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It’s the modern search for empty lineups and pure adventure. With better wetsuit tech, surfers are chasing swells to the ends of the earth. Spots in Iceland, Norway, or Canada offer stunning, uncrowded waves in dramatic, icy settings. It’s a different kind of stoke—trading board shorts for a 6mm steamer, surfing under the midnight sun, and earning your waves with a dose of hardcore exploration.

Totally, it becomes a “stall dive” or “eskimo roll.“ On a longboard or big foamy, you can’t fully sink it. Instead, you roll the board on its side as you submerge your body, letting the wave pass over both you and the tilted deck. You use the board’s momentum to help you go under. It’s less about forcing it down and more about getting yourself deep and letting the board slice through the water sideways. It’s a finesse move for the log-riding crew.

After dominating the Olympics, Duke went on exhibition tours, showing off his swimming and, crucially, his surfing. He famously gave demos in places like California and Australia, using massive, solid-wood boards. People on those beaches had never seen anything like a man gliding on water. He sparked the initial flame, creating the first real interest outside Hawaii. Those early seeds grew into the surf scenes in SoCal and Oz, which eventually exploded into the global culture we have. The dude was the original surf explorer.

Beyond your favorite stick, pack a good travel bag, a proven repair kit (resin, cloth, fin plugs), and a couple of different fin options. Don’t forget a solid first-aid kit, extra leash strings, and a solid reef-safe sunscreen. A compact set of tools for fin boxes and dings is a lifesaver. Pack versatile rubber—a 2mm top for cooler dawnies can make all the difference. And always, a positive attitude for when the wind turns onshore.