This New Year, the world of surfing is brought to homes around the world with a brand new documentary series called “Chasing Waves”, which will be released exclusively on Disney+.


What Is “Chasing Waves” About?

In the wake of surfing’s debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, “Chasing Waves” shines a spotlight on the people and places that are defining Japan’s reach in the global surf culture and examines the diverse regions, unique characters, and endless surf along the over 18,000 miles of coastline that makes Japan one of a kind.

The character-driven documentary series, shot with state-of-the-art 4K cameras and stunning 16mm archival film, follows athletes from various cultural backgrounds as they pursue their dreams and paints a captivating picture of Japanese life and showcases what it takes to succeed in the international surf industry.


Who Stars In “Chasing Waves”

The docu-series features extraordinary pro surfers Mahina Maeda, Yuma Takanuki, Sara Kohrogi, 2021 Olympic Silver Medallist Kanoa Igarashi and Australian-Japanese surfer Connor O’Leary.


Who Created “Chasing Waves”

“Chasing Waves” is produced by Boardwalk Pictures and Station 10 Media, with Jason Baffa (Singlefin: Yellow, One California Day, Bella Vita and Loopers: The Caddie’s Long) serving as Director. Christopher G. Cowen (Cheer, Last Chance U, Decades Series, State of Play) and Andrew Fried (Cheer, Chef’s Table, Val) serve as Executive Producers.


How To Watch “Chasing Waves”

The brand-new documentary series from Disney will be released exclusively on Disney+ around the world. So it won’t be available on other streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video or HBO Max.

Disney+ is the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic, along with The Simpsons and much more. In select international markets, it also includes the general entertainment content brand, Star.

Disney+ is currently available in more than 150 markets across North America, Europe, Asia/Pacific, Africa, and Latin America.

To watch Disney+, you’ll need to download the app on a supported device such as a Smart TV, Mobile Phone, Playstation, Xbox or on a dedicated streaming device like a Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV, or Sky Q.

You can sign up on DisneyPlus.com from a web browser on your desktop or mobile device, or by downloading the Disney+ app.


How Many Episodes Are In “Chasing Waves”?

There will be eight episodes of “Chasing Waves”, with the first episode being released on Disney+ on Wednesday, 11th January 2023

Here are the details on each episode in this series:

Episode 1: Chasing The Dream
In the wake of surfing’s Olympic debut in Tokyo, CHASING WAVES shines a spotlight on the people and places that are defining Japan’s reach in the global surf culture.

Episode 2: Weight of a Nation
The weight of a nation rests on Team Japan as the athletes prepare for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. Mahina Maeda and Kanoa Igarashi reflect on their multicultural identities.

Episode 3: Rising Tide
In the wake of surfing’s Olympic debut in Japan, we learn there are two types of surfers, those who compete, and those who are “free”.

Episode 4: Legacy
Family legacy is explored as surfers Sara Kohrogi and Connor O’Leary connect with their Japanese roots.

Episode 5: Power of the Ocean
The raw power of the ocean is revealed as Mahina Maeda learns to surf big waves and Yuma Takanuki explores the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and a tsunami’s devastating impact on the surf community in Fukushima.

Episode 6: Ebb and Flow
As the surfers deal with loss and setbacks, some question their pursuit of competitive surfing.

Episode 7: Undercurrents
Connor O’Leary fights for a comeback on the WSL Challenger Series, facing off against Olympic silver medalist Kanoa Igarashi in France.

Episode 8: Sea of Change
As surfing becomes a permanent Olympic sport, the athletes look to the future. Mahina Maeda and Sara Kohrogi return to Japan to learn about a rite of passage they missed while growing up in America.


When Will New “Chasing Waves” Episodes Be Released On Disney+?

Disney will be releasing the entire “Chasing Waves” documentary series all at once on Wednesday, 11th January 2023, in a binge drop, rather than releasing episodes weekly.

Note: This is subject to change


What Time Will New Episodes Of “Chasing Waves” Be Released On Disney+

Disney+ updates on Wednesdays at the following times:

  • Pacific Time: 00:00 AM / Midnight
  • Eastern Time: 03:00 AM
  • UK: 08:00 AM
  • Sydney, Australia – 19:00 PM

Sometimes episodes can arrive a few minutes later as the servers update. The Disney+ front page usually updates about an hour later.


Can You Stream “Chasing Waves” For Free?

You will need a Disney+ subscription to watch “Chasing Waves”, and unfortunately, Disney+ doesn’t offer a free trial.  But if you do sign up for a monthly subscription, you can unsubscribe after a month, or when the series ends.


Is “Chasing Waves” on Netflix?

This “Chasing Waves” is made by Boardwalk Pictures and Station 10 Media, exclusively for Disney+, so it will not be available on Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon or Hulu.


Are you looking forward to watching “Chasing Waves”?

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Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

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