Lake surfing
Encyclopedia
Lake surfing is a form of surfing
that takes place primarily on the Great Lakes
, where a large surface area and strong storms, particularly in the fall and winter, can produce large waves. During these surf seasons there is usually snow on the ground and some ice in the water, requiring some serious dedication.
. Besides surfing pioneer Duke Kahanamoku
, Blake is the only other man to be inducted into both the International Surfing Hall of Fame and the International Swimming Hall of Fame
.
hosts the annual Dairyland Surf Classic, the largest lake surfing competition in the world. http://www.allaboutsurf.com/articles/dairyland
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
that takes place primarily on the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
, where a large surface area and strong storms, particularly in the fall and winter, can produce large waves. During these surf seasons there is usually snow on the ground and some ice in the water, requiring some serious dedication.
History
Thomas E. Blake was the first to surf to Lake SuperiorLake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
. Besides surfing pioneer Duke Kahanamoku
Duke Kahanamoku
Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku was a Hawaiian swimmer, actor, lawman, early beach volleyball player and businessman credited with spreading the sport of surfing. He was a five-time Olympic medalist in swimming.-Early years:The name "Duke" is not a title, but a given name...
, Blake is the only other man to be inducted into both the International Surfing Hall of Fame and the International Swimming Hall of Fame
International Swimming Hall of Fame
The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of swimming in the United States and around...
.
Dairyland Surf Classic
Sheboygan, WisconsinSheboygan, Wisconsin
-Airport:Sheboygan is served by the Sheboygan County Memorial Airport, which is located several miles from the city.-Roads:Interstate 43 is the primary north-south transportation route into Sheboygan, and forms the west boundary of the city. U.S...
hosts the annual Dairyland Surf Classic, the largest lake surfing competition in the world. http://www.allaboutsurf.com/articles/dairyland
Significant differences from ocean surfing
- Reduced board buoyancy in freshwater
- Shorter fetchFetch (geography)The fetch, often called the fetch length, is the length of water over which a given wind has blown. It is used in geography and meteorology and is usually associated with coastal erosion. It plays a large part in longshore drift as well....
means storm systems are much closer to the waves they produce, resulting in rougher conditions - Shorter frequency between waves
- Winds onshore produce waves as opposed to offshore winds smoothing out the face of the wave.
- Dangers from marine life (e.g. Sharks, jellyfish, etc.) in ocean surfing do not apply in lake surfing.