As the snow gently falls on rolling black waves, the unmistakable signs of a gathering storm may suggest that this is no time for a boat trip to a secret location in the wintry waters of Lofoten in northern Norway. For most people, now would be the time to turn back to shore for warmth and safety.
For Sara Bianca Gilje however, it represents a golden opportunity.
“This is how it’s supposed to feel to be alive. This is how you should be feeling all the time,” she smiles as she bravely prepares to take on the forces of Mother Nature.
Sara Bianca Gilje is a dedicated Arctic surfer, an adventurer on an eternal quest to find – and ride – the perfect wave.
Sara – a surfer’s life
Surfing is more than just a hobby for the serious few – it’s a lifestyle choice. Like-minded souls, sharing the challenge of discomfort and often disappointment, especially at this latitude.
Ironically, Sara caught the surfing bug almost by accident, at the age of 20. A keen skier, an accident on the slopes meant she had to find something else to occupy her time. Having tried out surfing in Norway, she realized it was worth exploring and headed to Portugal where she worked at a surf camp.
“I was surfing two or three times a day, living the life. I got my first green wave and the feeling was totally, totally different,” says Sara.
Catching that first wave, even though she didn’t realize at the time, would become a turning point in Sara’s life. It led to an end to her constant traveling and she settled down back home in Norway. Her love of surfing didn’t die though, instead it gave her a new direction, she says.
“Whether you’re in Norway or another country, there aren’t many girls who surf. Maybe one or two out there, maybe none. I saw that there were many girls coming to surf camps abroad, but they stopped surfing when they came back to Norway. I wanted to gather these girls together and create a community, where they could find each other and connect, so I started the first girls’ surf camp in Norway seven years ago.”
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On the crest of a wave
A dream location
Lofoten is a surfing location like no other. Better known as one of the best whale-watching spots in the world, for board riders it is exotic in an entirely different way to staples such as Hawaii, Portugal or Bali. It draws those seeking an extra dimension of adventure. With steep mountains climbing majestically out of the water and picture-postcard fishing villages, it turns your perceptions of a surf destination upside down.
While it may not be for everyone, for Sara and her friends – on this occasion Ingrid Urrang Jonassen and Marita Haugen, two friends from the west coast area Sara comes from – what makes this northern outpost most challenging is what attracts them most.
“Lofoten is an exotic place. It’s just not the place most people think of when they hear the word ‘exotic.’ It’s actually like another planet,” says Sara. “The nature around it makes it special. You can sit in the water and see a sea eagle flying over your head or a seal popping up beside you and saying hello. It’s the whole package that makes it so special, and the reason why I love Arctic surfing.”
As the word has spread, so too has Lofoten’s popularity within the surfing community, with world-class surfers from all around the globe arriving, keen to experience the Arctic surfing adventure for themselves. The main spot they tend to head for is Unstad, although in this case, with the freedom of boat travel, Sara and her friends take the chance to push the boundaries even further.
“It’s a really unique way to explore hidden waves in Lofoten. You don’t generally think of boating and surfing going together. But that’s also a part of the surfing game – that you experience new places and push yourself to the limits,” says Sara.
Like most things in life, preparation is key. There’s a lot of equipment for the surfers to load onto the boat, from thick wetsuits to warm indoor layers and wax for the boards. In conditions such as these, to forget even the smallest thing can have major consequences. With everything set, now it’s all about finding the right location.
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On the crest of a wave
Seeking the adventure
Finally, Sara’s wishes come true as the boat veers towards a quiet bay after three hours on choppy seas, and she spots the wave formations she has been praying for. The boat will stay all day, harboring in the bay’s mountainous surroundings, offering the surfers a comfortable base for their adventure that they can return to, when they need to warm up, have a rest and recharge their batteries.
For Sara and her friends, having a boat available, with all the modern amenities it offers, adds to the palpable sense of excitement. More often than not, cold-water surfing means having a cold windy beach as their base for the day. Now they can enjoy extra comfort and convenience – and as all surfers dream about – they also have the waves in the deserted bay completely to themselves.
The three friends don their wetsuits, relish a final sip of warm coffee and gather with their boards at the stern. One by one they plunge into the frigid waters of Lofoten and paddle towards the break, seeking the perfect wave.
Surfing has changed Sara Bianca Gilje’s life in a myriad of ways, but it’s going to have to take second place for a while, as she has recently had her first child. You get the feeling a baby won’t keep her away from the waves for too long however, and that her sense of adventure is likely to be one of many traits she’ll be handing down to the next generation of Norwegian cold-water surfers.
“You need to have the drive or the motivation to surf. It takes a lot of effort. But when you have a good session, get a good wave, it’s all worth it.”
