hidden Wave?

In surfing's new-age colonialism, everybody's right and everybody's wrong.

Nov 16, 2025

Watch Snapt 5: The Final Cut

After twenty-two years, this is Logan Dulien's biggest mic drop yet. Probably.

Nov 13, 2025

Guess Who’s Back

New mom Carissa Moore to make her Championship Tour return in 2026.

Nov 13, 2025

Where Is Our Mind?

Why we just filmed another 'Stab in the Dark'... before releasing Kelly.

Nov 12, 2025

The Greatest British Surf Conspiracy Of Our Time

Multiple bankruptcies, Russian oligarchs, environmental fugitives and a... wavepool?

Nov 9, 2025

Unlocked: Shark-Eyed Prince João Mendonça In ‘Same Same’

You won’t hear much from the young Portuguese surfer's mouth, but his SEOTY entry says…

Nov 9, 2025

“I’ve Been In Pain My Whole Life. If I’m Going To Get Hurt Surfing, So Be It.” 

Jade Morgan recounts his latest spinal injury + the art of living with a body…

Nov 9, 2025

Inside The Illegal, DIY Operation To Bring Munich’s River Wave Back

Local surfers know exactly how to fix the Eisbach, but they risk a 50k fine.

Nov 8, 2025

“Not Only Did He Beat That Frickin’ Temper-Tantrum-Throwing Goober, Thank God, But He Did It On A Board He Crafted Himself”

Joel Tudor celebrates the maiden Longboard World Title of Kai Ellice Flint.

Nov 7, 2025
Advertisement