Need a vicarious adventure or a little inspo? We’ve got you covered. Photo: Screenshot/Vimeo
We know. Recreating outside is what you live for – we understand because it’s what we live for, too. But come evening when the sun goes down and the muscles ache from a day of playing hard, sometimes a vicarious adventure is in order and there’s perhaps no greater modern resource than Netflix. The problem is, Netflix is a revolving door of films and TV shows, so precisely what’s on offer can be a moving target. So, without further ado, we present to you a quick list of 10 films currently streaming on Netflix for the surfer and outdoor enthusiast in all of us. We’ll be sure to update this as Netflix’s catalog continues to change.
Under an Arctic Sky
Acclaimed photographer and cinematographer Chris Burkard and a cast of surfers head to Iceland during a major winter storm to find waves in some of the country’s least explored fjords. Beware of the vicarious ice cream headache.
The Dawn Wall
This landmark film documenting Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson’s ascent of El Capitan’s Dawn Wall is nothing short of incredible. It dives deep into Caldwell’s personal life in an effort to explain what motivates the man to take climbing to new heights.
Fishpeople
Directed by Keith Malloy and featuring a cast of ocean enthusiasts like Dave Rastovich, Kimi Werner, and Matahi Drollet who’ve dedicated their lives to the sea, Fishpeople is a must-watch.
Mountain
Mountain is nothing short of a visual poem – but if you’re expecting a linear storyline or narrative, look elsewhere. On the other hand, if a film scored by the Australian Chamber Orchestra and narrated by Willem Dafoe sounds intriguing, well, you’re in for a treat.
Kim Swims
Kim Chambers may, in fact, be crazy. This film profiles her effort to become the first woman to swim the 30-mile stretch between the Farallon Islands and the Golden Gate Bridge – an area known for being home to the world’s largest great white sharks.
Resurface
This powerful documentary is all about how surfing is giving veterans suffering from PTSD a new lease on life. Get the tissues ready.
Icarus
When filmmaker Bryan Fogel set out to uncover the effects of doping in sports, he had no idea he’d uncover the single largest state-orchestrated doping scandal in history. In 2017, Icarus won an Academy Award for best documentary feature.
Expedition Happiness
By now, the #vanlife trend has reached peak levels. But, Expedition Happiness is a little different – Felix Starck, his girlfriend Mogli, and their dog Rudy travel across North America, from Mexico to Alaska, in a refurbished school bus in this beautifully intimate adventure film.
Mission Blue
All hail Dr. Sylvia Earle. The famed marine biologist and first female chief scientist of NOAA doesn’t have any qualms in explaining that the current situation with our oceans is dire. This film tells her story and documents her efforts to spread that message around the world.
Chasing Coral
You’ve likely seen countless headlines about the dire straits in which coral reefs around the globe currently find themselves. Still, it’s a hard reality to internalize without seeing it firsthand, or at least in film. Chasing Coral is all about the reefs that are dying and the scientists who are trying to stop that from happening.
