All in all, the winter in the north was rather mild - apart from a really cold phase in December. But while most water sports enthusiasts probably spent this cold snap behind the cosy stove, Aljoscha Licht and photographer Marcus Friedrich obviously couldn't let it go. So they packed up their wingsurfing gear and headed out to sea. Once there, however, disillusionment set in. Marcus Friedrich reports:
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.
