Hit The Third Coast For International Surfing Day
By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 20, 2012 3:30PM
Today is International Surfing Day and, even though Chicago is nowhere near the coasts, surfing enthusiasts can take their boards to Lake Michigan and (try) to catch a wave.
Chicago Park District regulations allow for surfing in season (read: between Memorial Day and Labor Day) at Montrose and 57th Street Beaches. Between Labor Day and Memorial Day surfers can use Montrose, 57th Street, Rainbow Beach, and Osterman Beach. During the summer months the Park District and/or the lifeguards on duty have the final say as to whether surfing will be allowed, and surfers dip into Lake Michigan at their own risk.
Today would be a good day to take a board to the beach and the 1st Annual SUP Race, Ride & Glide to benefit young adult cancer survivors is happening through noon at Montrose Avenue Beach. But it's been our experience that the waves are better on Lake Michigan in winter.
Remember Rex Flodstrom, who was arrested in January for surfing Oak Street Beach in a case that attracted the attention of world champion surfer Kelly Slater? The waves and breaks are shorter in period than ocean waves, but to the dedicated surfer, still worth riding to the shore if they can catch the right one
That doesn't mean people don't try to surf during the summer. Here's a 2007 video of surfers tackling Lake Michigan, as it were.
Here's some video from September 2010 of some surprising waves and surfers riding them.
Or maybe we should try surfing Lake Superior in spring.