Nazaré is the most intense and unpredictable surfing arena on earth. Undercurrents follows 16-year-old Brit Imari Hearn as she joins forces with big wave charger Laura Crane to face down the Portuguese behemoth for the very first time.
More than just a surfing spectacle, it’s an intimate exploration of mentorship, resilience, and the bond forged between two women taking on a formidable lineup and a male-dominated industry together.
Imari Hearn only began surfing three years ago, picking up the pastime on the sunny shores of Bali, where she’s lived her whole life. Since then, her rise has been meteoric – becoming the first British woman to win a Pro Junior event, earning an invitation to the prestigious Padang Cup and securing a sponsorship with O’Neill.
Originally hailing from North Devon, O’Neill teammate Laura Crane has emerged in recent years as one of the world’s most accomplished big wave women. When, in 2024, Imari approached her at an event and declared her ambition to surf Nazaré, it ignited a passion in Laura to begin opening doors that were never opened for her.
In Undercurrents, their journey together begins honing skills and trading tips in the tropical barrels of the Mentawai Islands. Then, as Atlantic storms loom, they head to Portugal, where the training starts in earnest. While Imari seeks to find her feet behind the jetski, Laura learns the challenges of pitching ice baths and infrared meditation to a sarcastic teenager. But beneath their playful dynamic is a single-minded focus on the challenge ahead. And when the right forecast finally arrives, there’s nothing left to do but get Imari out there and find out if she’s really got what it takes.
