There’s times where surf exploration can feel a bit same-y. But when there’s something raw, new and undeniably jaw-dropping, it makes you sit up, take note and ham fist a keyboard to try and track down said discovery’s location.
When Freddie Meadows released clips of Ran, a big wave spot he’s been trying to score for years, the surf world inhaled. There was so much going on with this spot that it made for a perfect surf storm – Freddie’s mission seen to fruition and hyper-cinematic lensperson Morgan Maassen returned to the surf video-sphere – and we’re sure glad he did.
Freddie is a true adventurer’s adventurer.
What they found, up there in Scandinavia, will shatter expectations: “Upon meeting Freddie in the summer of 2022, I immediately cast my doubt of surfing in the Baltic sea,” said Morgan. “Sweden was both a place I never thought I’d visit, nor would ever aspire to find waves, but through the charm of Freddie and my insatiable curiosity, I couldn’t resist a simple visit.
“Thousands of kilometers later, I can safely say we have scoured as much coastline as the Baltic has to offer, with some North Sea sojourns in the mix. The waves we found, while often fleeting, poised challenges that took my breath away. Anything from snow storms to 1 hour swell windows kept us on our toes, and as Freddie showed me the landscape of his home, I in turn learnt just how passionate and extreme these surfers are.
My word.
“And while so many sessions added up to cancel my initial doubt, Freddie’s dreams came to fruition early last year when a big wave showed signs of promise. We rallied for a mission that brought together ourselves and others like Nic Von Rupp and Andrew Cotton, and on a morning when snow fell at our feet, we scored waves that rivalled that of Tahiti and Fiji on their day of the year.
“The Baltic Sea and Arctic Circle is an area of the world that imbues nothing but inspiration, hardship, and most importantly, reward for those that are ready to push their limits.
“This film is a testament to Freddie’s will, my curiosity, and everything that we experienced together. I am forever proud of him, and in turn I am honoured to share what I see as scratching the surface into my frozen odyssey.”
