New to kneel on the great lakes

ryan · Post by **ryan** » Mon Nov 24, 2003 6:02 pm

Thanks Beeline! I have no site; we'll see if this URL works (from lakesurf.com).

There is an aussie living in Illinois who kneeboards, but I'm not sure how active he is.

Hope this works:

http://lakesurf.infopop.net/2/OpenTopic ... 1423027057

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Mon Nov 24, 2003 6:58 pm

Ryan and Indygoofyfoot,

Great to know you're out there kneeboarding the Great Lakes. While I started my surfing in Santa Cruz in 8th grade, I spent my last two years of high school and one year of college in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Was I surprised the first time a saw a swell with 6' faces breaking 1/4-1/2 mile out on weird sand bars at Big Bay north of town! My brother ("Man'o'war" on this site) and I scrambled to have boards (standup ones--we still didn't think it was kneeboardable) shipped out from California. The swells were certainly few and far between, and we surfed some awfully crappy waves by west coast standards, but we had such stoke! We saw some crunching days, especially at McKinley beach, when I wouldn't want to ride it on anything except a kneeboard, but we didn't have one around.

Yes, the Step Into Liquid flick missed it in terms of showing decent lake waves, but I think they succeeded in their real goal to just show excitement about surfing in any conditions. I have attached a good pic of Big Bay (near Milwaukee) so the rest can see what occasionally springs up. I've surfed some pretty amazing waves in my life both in three years living on Oahu and in the Santa Cruz area for the last 22 years, but the raw stoke I felt when the waves finally hit the Lake, or when we first walked across the ice on the beach for the first spring surf, was unforgettable in its own right.

If I was to move back to Lake Michigan, I'd definitely take a big aussie-style tri-fin--that would be the loosest and surf the mushiest waves. And I'd take up some other hobbies waiting for the good days!

Great airbrush on the squid board! Rip it up out there on the Lakes--I'm sure you'll blow some minds--but do make plans to come out to the West Coast and meet the crew of kneelos on this site from San Diego to SF--I'm sure we'd all work to show you two a great time.

Check this out for some quick pics of decent Lake waves:

http://www.surfingvancouverisland.com/s ... /index.htm

Below is a pic of Big Bay, Wisconsin

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Mon Nov 24, 2003 7:53 pm

And here's one other pic of north Lake Michigan that's the biggest wave I've ever seen ridden on the lakes. I think it safe to say we could all kneeboard this one.

Scott

doc · Post by **doc** » Mon Nov 24, 2003 7:56 pm

ryan wrote:Thanks Beeline! I have no site; we'll see if this URL works (from lakesurf.com).

There is an aussie living in Illinois who kneeboards, but I'm not sure how active he is.

Hope this works:

http://lakesurf.infopop.net/2/OpenTopic ... 1423027057

Hook up with Craig, who runs the lakesurf.com site, tell him you know Doc from Cape Cod. He'll also give you plenty of URL space if you like, good guy. Just don't try to drink with him.... trust me on this....

http://www.lakesurf.com/NE.htm

doc......................

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Mon Nov 24, 2003 10:43 pm

And finally, my all-time favorite Lake Michigan pic by John Newgard (who has probably done more to explore and photograph the surf of the various Lakes than anyone else I've seen). This sizzling wave (with another behind it) is at a place called "Winch's". A potential kneelo paradise a thousand miles from the ocean! I like to share this one with anyone who can't believe the Great Lakes ever get waves.

hart · Post by **hart** » Mon Nov 24, 2003 11:53 pm

Scott,

You have added to my interest..this is so surreal. It's like obvious (?) that it's not the ocean, so you wonder like where it actually is.

To an Australian who's sitting in the middle of a Southerly in Sydney, it could very well be a dream.

To surfers everywhere.

Indygoofyfoot · Post by **Indygoofyfoot** » Tue Nov 25, 2003 5:12 am

As president of the Great Lakes Surfing Association I know a good portion of the surfers around if only by reputation. I know of John Newgard by reputation only, but understand that he is a true pioneer for the fresh water experience. Craig in the other hand, I know very well was actually on the phone to him last night. He is a great advocate for surfing and has done much for our community here. We have our annual holiday party next week it is an gathering of surfers from all over the lakes. Remember, there is more coastline on the great lakes than on the east and west coasts of the US combined. That fact kind of highlights the infinite possibilities for surfable waves.
I actually grew up surfing in La Jolla and frequented many different areas, I remember as a kid, the paddle up to Black's (Pre-Surfer Magazine expose) We would go there to get away from the crowds of the Shores and Scripps. Thats Pre Ardath road days when the only I-5 exits where Carmel valley road and Garnet ave.
My brother still is active in the area and my son an avid surfer has moved back to San Diego several years ago and lived in PB for the last four years. He just got transferred to Palo Alto so will be surfing the Santa Cruz area.
My point to all this is that I get out there frequently to keep my skills sharp. So if you see a guy sportin' a GLSA shirt stop him and say Aloha.
P.S. Ryan if you want me to post pics email em to me I'll put em on my site and provide you with a link. I know everyone would like to see some of your boardbuilding craft.

ryan · Post by **ryan** » Tue Nov 25, 2003 6:42 am

Thanks Geoff! I'll see if I can round some more up. I'm not familiar with having to have a URL; have only uploaded jpegs directly.

Ha Doc! Yeah, Craig is a character, especially after a few beers !

A really nice guy who would help you out anytime, and like Geoff said, has done a great thing by brigning lake surfers together with his site.

Scott, nice pic of Big Bay! You basically summed up the lakesurfing experience. The good days make it that much more special, and the stoke is through the roof. No localism, only a bunch of cool people. Newguard is definitely one of the pioneering explorers on the lakes. That Winch's shot is at stony point on northern Lake Michigan. The swell that day was in the 20'+ range; that wave is about head+ because it has to wrap around the point into the bay. Nice!

I am young but was lucky enough to live in the Cruz for a couple years, have also surfed SoCal, Outer Banks, Oregon, and Baja. Knowing what good waves are, the lakes can be very frustrating. The comradarie and occasional good days make it worth the wait.

I am graduating from University this semester and plan to move from the lakes for now. I itch for salt, hope to spend some time on the west coast again and also do some surf traveling.

My next shape will be a stab at an aussie inspired kneelo. Thanks again for the great site and all the stoke!

doc · Post by **doc** » Tue Nov 25, 2003 7:57 am

heee... yeah, I get a kick out of Craig. He do charge it some. We gotta get him to upgrade his beer though....gah.

You guys see him, please pass on my best regards. And if you'd like a little salt in your diet, you're welcome here.....

doc......

Indygoofyfoot · Post by **Indygoofyfoot** » Wed Nov 26, 2003 8:21 am

Nope not at all....... here's a noname spot, not a kneelo but not terrible wave either!!!

fooj · Post by **fooj** » Wed Nov 26, 2003 8:46 pm

How long is the wait for surfable waves? What about good days? Is winter the only time you get waves?

Flexman · Post by **Flexman** » Wed Nov 26, 2003 10:23 pm

hart · Post by **hart** » Wed Nov 26, 2003 11:40 pm

Indygoofyfoot..

Have you ever considered polystyrene foam instead of polyurethane to assist with the bouyancy aspects of fresh water?

Happy Thanksgiving from OZ.

tumak · Post by **tumak** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 2:06 pm

Well, I'm surfing various surfcraft, including the balsa singlefin pictured in the gallery, down here in Brevard County, FL. But the first place I ever surfed was at the mouth of the Au Sable river, on the western shore of Lake Huron. That was June of 1966. I think we may have surfed a paddleboard out there during the summer of '65, at a little place called Hans' Pier, now that I think of it. We had no wetsuits! It was cold, but it was really fantastic! Now I think how nice it must be to NEVER EVER even THINK about sharks. Down here, whenever I'm out with the little balsa, I'm always a little nervous...there are lots of sharks around here! Hats off to all you GL surfers! Stay stoked!

red · Post by **red** » Sun Dec 14, 2003 8:03 pm

How clean are the lakes?
Thought the water quality was really bad?

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