"I was like, `Wow, this is heaven,"' he said.
Most people never see surfers because they visit the Great Lakes during pleasant days at the beach. "Everyone takes sick days on the nice, sunny days," said Matthew Roy, a second-generation Lake Erie surfer. "We wait for the nasty days."
Those nasty days can occur in summer, but they arrive regularly during autumn, when waves can grow dangerously big. Nothing demonstrates the power of the Great Lakes better than the legacy of the Edmund Fitzgerald. On Nov. 10, 1975, the 222m freighter sank in 9m seas on Lake Superior, 27km from Whitefish Bay, Michigan. All 29 men aboard were lost.
Now, as the gales of November turn to December and January along the Great Lakes, snow will fall and so will the water temperature. "The winter is the best time for me," Schaus said. "When the weather starts changing, then the fair-weather surfers go away."
"On the ocean they say, `A surfer leaves nothing behind but his footprints in the sand,"' Schaus said. "A Great Lakes surfer leaves nothing behind in the sand -- or the snow."
Other than a lack of salinity in the Great Lakes, the main difference between lake surf and ocean surf is wave formation. Lake waves are generated by high winds blowing in one direction over a sustained period. Ocean waves are whipped up by isolated storms, often thousands of kilometers offshore. Great Lakes waves arrive and disappear in a shorter time frame than ocean waves.
Predicting surf requires basic knowledge because each lakeshore develops waves under different circumstances. A comprehensive source for this and other information is the book Surfing the Great Lakes by PL Strazz. It covers everything an aspiring surfer would need, in a simple, entertaining format.
Another resource is the forum at www.thirdcoastsurfshop.com, which offers advice from experienced lake surfers.
Vince Deur, a filmmaker and Great Lakes surfer, offered his own recommendations: Gain experience by learning during the summer, when waves and the risk of hypothermia are lower, and never surf alone. After September, a 6mm-thick wetsuit with hood, gloves and booties is a must. Board selection depends largely on a person's height, weight and personal preference. And use a leash to stay connected to the board.
RSS