Great Lake surfers are a different breed. Howling winds and freezing temperatures aren’t a deterrent — judging by the number of ice-beard images we see, they’re an attractant.
One of the local legends who surfs Lake Superior is Daniel Schetter. His nickname, as you would expect, is “Surfer Dan.” He’s a proud “Yooper,” someone who was born in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Every local surfer knows him. Or knows of him, at least. When there are waves on the lake, Dan is riding them, and creating some of the best ice beards in the whole world at the same time.
VICE headed to Michigan to get a closer look at this particular breed of surfer. They hooked up with Dan, who recently shaved most of his beard… but luckily, he had a friend named Allen Finau. And Allen has an epic ice beard.
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