As Episode 1 of "Surf Girls Hawai'i" (2023 release; 4 episodes ranging from 43 to 47 minutes each) opens, we are introduced to a group of Hawaiian young ladies ranging in age from 17 to 26, all trying to land a spot in the highest level of professional surfing. The odds are stacked against them... At this point we are 10 minutes into Episode 1.
Couple of comments: this is the latest from Executive Producer Reese Witherspoon's production company. Here they get unfettered access to these women's efforts to make it to the top level of surfing. Episode 1 is set entirely in Hawai'i. To give you an idea: the top price of that surfing competition was $2,500. Equally if not more important apparently is the quest to land a major sponsor like Billabong, Vans, Volcom, etc. The photography is eye candy from start to finish. We also get a generous look at each of these ladies' local background and upbringing. Episode 2 is set at a competition event in Jacksonville, FL, just as that region had to deal with Hurricane Nicole (in November of 2022). PLEASE NOTE: after watching all 4 episodes, I did some research into this documentary mini-series and that is when I stumbled upon a scathing review by a woman in the surfing community. She bemoaned that this 2023 mini-series was nowhere near as good as the original 2022 mini-series starring mostly the same ladies called "Surfer Girls Kaikaina", which the reviewer felt was truly authentic, whereas the 2023 mini-series was not at all. To be clear: I have not seen the original 2022 mini-series, and my review goes strictly by what I watched in these 4 episodes, and I enjoyed this mini-series, nothing more, nothing less.
"Surfer Girls Hawai'i" started streaming on Amazon Prime just this Labor Day weekend. I binge-watched all 4 episodes in a single setting. If you have any interest, be it professional or just casual (like I do), in surfing, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your won conclusion.
