The new short film Creatures of Habit dives deep into the raw, bone-numbing world of cold-water surfing. Filmed across remote waterscapes in Canada and Iceland, the film showcases the desire to face the elemental. It’s about confronting uncertainty and embracing the discomfort that defines some of the world’s inhospitable but massively rewarding surf zones.
The film brings together a seasoned crew of wave enthusiasts, including Pete Devries, Reed Platenius, Cam Richards, Mathea Olin, Sanoa Olin, Andrew Jacobson, Ryan Huckabee and Dimitri Polous—each with their own connection to frigid surf and wild coastlines. Their journeys reflect a deeper relationship with the ocean, forged through resilience and an unshakeable drive to explore the outer edges of the possible.
From Vancouver Island to Iceland, via Nova Scotia
Shot largely on Vancouver Island, Creatures of Habit also touches down in Iceland and Nova Scotia, chasing waves where few are willing to go. Director Nate Laverty led the charge behind the camera, working with cinematographers Kyle Buthman and Justin Taylor Smith to capture the visceral feel of these remote breaks. The film blends Red camera footage with textured 16mm film, adding grit and grain to the already stark visuals. Marcus Paladino, a veteran of cold-water surf photography and a longtime ML contributor, handled stills and additional on-water cinematography.
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Behind the Lens
Laverty, a Vancouver Island filmmaker rooted in the Tofino surf scene, brings over seven years of storytelling experience from Canada’s West Coast. Originally a snowboard filmer, he’s long been drawn to action sports and has a particular affinity for icy environments. Buthman is a Santa Cruz-based surfer and cinematographer with credits in surf films including DNA and Zipper. Taylor Smith is a documentary filmmaker whose recent project Omoiyari was picked up by Paramount+ and earned an Emmy nomination.
The Surfers
The lineup in Creatures of Habit is as dynamic as the conditions they surf. Pete Devries, born and raised in Tofino, is widely seen as Canada’s most accomplished surfer—pioneering high-performance surfing in 5mm wetsuits. Fellow Tofino locals Sanoa Olin and her sister Mathea Olin bring their own legacy: Sanoa as Canada’s first Olympic surfer, and Mathea as the country’s first international medalist in both shortboard and longboard events.
Reed Platenius, also from Tofino, was the 2023 Junior North American QS champ. From the East Coast, Cam Richards of South Carolina is known for his free-surfing prowess, while Florida’s Ryan Huckabee brings raw power to heavy slabs and aerial sections. Andrew Jacobson splits his time between teaching Hollywood’s elite and chasing clean lines along the California coast. Rounding out the cast is Ventura’s Dimitri Polous, a rising star on the Challenger Series known for his smooth, technical style.
A Different Kind of Surf Film
Creatures of Habit isn’t about picture-perfect tropical barrels—it’s a story of the pursuit of meaning in places that test you. For these surfers, the cold is not a deterrent. It’s a vocation.
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