2 minute read
If you’ve ever been to Scotland, you know it’s epic in every sense.
At times, the scenery resembles something straight out of a fairytale: castles, lochs, rolling green landscapes, forests, and islands. It’s immensely beautiful.
And that’s not even touching on its exceptional coastline. Some of its most remote beaches look like something from the Caribean, with turquoise waters and stunning pale sand. But don’t be fooled!
As you’d expect, the sea temperature is brutal in the Northernmost part of the UK, especially in winter. But this doesn’t put off dedicated surfers who have a deep connection to the merciless Scottish waves. They embrace everything the winter sea has to offer, quite literally surfing and duck diving through ice.
“I think that most Scottish people have that deep connection with the country. You have to because the winter and the weather is so brutal. You kind of have to have this innate love for it.”
Thurso East is the home break of 5 x Scottish Women’s Surf Champ and 3 x Scottish Women’s longboard Champ Phoebe Strachan and multiple Scottish National Champion Mark Boyd, Boydy.
Boydy explains that despite its harsh temperatures and temperamental conditions, surfing in his home country just hits differently:
“It’s definitely special surfing in Scotland, for me, and it’s something I’ll never give up. I’ll always come home.”
Video creator Malcolm Anderson has been following Boydy on his winter adventures for the last 15 years, proving that you can get a buzz just as much out of the water and behind the lens:
“I’ve got a thing called Crohn's disease which means I’ve got a very lack of energy. So a lot of the time I’m too tired to go out surfing. So it’s a great outlet for me, good for my mental health as well, to be around the surfing scene and stuff even if I can’t get in the water…”
Our videographer Gabriella Zagni went to meet Phoebe, Boydy, and Malcolm to see Scottish slabs in action.
Published on March 26, 2025