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Ice has a lot of inherent properties that don’t make it an ideal material for surfboard shaping. It’s slippery, it’s heavy… it melts. On the other hand, ice does float, so what the hell, worth a shot.
That’s the energy that professional wakesurfer Sam Studee took to a recent social media video, where he decided to push the bounds of what is indeed surfable. By partnering with Minnesota Ice, a company that bills itself as the “leading manufacturer of sculpture-grade ice,” Studee was able to shape a 50-pound, clear behemoth that he hauled over to a nearby lake for a wake-surfing session.
The ice surfboard actually worked out better than you’d think, but not by much. By wearing some Vans for traction, Studee was able to get up, catch a wave, and even pull off a few careful pumps. In the end though, physics took its toll. The endeavor came to an abrupt, crashing halt when the craft melted and snapped under his feet.
All in all, pretty solid effort for an idea that sounds absolutely insane on paper. Maybe he could even do a turn or two if he slapped some traction on that thing.
