On The Wave

On The Wave is a documentary that follows the life of Sebastian Steudtner, a German athlete who became a world record holder in big wave surfing. Born in landlocked Nuremberg, Steudtner left school at sixteen to pursue the ocean. The film explores his journey from windsurfing in Hawaii to navigating the dangerous waters of Ireland and Portugal. Despite initial rejection from the surfing community and a lack of financial backing, he persisted in his efforts, eventually surfing a record-breaking wave in Nazaré and helping shift the sport's focus toward Europe.

The film was produced by Broadview Pictures and Broadview TV and directed by Peter Wolf and Axel Gerdau. It features appearances by Sebastian Steudtner, Laird Hamilton, Matt Warshaw, and Maya Gabeira. With a runtime of 122 minutes, the documentary was released on March 5, 2026.