Chris Burkard: The joy of surfing in ice-cold water

The Joy of Arctic Surfing

In this section, the speaker introduces a photograph taken in the Arctic and shares their experience of finding joy in extreme cold conditions.

Finding Joy in Extreme Cold

• The speaker describes swimming in freezing water and enduring extremely cold temperatures.

• Despite the physical discomfort, the speaker finds great joy in this remote Arctic location.

• Psychologist Brock Bastian's quote about pain being a shortcut to mindfulness is mentioned, suggesting that extreme conditions can heighten awareness and bring a sense of clarity.

Why Surf in Freezing Cold Water?

The speaker explains why they choose to surf in freezing cold water and provides perspective on their lifestyle.

Shivering as Meditation

• The speaker humorously compares shivering to meditation, highlighting their dedication to surfing in cold water.

• They express their desire to share a glimpse into their daily life.

A Day in the Life

The speaker gives an overview of what a typical day looks like for them as a surf photographer.

Pursuing the Dream Career

• The speaker reflects on quitting their job at 19 to pursue surf photography as a dream career.

• Initially attracted by visions of blue skies, warm beaches, and year-round tans, they soon realized that traveling to popular tourist destinations became less fulfilling over time.

Seeking Adventure Beyond Routine

The speaker discusses their quest for adventure and breaking free from routine through exploring remote and challenging surf spots.

Craving Wild, Open Spaces

• Feeling suffocated by heavily touristed areas both on land and in the water, the speaker craves wild and open spaces.

• They embark on a personal crusade against monotony by seeking out cold, remote, and supposedly dangerous places to surf.

• The speaker emphasizes the danger of any career, including seemingly glamorous ones like surf photography, becoming monotonous.

The Appeal of Cold Water Surfing

The speaker explains why they are drawn to cold water surfing and shares their experiences in remote locations.

Perfect Waves in Cold Waters

• Only a third of the Earth's oceans are warm, so the speaker believes that perfect waves are more likely to be found in cold waters.

• They describe their fascination with harsh and unforgiving environments, which led them to places like Russia, Norway, Alaska, Iceland, Chile, and the Faroe Islands.

• The challenge and creativity required to access these remote surf spots become an integral part of their journey.

Finding Clarity in Harsh Conditions

The speaker reflects on finding clarity and a connection with nature in harsh conditions while pursuing their passion for cold water surfing.

Stumbling onto Quiet Places

• The speaker expresses being hooked on cold water surfing after experiencing incredible moments amidst harsh conditions.

• They mention stumbling upon one of the last quiet places where they found clarity and a unique connection with the world.

• This contrasted with crowded beaches typically associated with touristy destinations.

Embracing Challenges and Creativity

The speaker highlights the challenges they face in reaching remote surf spots and emphasizes the importance of creativity in their journey.

Creative Approaches to Reach Surf Spots

• Hours spent on Google Earth searching for remote stretches of beach or reef becomes part of their process.

• Unique vehicles such as snowmobiles, Soviet troop carriers, and even sketchy helicopter flights are used to access these locations.

• Despite encountering bears during one trip, the speaker values these wild experiences over touristy beaches.

Appreciating the Cold: Norway

The speaker shares their appreciation for the cold and describes their experience in Norway.

Violent Storms and Remote Fjords

• Norway is described as a place where violent storms generate huge waves that crash into the coastline.

• The speaker recalls being in a remote fjord just inside the Arctic Circle, where they encountered snow and dropping temperatures while taking pictures of surfers.

Timestamps are approximate and may vary slightly.

Surviving a Blizzard at Sea

The speaker recounts an experience of being caught in a blizzard while out at sea, highlighting the lessons learned and the value of perseverance.

Battling the Elements

• The speaker describes feeling a sudden change in weather, with a light snowfall turning into a full-blown blizzard.

• Lost and disoriented, the speaker couldn't determine their location and could only hear seagulls and crashing waves.

• Aware of the area's reputation for sinking ships and grounding planes, the speaker starts to feel nervous.

Overcoming Fear

• The speaker admits to being terrified and borderline hypothermic during the ordeal.

• Despite their fear, the speaker maintained a smile throughout, possibly due to delirium setting in.

• Friends eventually came to rescue the speaker from the water.

Finding Meaning in Adversity

• This experience taught the speaker that every photograph became precious as it was earned through hardship.

• Shivering in the cold taught an important lesson: there are no shortcuts to joy in life.

• Pursuing anything worthwhile requires some level of suffering, adding value and meaning to one's work.

• Giving a piece of oneself in challenging situations leads to a sense of fulfillment that had always been sought after.

Reflection on Joy

• Looking back at this photograph, frozen fingers and struggles are evident. However, what stands out most is pure joy.

Timestamp links have been provided for each bullet point.