Keep the North Cold is a winter fan account run by local Minnesota outfitter and fashion brand Askov Finlayson.

Perhaps no other state in the U.S. embraces the winter season as much as Minnesota. From figure skating to pond hockey, broomball to snowshoeing, skiing to ice fishing, snowmobiling to sledding, campfires to stargazing there's no shortage of outdoor winter activities to participate in in Minnesota. Not only do Minnesotans like being outdoors in the winter, but they look good doing it!

Last October, Minnesota outfitter and fashion brand Askov Finlayson launched a fan account on Instagram called Keep the North Cold to showcase the best of Minnesota in the winter.

The account -- which shares images taken by other Instagram accounts -- recently launched a photo contest.

"Share an image that represents your love of winter and tell us what motivates you in the fight to protect it," the account encouraged in a recent post. "Tag us and @askovfinlayson in the photo, and we'll select a weekly winner to receive a warm winter hat with our favorite submission each month receiving a parka. Gear up, get out there, and good luck!"

The first winning photo -- taken by photographer Liz Banfield and posted last week to the Keep the North Cold account -- features synchronized skaters performing a routine on Lake of the Isles.

The skaters are part of a local synchronized skating organization called the Northernettes. According to the team's website, the Northernettes was founded by Alana Christie in 2017 "to create high level competitive synchronized skating based in Minneapolis/St. Paul."

"This inspiring @lizbanfield photo was last week’s winner of our @keepthenorthcold winter photography contest," said Askov Finlayson of the photo. "There are still a couple weeks left to be eligible for January's monthly prize: a Winter Parka with our compliments."