Moon Tubes

No doubt we aren’t the only ones to have entertained a dream or two of surfing by moonlight.
During the heart of a long Alaskan winter it’s only natural to consider this…with only eight hours of daylight and a 10-20ft tide fluctuation you’d think the chances of the surf peaking at night are relatively high.

Well, after about 10 years of watching the surf in Homer I have to say, it’s a special night that the swell, wind, tide, and cloud cover will cooperate with the moon cycle.

Once upon a time in a little cosmic hamlet by the sea all the magic ingredients came together. A swell was rolling into Kachemak Bay, the winds were calm, the tide was right, the sky was clear, and it was a full moon.

These weren’t just some mushy little good enough waves, this was chest to head high barreling surf lit by the light of the moon.

I couldn’t pass the opportunity to attempt photographing this once in a decade event, so here is the humble results of my attempts. Let me just make it clear- the photos don’t do the experience justice. There was a buzz in the air, we talked about moon tubes for weeks after this, and we are eagerly awaiting the next chance we get.

Jake and Jake giggling into their wave robber suits.

10ºF, 2:30am, and Maria Calhoun is heading out for her first Alaskan surf session.

My view from the beach littered with ice, Orion's belt floating over the Kenai Mountains.

A ghostly image of Jake Bell standing on the beloved super sandbar (RIP).

Study this for a minute and you can make out a white streak and black blur of a surfer.

They surf at night by the light of the moon. Look close.