In an exclusive interview, Garrett McNamara and Nicole McNamara pulled back the curtain on their groundbreaking HBO series, “100 Foot Wave,” sharing insights into how they’ve transformed big wave surfing’s global perception.

The series’ evolution has been remarkable. “Season one was mainly 10 years of our own archive footage that we’d shot ourselves,” Garrett explained. “We were more involved initially, but by season three, we’ve learned to ‘release all expectations’ and ‘let it flow.’”

The show’s unexpected universal appeal has been a revelation. “The other day, we were in New York, and the majority of people who stopped us were women, definitely not surfers,” Nicole shared. She highlighted a unique family dynamic: “A grandmother can sit down with her grandson, and they’re both gonna walk away wanting to watch the show again together.”

Nazaré’s transformation has been particularly striking. “When we got there in 2010, there was not one single person the whole winter,” Garrett recalled. “It was known as off-limits. Do not go to North Beach. Lots of bad memories from families losing loved ones.” Now, the landscape has dramatically changed: “72 different countries every day make the walk down to the lighthouse.”

The couple sees the show as more than just entertainment. “Big wave surfing has always had its struggles,” Nicole noted. “It’s the most captivating sport, but for some reason, it never got its time in the public eye.”

Garrett was particularly candid about the sport’s challenges: “There’s a lot of ego in surfing, and for big wave riding especially. The right people haven’t packaged and rolled it out properly. It’s sad that it’s not doing better for up-and-coming surfers.”

Looking forward, Garrett expressed excitement about the sport’s future. “I’m in such a good spot right now. I’m so happy to see everybody else out there, seeing the sport excel, and seeing them do things I would never imagine possible.”

The series has become a labor of love, with Garrett emphasizing, “The show would not be possible without these amazing athletes and the dream team at HBO. I’m just so grateful and thankful for the surfers and the team behind the scenes.”