The first image below is a pretty neat looking wave in the sub-antarctic.

This next image is Rincon. By comparing these two satellite images (which are both taken from the same altitude, so that the scale between the two is exactly the same) it is possible to compare and contrast both waves. We can make some prediction about the unknown wave based upon what we know about Rincon. They are sedimentary points, both are created by a river mouth, they are roughly the same size, and they both consist of cobblestones.

This pillar of rock is the remnant of an exploded volcano. The red arrows point to a wave setup that recalls the topography and bathymetry of Shipstern’s Bluff. If true, it would be a cold version of Shipstern’s Bluff.

It’s different for us down here when we celebrate Thanksgiving. We are far away from family and friends, and far away from the country where the tradition began. The dining table stacked with fresh fruits and vegetables is a distant memory. Perhaps most notably absent are turkeys, the centerpiece of a Thanksgiving dinner. However, let’s give thanks for the food we do have down here, even while we scour the terrain for an ‘arctic option’ for a turkey dinner.

This is a volcano just below the surface of the ocean. The two sand banks at the mouth of the bay look like a fun place to do scientific research and maybe surf.

So much has been said and written about territorial surfers. Discovery, legitimacy, absurdity, and secrets are all words that come to mind when talking about this aspect surf culture. Though localism is assumed to live in comfortable climates, have you ever considered what localism might look like in the arctic? An interesting thought, indeed. Although there are a few implications and scenarios the words ‘arctic localism’ might conjure in your mind, this question is only worth a few minutes before we must move on to the  infinitely more confounding ‘what does arctic localism look like online?’

Here are some postings that I found on a forum about surfing in the arctic:

“Not to sound like a pissed local Iceman, but you should keep your comments about visiting surfers to your spot (…). The real locals in [...], would appreciate it if you traveled with a smaller group instead inudating the surf spots with a ton a people.”

- anonymous

Another commenter mocks a beginning surfer’s ability:

“go move back down to [...] california wherever you came from i’ve seen you surf the b-yard, i’d hardly call that surfing. i hope you get caught inside on a big set there and crack your thick head open on the rocks you longboard kook. i’d laugh so hard.”

-Hey ‘boneyard assasin’

This one is the best:

“sure there’s surf there but more than five guys and it’s zooed.It’s a fifty minute drive there is only one peak throws top to bottom then mushes quickly to shoulder. Seems like a long way to go for 38-44 deg water plus most kodiak surfers lack common courtesy and have a habbit of droppin in on their longboards no matter how dangerous the situation. I speak from experience most can’t even make the drop so it leaves you slotted with a log and rider being pitched in front of you (sound familiar boneyard crew).”

-pasagshak or bust

With the arctic line-ups getting so crowded these days, its easy to see that all the pent up animosity must be released somewhere, and where better than the world wide information super-highway.

These images are taken from a few of the many remote Aleutian Islands. The islands, like the Hawaiian Islands, are formed by volcanic activity. Among the Aleutians there are 57 separate volcanoes. The coastline below shows a mash-up of reefs and beaches.

A point break wave on another Aleutian Coast.

Here are two wave setups on an Alaskan Island. Though there wasn’t much swell when these images were taken, it looks like the wind is calm, and the other weather and topographic factors are good too.

This is how to get there:

Life isn’t always leisure and fun, especially when your duty is shoveling snow and you live in Antarctica, or cooking a pot of gruel for dinner. The Arctic Traveler’s work ethic is firm as ice. I would even suggest his work ethic is chiseled from an icicle, compressed with the forward pressure of one thousand glaciers, and determined like a glacier.

One such traveler that comes to mind is Sir Ernest Shackleton. Shackleton’s ship ‘Endurance’ literally was compressed by ice, until it gave out and the ice flows forced the crew into small rescue boats. Only by divine providence did they survive. Through Shackleton’s resolute leadership these men escaped via granite Elephant Island and the interminable South Georgia Island. Today these dangerous voyages are made much safer through computers and graphs.

The image below shows the swell lines of waves peeling into the Cove.

This southern ocean island recently doubled in size due to volcanic activities, and could change shape again at any moment. Catch these waves while you can: