Alaska Life

Our Alaska: Surfing in the snow

Homer resident Scott Dickerson, owner of Surf Alaska, shot this video of a sunset surfing session on Kachemak Bay during a recent five-day spate of wind spells that made for perfect surfing -- something Dickerson called a "weather miracle." Dickerson has been surfing in Alaska for about 15 years; he started out "in a borrowed wetsuit with fishing gloves duct taped to my hands" and now sells and rents surfing equipment, organizes surfing trips and generally stokes Alaskans' passions for surfing and stand-up paddling, or SUP. (Check out his photos from an SUP outing on Turnagain Arm during a bore tide.)

While Dickerson admits winter surfing seems like "something only a nutcase would be interested in," don't be too quick to call him crazy. In an e-mail, Dickerson told us: "Surfing in the middle of winter is extreme, but the wetsuits are so good that usually I get out of the water somewhere between hot and comfortably warm. This is not easily believed until you've tried it for yourself. I couldn't tell you the number of times my customers have told me that I 'just can't believe how comfortable and warm it is swimming in the ocean in ALASKA!' It's usually explained to me as if I had no idea and I should have told them before ... The talking can go on forever. One thing is for sure, surfing or stand up paddling here, while it may be on fringe, is not nearly as outrageous as many think. Most of my surfing buddies are in their 50s and responsible business owners with families."

While "Sarah Palin's Alaska" has finished its eight-week run on TLC, Alaska Dispatch continues to take a look at the Last Frontier as it's experienced by residents across the state -- urban and rural, young and old, from all walks of life. You've seen "Sarah Palin's Alaska" -- now welcome to Our Alaska.

Craig Medred

Craig Medred is a former writer for the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska Dispatch and Alaska Dispatch News. He left the ADN in 2015.

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