Koa Rothman isn’t scared of cold water if it means barrels. Photo: YouTube//Screenshot
I have an embarrassing admission to make: although I grew up surfing in a 5mm wetsuit, I absolutely hate surfing in a 5mm wetsuit. So much, in fact, that I rarely surf at home. If the forecast is amazing, then yes, I’ll paddle out, but I’d rather plan a surf trip somewhere warm. Koa Rothman is from somewhere warm, and he’s not used to surfing in 5mm wetsuits… but he’s doing it. I am ashamed of myself.
In the video you see here, Rothman put himself into those frigid waters because the forecast was incredibly good. He’s a guy who’s used to getting barreled, but these barrels? These barrels went on forever. While he never actually says where he is, we can be certain that it’s in South America, and likely somewhere in Chile.
“This is super cool,” Koa said. “This whole summer season, I just wanted to go see places that I haven’t been before. It’s just the longest left point break with a draining section.”
While he’s not used to cold water, he is used to barrels, and he’d do just about anything for them.
“This is the coldest water I’ve ever felt,” he said, “but the waves are really fun. Every time I go underwater or fall, it’s full on brain freeze. It’s really fun. The best three-foot barrels I’ve ever got in my life, I think.”
