Bouncing hearts
When the alarm clock rings early, the thought of frozen car windows makes you want to turn round and skip the trip to the coast. But even here in the south-west of England, it's always worth getting up. Just like on this day, when the winter light made the hearts of windsurfers leap for joy in the icy westerly wind. And those of the photographers!
Ice-cold happiness
The night was short and restless. It was probably due to the rattling of the shutters, the anticipation and the doubts as to whether we should really brave this storm on the icy Baltic Sea. Fortunately, Kristoffer Living pulled through despite three degrees and 40 knots - in general and especially with this backloop at the Swedish spot D-Break.
Burning sky
The time had come shortly after Christmas. The cold gave way to a strong south-westerly wind. For French windsurfing pro Jules Denel, it was the start of the best weeks at home. But the photographer is obviously also passionate about his job - a constant wash in a current and five-degree water temperature is no walk in the park.
Lightning storm
The pool at Brouwersdam is full even in winter. So if you want to enjoy the perfect conditions like Local Davy Scheffers, you have to get up early. Photographer Jaco Kleijwegt helped with the lighting - with two powerful flashes.
Outburst of anger
Rocky breakwaters, gloomy skies and a pretty brute North Sea wave - Denmark in winter can seem like nature's rage. Leon Jamaer counters this with his North German beer calm and the necessary skills.
Bend light
Ahrenshoop is located where the Mecklenburg coast bends. The waves rarely get really big here - but Lina Erpenstein knows when it's worth the journey. On this day, everything was just right: wind, waves and the soft winter light.
Siren song
A perfect, deserted point break, softly lit by the evening light - the scenery in the north of Fuerteventura must have seemed like a siren song to Dany Bruch.
Coffee party
Normally, the water off Cape Verde is crystal clear. But this swell was so big that the sets on the coast removed large amounts of soil and sand, giving the ocean an unusual coffee brown colour. As the Ponta Preta World Cup spot on Sal was unrideable that day, Thomas Traversa ended up in Fontana. Double-mast-high sets rolled over the sharp lava reef here. No company on the water? Not a chance! So Thomas went out alone and afterwards was as shaken up and doddery as after twelve espressos. Who can blame him?
