Film Summary
Death Diving with Asbjørg is an athlete-driven documentary chronicling the global rise of Døds (death diving) through the eyes of 3x World Champion Asbjørg Nesje. Asbjørg fights to defend her title while battling injuries and mounting expectations.
Beyond competition, she attempts a historic 102-foot (33m) waterfall dive, pushing the limits to claim a new world record.
Parallel to her journey, close friend and filmmaker Cheyenne Arrington embarks on a mission of her own, to document Asbjørgs life and the rise of døds. Cheyenne navigates the physical and internal challenges of filming in high-risk environments to share Asbjørgs story with the world.
Together, the film captures two friends pursuing their individual passions to bring their dreams to life.
Meet the Team
Featuring Asbjørg Nesje
Produced by Cheyenne Arrington
Produced by Cheyenne Arrington
Asbjørg is a public figure and Døds/Death Diver from Trondheim, Norway. She is a 4x World Champion and has taken first place in a mixed-class World Tour Stop. She holds the women's world record for the highest Døds at 102ft/31 meters. She has 1.2 million followers on YouTube and 367k on Instagram.
Produced by Cheyenne Arrington
Produced by Cheyenne Arrington
Produced by Cheyenne Arrington
Cheyenne is a filmmaker, cliff jumper, and 3x Ninja Warrior from Paradise, California. She works with athletes and brands worldwide to tell stories of courage and connection. As the filmmaker and creative lead, she directed, filmed, and edited the documentary from concept through completion.
Co-Produced by Justin Steele
Special Appearance Ken Stornes
Co-Produced by Justin Steele
Justin Steele is an audio engineer specializing in mixing and music supervising.
He worked on the film by assisting with sound design, storyboarding, and the overall pacing of the film, aiding Cheyenne in the creative process. Together, they made the post-production team.
Døds Diving League
Special Appearance Ken Stornes
Co-Produced by Justin Steele
This film was made in association with the Døds Diving League, the world’s leading competitive organization for Døds (Death Diving). Through their support, the film features archival footage, founder interviews, and an inside look at how this uniquely Norwegian sport became a global phenomenon.
Special Appearance Ken Stornes
Special Appearance Ken Stornes
Special Appearance Ken Stornes
Ken Stornes is a Norwegian death diver and one of the most recognizable figures in the sport. He holds multiple death diving records and was the first to døds above 40 meters, taking the record at 133 feet. With almost one million Instagram followers, his viral videos have played a significant role in bringing international attention to Døds.
The Rise of Døds Diving
Døds (Death Diving) originated in Norway in the 1970s and combines acrobatic flips and tricks with a distinctive belly-flop position before tucking for impact. Once a niche Norwegian pastime, the sport has gained an international following through viral videos, global competitions, and athletes such as Asbjørg Nesje and Ken Stornes. The Døds Diving League now hosts competitions with thousands of spectators across the US and Europe before the World Championships in Norway.
Directors Statement
This film began with a shared love of cliff jumping when Asbjørg and I met on a road trip. As I learned more about her and the sport of Døds, I realized she had an incredible story to tell, not only about her own ambitions, but also the rapid rise of this unique Norwegian sport.
I filmed the documentary independently over two years, determined to do justice not only to Asbjørg’s story, but to the sport itself. We slept in cars and hauled gear for miles across rivers and waterfalls to keep going, driven by the belief that this story deserved to be shared.
As Asbjørg faced injuries and setbacks throughout filming, her passion and determination only became more apparent, allowing me to capture the resilience that defines her both as an athlete and as a person.
This was my first project of this scale, pushing far beyond my comfort zone as I learned every aspect of production on my own budget. My invaluable Co-Producer Justin Steele spent hundreds of hours reviewing the film, teaching me audio post-production, and helping shape two years of footage into the film we share today.
In the end, the film became more than a portrait of an athlete in a growing sport. It became a story about friendship, perseverance, and two people pursuing their passions while chasing dreams bigger than themselves.