The Gowings Pacific Trader crew recently headed north to Alaska for a surf and fishing mission like no other. The plan? Chase waves, push new products as hard as we could and soak up some wild Alaskan beauty. We’d kick things off with a couple of days in Anchorage before boarding the Milo, our surf boat that will carry us from to Sand Point and into the Shumagin Islands. From there, we chased the world’s longest tidal bores at Turnagain Arm. We’ll bring all the results of this trip in great detail in the coming weeks, but first, we figured we’d outline what we packed for a cold water expedition and how we crammed it all in.
Wetsuits: The Price of Entry
For rubber, we opted to run a one-of-a-kind prototype FCS 6/5 with a built-in hood, paired with thick gloves and 7mm boots. The extra thickness was vital for remaining comfortable when surfing around ice covered mountains. 
The Boardbag: More Than Luggage
A good bag isn’t just about carting luggage, it’s protection for your boards, wetties and all your accessories. We tested the full range of the new FCS boardbags which have been designed to make travelling a lot easier. These items will drop in store later in 2025.
The Reel Quiver: Two Alveys for Alaska
For us, that means two Alveys: one Orca Captain and one Pilot Captain.
Together, they'll cover every fight Alaska can throw at us.
Orca Captain – The muscle.
With a drag system ready to go head-to-head with halibut or lingcod, it’s the reel for deep drops and fish that pull like freight trains. Built to shrug off cold, salt, and abuse.
Pilot Captain – The all-rounder.
Compact, smooth, and dependable — ideal for salmon runs, cod missions, and long boat days. Enough grunt to handle business, light enough to cast all day.
Together, this lineup covers the lot: halibut in the deep, salmon blitzes in the shallows, and everything in between. They’re tough, easy to maintain, and built for long days in unforgiving conditions.
Layers on Layers
The rule: layer up, strip down, and always pack one more dry backup than you
think you’ll need.
The Small Stuff That Saves You
A simple FCS patch kit, a first-aid kit, and, of course, the camera.
Words will never do justice to waves breaking beneath glaciers, so proof is essential.
The Approach
Stay tuned to see how it all went. From riding waves beneath glacier peaks to battling fish in freezing currents, we’ll share the moments that tested us, surprised us, and made the trip unforgettable. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to chase surf and fish on the edge of the world, this is the story you won’t want to miss.