Andrew Cotton wasn't the star of the HBO Max documentary 100 Foot Wave, but he was by far its most compelling character. His journey from professional plumber to professional surfer riding some of the biggest waves in the world appears to have been met with characteristic awe and gratitude for the opportunities presented by both the people around him and the natural force and power of the ocean.
- Ian Levy
Creative Editorial Director
What emotion defined this fandom this year?
Heartbreak and longing are key background emotions throughout 100 Foot Wave, as relationships and bodies fracture around the pursuit of the biggest wave ever surfed. But no moment captured that heartbreak, and the random, chaotic nature of big wave surfing, more than Cotton's performance at the 2020 Nazare Big Wave Challenge in the penultimate episode of the docuseries. He catches what may have been a World Record wave, but literally no photographic or video evidence exists of his ride because everyone's attention was trained on the simultaneous, dramatic rescue of a drowning competitor on a different part of the beach.
Why you should join this fandom
You may not be a fan of surfing, but Andrew Cotton is the perfect avatar for a cherished sports hero template: The athlete who came from nothing, who succeeded based on an unquenchable passion for their sport. The kind of athlete, as the documentary shows, who would devote themself to their sport even if they never made a cent from it and no one ever watched them or knew their name. But Cotton is going to have his moment of fame and fortune at some point, and you'll want to be there when he does.