Great Lakes Surfing: Iced Out

Like all seasons in the Midwest, weather can be unpredictable. But winter is especially finnicky.

In the past several years, warm, wet winters seem to have been the trend with events like the Polar Vortex of 2019 fading into memory. While snowbanks don't reach the tops of telephone poles like they once did in the 70s, the occasional bout of harsh weather does cover us.

It takes a lot of cold to freeze the Great Lakes. The average annual ice coverage across all the lakes in recent years is below 40%. In previous decades (70s and prior), it was closer to 50% and higher. And remember, the lakes freeze from shoreline to center meaning our precious surf spots are the first to go.

With the cold fronts that descended on the Midwest this last week, lake surfers all around are finding themselves iced out of their local breaks, unable to safely enter the water. Some may see relief soon with warmer temps and thawing, yet those with heavy ice may be locked out for the remainder of the winter. It's time for a tropical surf trip or a new hobby.

We know waves are best in fall and winter, but in the past decade, we've been spoiled with mild winters, allowing us to surf continuously throughout the entire winter. If you are itching to get into the water, now could be an opportunity to find others in the lake community who are not yet frozen. It's a win-win. You could make a friend and surf a new spot.

A quick note on safety: please do not walk on ice or bluffs as you can fall through and if you are considering surfing with any amount of ice shelf, it's advisable to have two or more exit strategies and a surf buddy.

Be safe and let us know what you do to keep busy when the lakes freeze!

Reach out to us at fivelakessurfclub@gmail.com with any inquiries.