Whiteout blizzards, icy water that rarely tops 40 degrees and numb fingers and toes aren\u2019t exactly synonymous with surfing.<\/p>\n
But for a growing niche of hardy wave-seekers, those daunting conditions are part of a less-traveled journey to surfing nirvana: scoring that perfect, never-surfed-before swell in a remote cold-water place like Norway, Iceland, British Columbia, Newfoundland, Alaska or Russia.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s so rare in this day and age that you\u2019re able to discover a new wave, and it seems like all the warm-water places are all fished out,\u201d said Patrick Millin\u00a0\u00a0 …\u00a0 More<\/a><\/p>\n Photographer Chris Burkard and Professional Surfers Patrick Millin, Brett Barley, and Chadd Konig brave sub-zero temperatures in the Arctic Circle to capture moments of raw beauty in conditions that rank among the harshest in the natural world. The bitterly cold seas and wind exact a large price on their minds and bodies, but the reward – adventure, amazement, and self-knowledge – draws them closer together and pushes them to tackle the next frontier in surfing.<\/em><\/p>\n