Surfing the Great Lakes: Giles Schlehuber on Community, Culture, and Five Lakes Surf Club

Over in the Midwest, we at FLSC caught wind of another FLSC – the Five Lakes Surf Club. A shared name and shared passion brought us together, and we had to learn more about the individuals trading saltwater for freshwater.

We spoke with founder of Five Lakes Surf Club Giles Schlehuber, a Michigan native whose love for Great Lakes surfing is matched only by his dedication to preserving its culture. Read on to discover how the lakes keep Giles inspired, and how he balances community and creativity in this month's spotlight story.

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Q: Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what initially sparked your passion for surfing?

Giles: I’m Giles Schlehuber, I am 28 years old and born and raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan surrounded by Lake Huron, Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. I body surfed in Michigan growing up and did all kinds of water sports. It wasn’t until college that I surfed for the first time on a board on Lake Michigan. That first surf got me and now I’ve surfed all over the lakes and the Atlantic. It’s the flow state and everything coming together that leads to catching a wave. When you take what you’ve practiced and it all works without consciously thinking about it, and you catch the wave, everything disappears and the world feels like it’s supposed to. I also saw a lot of Great Lakes surfing stuff with palm trees and I just hate that. We have pines and birch trees. Own what you have, don’t try to be the ocean, you know?

Q: How does going for a surf and being in the lake affect your mood and well-being?

Giles: Clean slate. If I’m overwhelmed, frantic, tired, I leave the water feeling like I just got some solid work done. It doesn’t matter if I wasn’t productive that day or if I am in a tough spot in a relationship. I got my surf in and I can tackle anything. Especially in the lakes when the paddle out is such an onslaught. I’m brand new when I get out of the water.

Q: What does "community" mean to you, and how has surfing, particularly on the Great Lakes, shaped your community and connections?

Giles: Community in the lakes means something in the loneliness of the winter. Midwest winters are hard but when you know other surfers are suiting up and jumping in the frigid water with you, there is a camaraderie that is unmatched. This could be the only thing we have in common but I know that at this moment, we’re on the same page going through the same thing. That forms people. Common struggle and making the most of our home.

Q: What inspired you to start Five Lakes Surf Club? Can you share the story behind it?

Giles: I was so inspired by homemade Great Lakes Surf Association zines of elders in our community and the documentary “Unsalted.” Unfortunately, the GLSA leaders are aging out and the torch didn’t really get passed on. I talked with elders and they said it would be best to let the GLSA do it’s own thing and to start my own separate thing. I had so much energy and passion for telling people about what we have that Five Lakes was just born from me not being able to hold back about Great Lakes surfing. I dream of it at night and think about it by day.

Q: What does documenting and preserving the culture of the Great Lakes mean to you? Why is it important to you?

Giles: The culture that precedes me is one of adventure and discovery. We are home to 20% of the world’s freshwater and surf in one of the most unique places in the world. This hardy group of people is respectful and warm. We share waves and we love surfing. It’s the aloha spirit alive in the lakes. It’s important to remember who first did this and their attitude in order to keep what they created going. It’s important because I see a lot of crowded spots and places where tourists and locals don’t respect the land or the surfers.

Q: How do you think the surf culture of the Great Lakes has changed over time?

Giles: I have been in the community for less than 10 years since I’m still pretty young but I’d say the forecasting has gotten a lot easier and wetsuits have made the sport more accessible. There is more online support as well as shops functioning around the lakes. People are beginning to understand that it even exists which is a start as well. In previous decades, it has been hard to convince people you can surf on a lake. It’s getting slightly more accepted in mainstream.

Q: We really enjoy your Great Lakes Surf Towns Series. Are there any great lake surf communities in particular you’ve been surprised by, find particularly unique, or just want to highlight?

Giles: Duluth, MN is what we might consider the best wave in the lakes. It doesn’t fire all the time but when it does, it’s the most impressive wave. It breaks boards and can go overhead to well overhead. There are photos of a guy’s leash that cut through his board from the power of the wave. Grand Haven and Sheboygan are the closest we have to a historic surf town like Malibu. There is a ton of punk culture going on at the pier and beach in Grand Haven. Lots of young guys who claim the spot as theirs. Although that’s not necessarily my scene and I don’t promote localism, I actually like that something like this exists, even if it’s only for the history books and good photos.

Q: Between full-time work, being a dad, and running Five Lakes Surf Club, how do you manage to balance everything, and what drives you to keep showing up for the project?

Giles: Hahahahahahha…oh man. Well, I’m a freelance graphic designer. Frankly FLSC gets a lot of my devoted attention even though it doesn’t pay. Some days the energy isn’t there but I have this need to write inside of me. It has to go somewhere. FLSC keeps me going because now the community expects it. There is a little ecosystem of people that look forward to the content and storytelling. It’s my job to deliver it. Being a dad and husband comes first. If a social media post has to get delayed a day, the world won’t end. Five Lakes might end one day, but I am a dad and husband for life.

Q: Are there any goals you're currently working toward? How do you envision the future of Five Lakes Surf Club?

Giles: I have so many ideas. It’s endless. The goals on my whiteboard are as follows:

Shapers of the Lakes series, IG cadence, short film, livestream event, launch newsletter, launch podcast interviews, Great Lakes Surf Festival, e-book, Surf Towns series, documentary viewings. 

I would love to make this the primary thing that I do, but it’s a small space. The vision is growing and Five Lakes is still under a year old (Sept. 5) so it’s transforming everyday. I think it could become a solid staple in the lake community. I hope it continues to be the place that people will visit to learn and to share stories, make friends, etc. I want to host in person events. I really enjoy the type of community building that First Light shepherds.