10/23/2025
Happy to share a project that we've been working on in the background for a few years.
Director | Casey Nava
Executive Producer | Jeff Lyons
Editor | Nick Vigue
Blackpoint Surfshop
Ocean Pursuits
A Short Documentary on Resilience, Community, and the Cold Edge of Surfing in Maine
Ocean Pursuits is a 12-minute short documentary produced by Navadise Media that captures the raw beauty and quiet intensity of winter surfing along Maine’s rugged coast. Far from the tropical imagery usually associated with surfing, this film explores a version of the sport defined by icy waters, storm-chasing, and an unshakable sense of camaraderie.
At its heart is Stephen Wells, a local film photographer and cancer survivor whose story embodies perseverance and creative spirit. Through his lens, we see how surfing in Maine’s harshest months becomes more than recreation- it’s an act of endurance, art, and connection.
Shot against gray skies, snow-covered beaches, and the Atlantic’s unforgiving swell, Ocean Pursuits blends cinematic documentary visuals with intimate storytelling, highlighting both the physical and emotional resilience of those drawn to the sea year-round. The film also showcases the tight-knit surf crews that brave these conditions together, united by the rhythm of tides and the pull of community.
With a tone that’s both meditative and visually striking, Ocean Pursuits offers a glimpse into a world where passion overrides comfort, and the ocean becomes a place of healing, identity, and belonging.
View the full length version atwww.NavadiseMedia.com/oceanpursuits
