Chris Hemsworth’s Surfing Obsession Takes Him from Australia to Abu Dhabi
Before gaining worldwide fame through his role as Thor in Hollywood blockbusters, Chris Hemsworth was a dedicated surfer, growing up in Melbourne, Australia. Alongside his brothers, he spent much of his youth catching waves and immersing himself in surf culture. Despite his rise to stardom, Hemsworth has never strayed far from his surfing roots. Whenever he finds time between acting roles and parenting, he’s often found chasing waves.
“Another epic trip to Abu Dhabi!! Spent 4 days surfing in the dessert eating good food and all
His most recent surf adventure brought him to the Middle East, where he visited the Surf Abu Dhabi wave pool—an artificial surf spot developed by the Kelly Slater Wave Company. The state-of-the-art facility is known for producing the world’s longest man-made wave. From the footage shared, Hemsworth seemed to have mastered the wave, maneuvering through lengthy tubes and skillfully hitting the lip of the wave.
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Hemsworth shared his excitement on social media, writing that he spent four days surfing in the desert, enjoying delicious food, and soaking up the positive energy. This trip is just the latest in a string of surf-related activities that keep him connected to the sport he’s always loved.
Earlier in the year, Hemsworth made headlines during a massive and dangerous swell in Australia over the Easter weekend. Surfing alongside former professional surfers Bede Durbidge and Luke Munro, he was towed into a huge wave by jet ski and got deeply barreled. His performance earned admiration from prominent figures in the surfing community, including a shoutout from big-wave surfer Kai Lenny who praised the ride as “insane.”
Wave pools have become a frequent part of Hemsworth’s surfing lifestyle. He has explored some of the most advanced synthetic surf spots around the globe, and his visit to Abu Dhabi is one more chapter in his ongoing surf journey.
For Hemsworth, surfing is more than a hobby—it’s a lifelong passion. In an earlier interview, he explained how surfing captivated him completely from a young age. It shaped his teenage years, as he often chose wave hunting over parties or social gatherings. He believes surfing helped him stay grounded and out of trouble, calling it a positive obsession that continues to bring him balance and joy even today.