Surfing Alaska – December 28th, 2008

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The swell that started the day after Christmas turned out to be one of those gifts that just keep giving, and just gets better with age! Of the 209 photos I kept from this day, below are 15 that I could not resist. The surfers reading (or are you all surfers?) can appreciate the empty wave shots: “ooohhh, put me there!”

Enjoy.

Alaskan surfer, Ty Gates walking out of winter scene.

Alaskan surfer, Ty Gates, walking out of a winter scene.

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Jake Beaudoin surfing Alaska.

Richard surfing Alaska

Alaska surfer Jake Beaudoin runs in place on a snow beach to warm up his frozen feet mid session.

Alaskan surfer Jake Bell runs in place on a snow covered beach to warm up his frozen feet mid session.

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A perfect pair

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Jake Beaudoin sufing Alaska.

Alaska surfer Jake Bowler walks back up the beach past blocks of ice.

Alaskan surfer, Jake Bowler, walks pas blocks of ice littering the beach.

Jake Beaudoin surfing Alaska.

Kyle Kornellis surfing an Alaskan sunset session.

Kyle Kornelis surfing an Alaskan sunset session.

Chunks of ice lay on the beach as the sen sets over the snow covered mountains. Kyle Kornelis patiently waits for one more wave.

Chunks of ice lay on the beach as the sun sets over the snow covered mountains. Kyle Kornelis patiently waits for one more wave. No, make that two, ok three

Tim Bowler settled in and cruising after sunset.

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 8th, 2009 at 6:18 pm. It is filed under Blog, surf session and tagged with Alaska, photos, surf session, surfing alaska, winter. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

Robert says:

January 8, 2009 at 10:26 pm

OK, that first photo for the 28th… I am now convinced that I’m going to make it down from Anchorage so I can have a shot. That is sweet. When I’m finished here I’m going to google for squid lids and just convince myself that I can handle December temps in a 4/3 suit.

Scott Dickerson says:

January 8, 2009 at 10:48 pm

Robert – You are not alone. That first photo is cruelty to animals. Snakey McFadesalot there thinks we might have something brewing up for Monday. Doesn’t sound like anything worth making the long drive for yet though. Squid lids? I’ve never heard of that, or those? I used a ratty 4/3 for several years, it was cold, I would shake like a wild man with the early stages of hypothermia but no harm done. Or, at least not that I’m aware of . . .

Snakey McFadesalot says:

January 8, 2009 at 10:28 pm

monday monday monday!?!
NWS Jan12, maybe blown out but waves + daylight tide + balmy double digits…..slough-sandbar-paddle-battle!
kk

Scott Dickerson says:

January 8, 2009 at 10:45 pm

I haven’t looked at the weather lately, been too busy searching for a wood stove! brrr. I hope you are right though.

January 8, 2009 at 11:17 pm

“Squid Lid” – is Nor Cal slang for a hooded wet suit or wet suit hood. I learned to surf in the bay area and Santa Cruz. My googling led me to find a 6.5 Body Glove hood for 35 bucks.. seems like a good deal. I also found a “hyperflex” rash guard that combines 1.5 mm neoprene in the chest that is polar fleece lined and polar fleece long sleeves.. seems like a good way to beef up my old 4/3. That line up and other photos look kinda like Anchor river mouth.. I’ve looked at that many a times or stormy summer days thinking something good could become of those gravel bars out there…

Scott Dickerson says:

January 8, 2009 at 11:38 pm

I see. With my 4/3 suite I used to wear an o’neil heatshirt thing that had a built in hood, sounds about like what you are describing, except mine is not neoprene, just some kind of polyester. If you make it down here before your goods arrive let me know and I can loan you that heatshirt.

Chris says:

March 14, 2009 at 5:01 pm

Cool website! Those are some nice pics and the backdrop is nice. I would love to make it up to Alaska and surf someday.

Scott Dickerson says:

March 28, 2009 at 11:08 am

Thanks Chris. You are welcome anytime.

Paul says:

March 28, 2009 at 10:36 am

U guys are crazy! I was just thinking how cold that water is here in North FL. haha you guys would laugh at it 64 degrees. Where are the big point breaks with no one on them? There has to be tons of setups like that there?

Scott Dickerson says:

March 28, 2009 at 11:37 am

Hi Paul. I’ll bet you’d be crazy if you lived here too. This winter we had a real nice sandbar that these waves were forming on. The currents and tides changed it’s shape after a while and we haven’t had waves like this there since January. Alaska is a big place, certainly lots of great unknown breaks to go discover!

Womens Rash Guards says:

July 1, 2011 at 9:54 pm

Thanks for the well thought article. I just want to remind everyone that skin cancer levels are rising so please get a rash guard to protect you and your kids this Summer.