Let me start by saying I’m not a surfer, and no one in my family surfs. I bring this perspective to you as an observer. I had no idea how broad this world was here on the Great Lakes until we started Midwest Vertical, and I began following accounts on Instagram associated with Great Lakes surfing. It revealed something about our region that I find most remarkable – the breadth of activities we can do here within a short drive. Once you scratch under the surface, you see a booming culture of humans who have fully embraced these lakes in a different way – and they want you to try it, too.
They live for the bad weather days. Like sailors, they want the wind.
As an observer, here’s what makes Great Lakes surfers truly awesome: They live for the bad weather days. Like sailors, they want the wind. But they also seem to thrive in those cold fall days when the autumn storms kick up some of the best waves in between the heat of summer and the ice of winter.
The Great Lakes Surf Festival is like a family gathering with art and culture. Gear shops dot the beach, ready to outfit you with everything you need for your surf adventure. The people behind the local shops, or Ella at Sleeping Bear Surf in Empire, Michigan, like Andy at EOS Surf Shop in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, are the torchbearers of the sport. Yes, I’ll come for a lesson… soon.
There has always been a strong connection between the visual arts and surfing, going back 3,000 years to Peru, where some of the world’s first historians carved reliefs of surfers. The Great Lakes Surf Fest celebrates this connection with two art exhibits. The first is a display of the best surf photographs of the year, where attendees can vote for their number one pick. The winning photographer is awarded.
The festival’s flagship art project is the annual Surfboard ART, which involves local and regional businesses decorating 4-foot surfboard cutouts. These are then auctioned off at the festival, with all proceeds going to a charity chosen by the surfboard art director.
The Surf Fest also features live music, raffle prizes, food trucks, a yoga session, and surf lessons for all ages throughout the day.
