Frozen Waves, Icy Locks

In the thick of a bone-chilling polar vortex, when most are huddled indoors clutching mugs of hot cocoa, Daniel Schetter—or “Surfer Dan”—dons his wetsuit to ride the icy swells of Lake Superior. Forget the nippy -3 degrees and a wind chill plummeting to -30; this surfer isn’t about to let Mother Nature’s icy demeanor cramp his style.

Captured in the photo, Surfer Dan appears like a mythical sea creature, his hair and beard transformed into frozen dreadlocks by the frigid air. It’s an awe-inspiring and slightly surreal sight. The icicles hanging from his head could be mistaken for ornaments, turning him into a living, surfing winter sculpture.