Sonya Baumstein on the Bering Straight / © Photo by Dirk Collins

Wales, Alaska is not a place many people would know of.  It is cold, windy and a long way from anything most would consider civilization.  Located at the tip of the Seward Peninsula, Wales is the western most community on mainland North America.  Wales is like most western Alaskan villages, except for the fact that it is a jumping off point for adventurers looking to cross the Bering Strait from the United States to Russia.

It was this small native village that our EpicQuest producer Dirk Collins, found himself to film Sonya Baumstein.  Sonya was attempting to be the first person to standup paddleboard (SUP) this notorious stretch of water.  The challenge of crossing the straight is not purely physical.  The endeavor is riddled with complicated logistics, external hazards and mental obstacles.  After patiently waiting weeks for the weather to clear, dealing with intercontinental politics and sourcing a local crew of native whale hunters to safely assist with the crossing, Sonya eventually got her chance.

Part of a campaign with Land Rover and Outside Magazine, the video series highlights adventurers and other pioneers that are driven toward greatness no matter what challenge they face.  To see if Sonya accomplished her goal and to check out videos of other driven individuals, check out: www.outsideonline.com/driven