So I'm waiting to hear back from Yassine Ouhilal to see if he'll let me interview him about his unbelievable arctic surfing series (below) for PSFK, but in the meantime I felt like I just had to share these incredible images. There's so little written on his portfolio site, but since I found the pictures on Visit Norway, I have to believe they're all taken someone near the northern Atlantic coast.
(Above: the Aurora Borealis makes for epic surf portraits. Below: click the image for adorable small and color Norwegian homes)
I'd seen a documentary while I was up in Maine a few weeks ago (visiting SALT) about surfers who like to ride in freezing water because it gives them more of an adrenaline rush. Apparently, the wet suits they use are so heat protectant that they rarely feel the cold (but hands and faces can be a problem after constant exposure...and it seems there's a lot of constant exposure here, so I wonder about that...).
From what I COULD gather from his website: "Yassine Ouhilal is a photographer and filmmaker known for pioneering and documenting new and unchartered surf destinations including several in Arctic regions."
Apparently there also is a film, but the link won't play on my computer.
This little tidbit on the site leaves me worried I won't be getting answers anytime soon to my questions (Why? Where? How did you get to the arctic without dying?): "He is currently a recipient of a three year artist residency with the National Film Board of Canada and the Fogo Island Arts Corporation in Fogo Island, Canada."
When I was researching the Fogo Island Artist Retreat awhile back (whose architecture you should really check out) I got the impression that quick internet access wasn't a real priority. I guess in the meantime, I'll just have to stare in wonder at all these brave Scandinavians (and Canadians?) who continue to defy nature in pursuit of perfect waves.
