Judge and filmmaker Taylor Steele, appreciates the opportunity of looking at images through the competition lens, “I just think we are bombarded with so many images on Instagram that are amazing. When I am judging, I look for something that is different and makes me feel something. Transports me to the place.”
When I am judging, I look for something that is different and makes me feel something.
There are few with more cold salt water coursing through their veins than CLIF Athlete Pete Devries, whose breaks of choice are usually more northern. “For me being a surfer I always look at the surfing in the shot for style, positioning and that side of things,” he says of judging the competition for the second year. “If it is an empty wave or a lineup shot, I want to envision where I would be as a surfer and whether or not that gets me excited about the shot.”
This year’s broader range showed Pete Devries something of the scope of surf here on the East Coast. It wasn’t just seeing crystal clear water as opposed to chocolate brown barrels, “It’s made me want to chase a winter swell out East even more,” he says. “I’ve done plenty of trips to Eastern Canada but I’ve never chased a winter swell to the US. I love photos of barrels and love getting barreled so I’d say all the entries were right up that alley.”
Let’s take a look at what was right up his alley and talk to Air, Sea and Land winners Pat Nolan, Ryan Moore, and Evan Conway about the stories behind the winning shots and this swell season.
Air Champion: Pat Nolan
Where: Long Island. NY
Shot with: Nikon D500 with an 80-400mm lens
Water temp? Mid 40s
How did the shot come about?
Dylan Decker and I had flown from Southern California to New Jersey to shoot a commercial and editorial-related content. I’ve lived in California for the past three years but had spent the past two decades of my life growing up and living in New Jersey. We’d linked up with Rob Kelly, Kevin Schulz, Simalchik and a handful of other guys. The plan was to follow the storm from NJ all the way up to Maine. When the forecast changed, everyone decided to stay and score all week long at that perfect sandbar in NJ. We’d tapped out the spot in NJ and wanted to head North in search of some diversity for the content we were shooting. After making nice with some of the apartment tenants in the area we were shooting, we found ourselves rooftop about 10-15 stories high overlooking absolute perfection. It really made the red-eye flights and cold early mornings worth it.
Anything that stands out to you about that day?
If it wasn’t for Dylan this shot wouldn’t have happened. He was the one that put his foot down and said there was no point in us staying in NJ all week and that we needed to shoot something different. That entire day is burned into my memory forever. I hadn’t been to NY in years and taking the Turnpike from south Jersey all the way to Long Island brought back endless memories of growing up in this beautiful place. About an hour or so after that shot, we made it back on top of the building to watch one of the craziest sunsets over the water, with the Manhattan skyline completely lit up behind us. We had to jump through countless hoops to get to that spot which was met by a solid run-in with the NYPD, but it was completely worth it in the long run.
What did you learn from this winter storm season on the East Coast?
I learned that I should’ve never moved to California! These have been some of the best past winters I’ve seen on the East Coast and some of the flattest I’ve seen since living here in California. Joking aside, I learned from this winter storm season along with past others that I will always be an East Coaster at heart. California is beautiful, but there is something so special about the storms and what they produce for us as East Coast surfers.
About an hour or so after that shot, we made it back on top of the building to watch one of the craziest sunsets over the water, with the Manhattan skyline completely lit up behind us.
Most memorable swell of the season? Why?
Easily had to be the Grayson swell. I was home for the holidays and the last weekend I was in town was when Grayson hit. Ryan Simalchik, Rob Kelly and I drove to a spot in South Jersey, rented a hotel at one of the only places left open on the island and got snowed in for the storm. It was one of the crazier blizzards I can remember. You truly couldn’t see five feet in front of you; a true white out. Cops in Humvees, waist deep snow from the drift, I honestly love those kinds of missions. It makes scoring 10 times better. Somehow, we managed to find a window about 45 minutes before the sunset and absolutely scored.
Which swell would you name a child after?
Grayson for sure. That storm will always be such a special memory of mine. Far from perfect but the epitome of hard work and patience paying off. I hope to have a son like that one day.
Was Cold Shot an inspiration to travel more and track swells?
It’s definitely been even more of an inspiration to me. My friends and I have always loved exploring, especially in colder climates, whether it’s surf related or not. The more and more I shoot surfing, the more and more I realize how much I love documenting the lifestyle end of the spectrum. I have a couple cold zones I’ve been dying to visit and document and plan on doing so soon.
What’s one thing you wish people understood about cold water surfing?
I honestly love the fact that most people don’t really ‘understand’ cold water surfing. I guess that goes against the question, but it keeps our small niche in the surfing world real tight and humble. My favorite surf memories involve snow and cold water. You’ve heard the story: Our grandfathers walked 5 miles, uphill, in the snow, both ways, just to get to school. If they did that all on a sunny day, no one would be impressed.
Land Champion: Evan Conway
Where: Lido NY during WS Quinn, 3/7/2018
Shot with: Canon 5d MKIV + 70-200mm @120mm
Water temp? Probably below 40F, it was taken in the middle of that string of nor’easters we had in March.
How did it come about?
My favorite condition to shoot in is while it’s snowing so I try to make it down to the beach any time the snow is falling. This time the swell was better than I expected and only a handful of guys were in the water. I guess everyone had already gotten their fill from Winter Storm Riley which had been pumping for the better part of a week just before this.
Anything that stands out to you about that day?
The odds were stacked against me getting that shot to say the least. During Winter Storm Quinn, we had gotten hammered with ice, sleet and snow pretty late in the day but it accumulated rapidly. I didn’t decide to make a run at it until the absolute last minute, like after 4 p.m., which during the winter time here in NY, it’s already almost dark out, especially in the middle of a storm.
On the way there I was blasting fresh tracks through 10” of the worst kind of slush imaginable on Ocean Parkway. Whats usually a 20-minute drive took me over an hour, and the second I pulled into the parking lot my truck died on me—for reasons unknown. I shot for as long as possible and that wave was actually the last one I captured—shot at 5:54 p.m., which is pretty late for the beginning of March. Thinking I was going to be stranded, I now had to try to figure out a way to get back home through the mess, but I guess looking back on it now it must have been my lucky day because my truck miraculously started working without any issue, the storm moved out and the trip back home was a piece of cake. The roads had been cleared, I had all my images secured, I scored in the wave department and the adventure itself epitomized what I love about winter on the Right Coast. It’s crazy to think that photo would win the Cold Shot contest a couple months later.
Thinking I was going to be stranded, I now had to try to figure out a way to get back home through the mess.
What did you learn from this winter storm season on the East Coast?
It ain’t over ‘till it’s over! I love winter on the East Coast (more specifically NY) and as the end of February was closing in, I started to get a little bummed out because I felt like the winter was about to be over and I didn’t get to shoot a whole lot of proper snowstorms. The waves had been good since September but up until March, I didn’t really get my fix of those classic nor’easter storm conditions. That changed rather quickly.
Most memorable swell of the season? Why?
Winter Storm Quinn stands out because the shot that ended up winning the contest was taken during it for one… Reilly was really good and it definitely set the pace for the rest of the month but I don’t think we got any snow from it and that’s what I was after.
Which swell would you name a child after?
I’ll figure that out when the time comes.
Was Cold Shot an inspiration to travel more and track swells?
I’m usually shooting all winter anyways so I would have been doing that regardless, but the Cold Shot contest does give photographers a good avenue to showcase the surf on the East Coast. Especially now with the addition of several states.
What’s one thing you wish people understood about cold water surfing?
It’s colder than it looks.
Sea Champion: Ryan Moore
Where: Long Island, New York
Shot with: Canon 5D Mark III with 70-200mm lens in an Aquatech water housing.
How did it come about?
I was supposed to be at work that evening but earlier in the week a coworker asked to switch shifts with me so I ended up being off this day. It just worked out. I was doing them a favor but I should probably thank them for that.
What did you learn from this winter storm season on the East Coast?
Didn’t learn anything in particular, but I definitely have a few days a year where I’ll pull up to the beach, think it sucks, but I go in anyway, and it ALWAYS ends up being at least a little bit if not a lot better than you I thought it was. I think it’s important to have those realizations because you can miss a lot of good sessions if you don’t.
Most memorable swell?
Winter Storm Kalani, because Brian Pollak got the craziest barrel I’ve ever seen in person.
Which swell would you name a child after?
I don’t really remember many of the other storm names, but I like Kalani. Think that’s a cool name.
Was Cold Shot an inspiration to travel more and track swells?
To be honest I check the wave forecast every day, multiple times a day. It just happens; I don’t even think. And even before the Cold Shot challenge was a thing you could still find me out there on the coldest days either surfing or shooting. Just doing what I love. But its really cool that they have this contest and bring everyone together like this and encourage people to get out there. I love NYSEA for that.
