
2025 • Documentary
This film is no longer available.
About the film
Breaking Waves tells the story of Kelda Wood, a British adaptive adventurer who doesn’t take no for an answer. She was a world class equestrian, Olympics-bound, when she experienced a life-changing accident after a giant hay bale fell on her head, the shock shattering her ankle. But rather than giving up, she began embodying the attitude of saying ‘How Can I?’ instead of ‘I Can’t.’ She became the first female para-athlete to summit Mt Aconcagua, trained with the GB para-canoe squad in the 2016 Paralympics in Rio, and holds the World Record as the first para-athlete to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She is now the leader of the UK-based charity Climbing Out, which takes people who have experienced a life-changing diagnosis, injury or trauma on outdoor wilderness treks to help rebuild their self-confidence. Despite her incredible achievements, Kelda’s story is a relatable one of resilience and empowerment that everyone can take inspiration from and incorporate into our own lives.
Director
Alice Rosso
Producer
Sienna Beckman
Executive Producer
Kelda Wood, Keith Partridge, Sally Rayn, Blake Denischuk, Kathy Clark, Bradley Rosenberg
Awards & recognition
Kendal Mountain Film Festival
Official Selection
Vancouver International Film Festival
Official Selection
Beloit International Film Festival
Official Selection
Frontier Sapiens Film Festival
Honorable Mention
ReelAbilities Film Festival
Finalist
Poulsbo Film Festival
Official Selection
Bainbridge Island Film Festival
Official Selection
What people are saying
‘"she decided to see it as a challenge and ... became the first solo adaptive rower to cross the Atlantic"‘
Carl Jones
‘Through a mix of intimate yet amusing and uplifting interviews, personal and commercial archive footage, and cinematic b-rolls, the film sensitively explores Kelda's monumental journey through a life which has thrown more than her fair share of misfortune her way. The unbelievable highs, devastating lows, and her real and very raw emotions behind every decision in between, are all laid bare.‘
My Shrewsbury
‘"From the lows of a life-changing injury to the highs of completing a solo row across the Atlantic, and the raw emotions of every decision in between, [Kelda] shows her determination to never quit."‘
Dominic Robertson