Surfers Learn The Hard Way What Happens When You Go Surfing During A Polar Vortex (18 Pics)
If there’s a wave, there’s a surfer. Even when the polar vortex is turning the whole country into an ice cube. While most were spending the end of January rocking 17 layers of clothing in front of their fireplaces, Daniel Schetter (also known as “Surfer Dan”) wasn’t taking a day off. It was business as usual for the local legend from Marquette County, Michigan, and luckily photographer Devon Hains was there to capture it.
Image credits: Devon Hains Photography
Image credits: Devon Hains Photography
“The photos were shot two days last week, Sunday, January 27 and Wednesday, January 30th,” Hains told Bored Panda. “The photos feature both Surfer Dan and Allen Finau. They were shot at Presque Isle Park in Marquette Michigan on Lake Superior. The temperature for the Sunday shoot got down to -30 degrees Fahrenheit (-34°C) with the windchill.”
Image credits: Devon Hains Photography
Image credits: Devon Hains Photography
“I’m not very experienced with surfing at all,” he said. “I’ve only tried a few times with Surfer Dan. He’s the experienced surfer and also the feature of my photos. I mostly photograph Dan from a safe spot on shore.”
Image credits: Devon Hains Photography
Image credits: Devon Hains Photography
The ‘safe spot’ wasn’t so safe this time, though. “As the photographer, the most challenging part was being able to see through my viewfinder. The cold windchill caused my eyes to water a lot and it would freeze in my eyelashes. The cold air temperature meant I couldn’t exhale with my face raised to my camera because it would cause a layer of water vapor from my breath to freeze over my viewfinder and sometimes my lens.”
Image credits: Devon Hains Photography
Image credits: Devon Hains Photography
“I’ve photographed Dan surfing in both sub-zero temperatures and pretty intense waves. Each time I feel a little concerned but I’m confident he knows his limits and it shows when he gets out there.”
Image credits: Devon Hains Photography
Image credits: Devon Hains Photography
Image credits: Devon Hains Photography
Image credits: Devon Hains Photography
Image credits: Devon Hains Photography
Image credits: Devon Hains Photography
Image credits: Devon Hains Photography
Image credits: Devon Hains Photography
Image credits: Devon Hains Photography
Image credits: Devon Hains Photography
To follow Devon Hains’ adventures, go to his Instagram and Facebook pages!
People had a lot to say about these crazy guys
You don't have to surf to get this. I saw some spectacular beardcicles while volunteering for a nordic ski loppet a few years ago.
I live in Minnesota and I feel like a Southern Californian compared to these guys!
As I scrolled and scrolled, I fully expected him to be dead in the final photo.
Right!? In the first image where you can only see the top of it, I was like, "...Is that a trident?" I was surprised to discover I'd been right! My guess though is that he thought it would look cool in the photos. God of the sea and whatnot.
Load More Replies...I am from Minnesota and I feel like a southern Californian compared to these guys!
Professor Dumbledore hasn't changed much although Harry is a grown man with a big beard
Maybe Hagrid's brother - keeper of keys to Neptune's castle.
Load More Replies...What a social comment. Poor people trying not to die of hypothermia on the streets - People with warm homes doing this for FUN!!
??? What does their income have to do with anything??
Load More Replies...How stupid do you have to be to do this? It's the equivalent of idiots who kill themselves after saying, "Hold my beer..."
These guys do it every winter, it is nothing new and has been documented by numerous photographers and newspaper articles.
part of me is screaming "WHY???" and part of me is thinking they're living life to the fullest!
your insistence in posting about homeless people in a thread about something else is noted
Load More Replies...So many homeless people suffer with this crazy weather, even the stray too! These 2 idiots want to show the world how much fun they have. Well your 15 mins are counting down...
You don't have to surf to get this. I saw some spectacular beardcicles while volunteering for a nordic ski loppet a few years ago.
I live in Minnesota and I feel like a Southern Californian compared to these guys!
As I scrolled and scrolled, I fully expected him to be dead in the final photo.
Right!? In the first image where you can only see the top of it, I was like, "...Is that a trident?" I was surprised to discover I'd been right! My guess though is that he thought it would look cool in the photos. God of the sea and whatnot.
Load More Replies...I am from Minnesota and I feel like a southern Californian compared to these guys!
Professor Dumbledore hasn't changed much although Harry is a grown man with a big beard
Maybe Hagrid's brother - keeper of keys to Neptune's castle.
Load More Replies...What a social comment. Poor people trying not to die of hypothermia on the streets - People with warm homes doing this for FUN!!
??? What does their income have to do with anything??
Load More Replies...How stupid do you have to be to do this? It's the equivalent of idiots who kill themselves after saying, "Hold my beer..."
These guys do it every winter, it is nothing new and has been documented by numerous photographers and newspaper articles.
part of me is screaming "WHY???" and part of me is thinking they're living life to the fullest!
your insistence in posting about homeless people in a thread about something else is noted
Load More Replies...So many homeless people suffer with this crazy weather, even the stray too! These 2 idiots want to show the world how much fun they have. Well your 15 mins are counting down...
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