Orion’s Surf Journey: From Australian Van Life to Cold-Water Waves
Orion first started surfing living in a van in Australia for a year, traveling from coast to coast with a water-logged shortboard missing the centre fin. Fast forward to today, Orion surfs any wave he can on all types of boards (most often with fins), whether it’s forty above or forty below, on river waves in Quebec, storm swells of the Great Lakes, the salty swells on both Canadian coasts or distant tropical destinations.
Montreal’s River Waves and Orion’s Cold-Water Surf Evolution
Originally from British Columbia, Orion moved to Montreal with his prog jazz/hip-hop band, The OM Sound, to explore the city’s vibrant arts scene, and he was stoked to discover a plethora of world-class river waves close to his new home. Nowadays he is best known for braving the extreme cold, frequently seen winter surfing the rapids of the St. Lawrence River and dodging icebergs with a thick ice beard.
What Orion Says About Our Fins
“ORION”: Award-Winning Short Film on Montreal’s Ice Surfer
In 2025, Orion’s story reached global recognition with the release of ORION, an award-winning short film that offers a rare glimpse into the life and mind of Montreal’s “ice surfer.” Winner of Best Short Movie at the 2025 International Surf Film Festival Anglet, the film follows Orion as he surfs year-round in the St. Lawrence River, facing temperatures colder than –30°C in search of landlocked waves among drifting ice floes. ORION is a lyrical journey into the deeper “why” behind his dedication to pushing the boundaries of cold-water surfing. A true iceman, Orion is one of the few Montreal surfers who dares to challenge the river during the coldest months of the Canadian winter.
Orion’s Recommended Gear
Orion relies on equipment that performs in harsh, fast-changing conditions — from icy river waves in Montreal to rapid currents and standing waves across Canada. Below are the fins and accessories he trusts for stability, drive, and durability when the water gets cold and the waves get unpredictable.
