05 Mar, 2010

Ultimate Wave Tahiti follows nine-time world champion surfer Kelly Slater (you may recall his littler known role as Jimmy on Baywatch), and Tahitian local Raimana Van Bastolaer, who passed up his chance at championship titles for a quieter family life on the island.

It’s the first 3D surf film ever made, likely because it’s technically very difficult – filming gigantic tubes over a dangerously shallow reef puts the crew’s lives directly in harm’s way – not to mention millions of dollars worth of camera equipment.

Thankfully, director Stephen Low and his team pull it off with seeming ease. The opening shot of this 45-minute documentary has the audience gliding over Tahiti’s famed Teahupo’o – one of the world’s most prized surf spots.

The film plays like an island holiday video fused with a diagrammatic lesson covering plate tectonics, island formation and the science of waves. There’s also a strong conservation message throughout, which warns of the potentially devastating loss of marine diversity.

Visually, this film is a jaw dropper, made even more awe-inspiring thanks to Tahiti’s captivating beauty, plus the huge screen and 3D aspect. At times, you’ll find yourself jolting in your seat or squinting your eyes to avoid the splash of a wave. (The grown man sitting beside me couldn’t help but reach out in vain to grasp the colourful marine life as it weaved across the giant screen.)

Why it's worth your time

For those interested in surfing as a hobby, this film reveals just what it’s like for those who quite literally “live to surf” – men who surf in their dreams as well as every morning, and who only ever refrain from the ocean when injury and a stern doctor enforce it. The film, endorsed by Tahiti Tourism, is such a great ad for this sleepy island, where booty shaking, campfires and surf are a Tahitian’s greatest joys.


Ultimate Wave Tahiti 3D is out now. Visit imax.com.au for session times.