Everyone decides differently whether to surf through the winter or mothball their equipment until Easter. It is undisputed that surfing in winter can offer special moments - Marcus Friedrich's story from the winter of 2022/2023 is good proof of this. Marcus remembers:
"All in all, the winter of 2022/2023 in the north was rather mild - apart from a really cold spell in December. But while most water sports enthusiasts probably spent this cold snap behind the cosy stove, my mate Aljoscha Licht and I couldn't let it go. Winter in "good cold Germany" can be beautiful. Good wind conditions, empty spots, exciting light. This time, however, we were faced with new challenges. After a long period of calm in December 2022, the first 15-knot forecast drew us to the beach. However, a lull also meant that there had been almost no water movement for a fortnight, with temperatures permanently below freezing. When we arrived at the spot, the Baltic Sea was at its best. Ice as far as the eye could see. Disillusionment.
With the help of two dozen swans, we were able to locate an area of water in the distance. The water level was quite difficult to estimate due to the ice surface. Would the water depth be sufficient? Uncertainty, hesitation. Joshi, however, was motivated and said: "Fuck it, I'll do it. I just can't shoot my foil". So we got changed and onto the ice.
Which brought us to the next challenge: Getting to the water. Neoprene shoes are not made for developing grip on smooth ice. Slipping. Breaking in several times, wading through thick layers of ice. For me as a photographer, all of this meant images from an Arctic expedition. Even the first few metres were very fulfilling from a photographic point of view. The contrast between the wing and the ice was really strong. These were probably the most exciting wing pictures I've ever had the pleasure of taking. Thank you Joshi for your commitment to this wingsurfing adventure!"
We can only agree with that. The following gallery shows the winter wingsurf adventure for you to click through.
If you ever need a good photographer, you will find HERE the homepage of Marcus Friedrich.
Manuel Vogel
Editor surf
Manuel Vogel, born in 1981, lives in Kiel and learned to windsurf at the age of six at his father's surf school. In 1997, he completed his training as a windsurfing instructor and worked for over 15 years as a windsurfing instructor in various centers, at Kiel University sports and in the coaching team of the “Young Guns” freestyle camps. He has been part of the surf test team since 2003. After completing his teaching degree in 2013, he followed his heart and started as editor of surf magazine for the test and riding technique sections. Since 2021, he has also been active in wingfoiling - mainly at his home spots on the Baltic Sea or in the waves of Denmark.
