A surfer rides a wave Monday, Feb. 11, 2013 at Stony Point near Duluth, Minn. Derek Montgomery for MPR/Read the story

It seems impossible, but on Lake Superior there's a thriving scene of about 50 surfers who brave the frigid water for waves they swear can compare to some of the best surfing in Hawaii or California.

Wearing thick neoprene wetsuits, they congregate at Stony Point, a cove about 15 miles north of Duluth where 12-foot waves can curl and break on icy rocks. It's a dangerous sport, and not a place for rookies to learn. But for these surfers, the adventure and camaraderie help thaw their numb feet and hands.