Discovering the Great Lakes Surfing Community
One of the most rewarding aspects of being part of First Light Surf Club is witnessing the incredible community it has brought together. It’s connected me with people I might never have met otherwise—a community that spans not just locally but across the U.S. and even the globe. There’s something special about how a shared love of surfing can create instant bonds, no matter where you’re from.
My First Connection with Michigan’s Surf Scene
One such connection is Logan, a Michigan resident and Great Lakes surfer. I first met Logan over the summer when he was staying in California. He noticed my First Light Surf Club hat, made a comment, and we struck up a conversation. I quickly learned that he was from Michigan, a state I’ve visited many times because my wife went to college there. At the time, I knew little about surfing the lakes, but I was fascinated to hear about it and the dedicated community of surfers who embrace it.
After heading back to Michigan, Logan and I stayed in touch. Occasionally, he’d send me photos of pumping waves on Lake Michigan that deepened my curiosity about freshwater surfing. As someone who has always lived by the Pacific Ocean, the concept of surfing the Great Lakes felt foreign. The fact that there are surfable waves in a body of freshwater seems crazy—and that people brave freezing cold water, wind, and snow to ride them—but not just ride them, get absolutely stoked about them. I knew the next time I found myself in Michigan, I’d be reaching out to Logan to see for myself what Great Lakes surfing is all about.
Experiencing Lake Michigan Surfing Firsthand
That opportunity came earlier this year when I traveled to Michigan for a friend’s wedding. I texted Logan to see if there might be waves during my trip. He assured me there was a good chance and kindly offered to gear me up with everything I’d need—wetsuit, gloves, booties, and all. A 6mm suit isn’t exactly something I keep handy in Southern California, so the offer was much appreciated.
The morning I was meeting up with Logan to surf, I woke before dawn to meet at Logan’s house at First Light. In Michigan, that’s easier—sunrise doesn’t come until around 8 a.m. in the winter. Snow blanketed the ground from the storm the day prior, and the temperature was a brisk 20°F, not accounting for the wind chill. At Logan’s house, we suited up in wetsuits and booties, packed the longboards, and headed to the beach. On the drive, Logan shared some local knowledge: gloves go on the dashboard to warm up, and the waves will be way more fun than they look.
We parked on the side of the road since the beach parking lot was closed for winter. Before exiting the car, Logan instructed me to put my gloves on now in the warmth of the car. After harnessing every last ounce of heat we could from the refuge of the warm car, we stepped out into the cold and unloaded our boards. Logan was kind enough to let me ride one of his longboards shaped by local shaper Ryan Addicott, and he was riding a Bing single fin log. With today’s conditions, a longboard was the board of choice.
Finally, boards in hand, we trudged across snow-covered sand to the shore. The wind was doing its best to blow the longboard out of my arms the whole way. The beach was icy at the water’s edge, and Logan warned me to tread carefully. As I looked out at the waves, my expectations were low—the waves didn’t look promising by my typical standards. Regardless of whether Logan was right about the waves being better than they looked, I was just excited about the new experience.
Freshwater Surfing: More Than Just Novelty
Logan and I began paddling out in the wind-tossed crumbly surf. I had no idea where to sit as I could see no clear point where it was consistently breaking. I paddled until Logan sat up on his board. The local knowledge was key as I watched Logan pick off a fun right. I then turned for the one behind it and just like that, my first lake wave was ridden. The wave was indeed better than it looked from the shore, just as Logan had promised.
As we surfed, I spotted a chunk of ice floating by. Logan had mentioned the occasional iceberg, but actually seeing one while surfing was surreal. Back home, I dodge seaweed; here, I dodge icebergs.
Despite the water temperature being 39°F and wind chill being in the single digits, I stayed surprisingly warm in the 6mm wetsuit. My gloves were so toasty even my hands got a little clammy. Thanks to Needessentials for making great gear! Quality equipment is—dare I say, essential in places like this. Initially, I was nervous that maybe my nose would get cold at the very least, but I was too busy catching waves to really mind. It was trippy, though, seeing in my peripherals the icicles forming on my head. Maybe on my next visit to Michigan, I’ll let the beard grow to get the full “Ice Beard” experience.
The only people out in the water were Logan and I as far as I could see along the beach. This was a treat compared to the typical crowded breaks in Southern California. The waves weren’t just novelty—they were genuinely fun, carrying us down the beach on a number of long rides.
Appreciating the Great Lakes Surf Culture
As the swell began to die down, we decided to head in. The stoke level was high, and I nearly forgot Logan’s caution to watch my step on the slippery icy shoreline. Back at the car, the cold hit fast as we slipped off our gloves and loaded the boards. It's as if the cold air was making up for lost time on our newly exposed fingers. We got in the car still fully suited up and turned on the heat as quickly as possible. My wetsuit hood was frozen solid, and it took the full blast of the car’s heater to thaw it out and peel it off.
On the drive back to Logan’s house, we reflected on the morning’s waves. Logan shared stories about the local surf community and the history of lake surfing, which dates back to the 1950s. He even drove me by some sand dunes that become a mini ski “resort” in the winter. Many people spend their weekends going from surfing to snowboarding. It was eye-opening to learn how vibrant and tight-knit this Mid West surfing community is.
Thanks to Logan for bringing me along to surf the lake with him and imparting his local knowledge. The experience reminded me that surfing is about so much more than the waves—it’s about the people who ride them, the stories we share, and the connections we form. The surfers here have a unique passion and resilience, creating a vibrant community in the most unlikely of places. It’s inspiring to see how they’ve found joy and purpose in the Great Lakes, proving that the stoke of surfing has no limits.
