Yikes!

[Asanagoo]

I was hoping for some waves this week, but DAMN!

[spudnut]

Can you get some pictures? I would love to see big surf on a lake!

[Asanagoo]

Can you get some pictures? I would love to see big surf on a lake!

Sure, I'll take some pics. I dunno if I'll find full 16 foot waves by the time I get to the water. They probably won't be the prettiest waves either!

[Asanagoo]

So here's the scoop. This was a massive NW wind swell that blew up all down Lake Michigan, peaking around late morning on Friday Sep. 30th, then gradually diminishing thru Saturday afternoon. I got to the water about 2 pm on Friday and this is what it looked like.

IMG_0490.jpg (193.93 KiB) Viewed 11284 times

IMG_0485.jpg (192.37 KiB) Viewed 11284 times

IMG_0479.jpg (158.66 KiB) Viewed 11284 times

[Asanagoo]

...then this is what I found on dawn patrol Saturday morning!

And I was the first one out, with my paipo!!!

IMG_0543.jpg (218.66 KiB) Viewed 11284 times

[Asanagoo]

Sorry for triple posting, but I couldn't figure out how to get the images to show up in the right order, so I just split it into another post. I don't know who these guys are, I just wanted to show the scale of the waves to the riders. It actually got fairly crowded by noon this day.

[Uncle Grumpy]

What kind of water temps are you dealing with ?

[Asanagoo]

The water temp was 62 degrees. Air was in the 40's with what must have been 30 or 40 mph gusts of wind on Friday. Getting my longboard back to the car was probably the most difficult part of the weekend!

[Uncle Grumpy]

The water here in "Sunny San Clemente" is the same temp
At least the air temp's in the low 60's too.
Water was 67° just a couple days ago.

One day of 20 knot wind on Friday knocked it down overnight and the first winter storm of the season is on the horizon so it looks like it's full suits, full time until next May or June.........

Glad you got some freshwater waves and I have to say you made me very thankful I don't have to wait for it to blow 50 knots before there's some surf!
Stay Stoked

[Asanagoo]

My only full suit is a 3 mil, and I'm not exactly rolling in cash, so unless I find a killer deal on some cold water gear I'll probably only get out a few more times between now and spring.

My goal in the meantime is to build at least one alaia and several more paipo, then show up at the beach in spring with the freakiest quiver ever seen at the great lakes!

[spudnut]

Thanks for posting some pics of Great Lake surf! It does look cold. I find that I need an extra thick wetsuit when I use a neutral bouyant board. If anyone gets a chance to try a Patagonia wetsuit, they are incredible. They are expensive, but in the spring they go on sale and I got mine for 40% off.

[Uncle Grumpy]

SWIMPAL got me a Patagucci R3 for my birthday a couple years ago.
The most comfortable, warmest, easiest to get into wettie I've ever had.
Love the wool lining.
Well worth the money if you spend much time in the water.

[Asanagoo]

Sweet, thanks for the recommendation. I've been window shopping on ebay and saw one or two of those. If not for this winter, definitely by next winter. Extra buoyancy is definitely welcome in fresh water!