Customer Reviews

Surfing the Great Lakes

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Ok, This book does lack pictures that would give the reader a better feel for what the Great Lakes can produce. But this book is hilarious, and because I am a Great Lakes surfer I could relate to almost all of the stories. Especially when one surfer (a California transplant) describes the beating he was taking at Grand Haven, Michigan. When the waves wedge up along the jetty there, they really jack up with a punch. I have bounced off the bottom plenty of times in G.H. This book does lack great pictures, but it is full of great stories. It should be a part of every surfers library.

I grew up in Grand Haven/Spring Lake Michigan and moved away after high school. I have told everyone I know about surfing the Great Lakes and nobody understood until now. Thank you for putting out a book with so much soul. The Californian who said, "Small waves, Small book," well, I say, "Small mind, Small (...)" This book isn't about wave size it is about dedication and love for surfing, no matter what the size of the wave, or temp. of the water..It is not about the color of your wetsuits or coolness of your board, it is a book for anyone who loves the water and surfing. The people who took the time to compile their experiences are an inspiration to any surfer. They show dedication and comeradery. I will remember them everytime I get in the water.
This book is worth getting wherever you surf.

Thank you great lake warriors.
Stefanie Paige Friedman

I have lived in Michigan for two years. I will be here two more because of my job and I will say this. I grew up in California and surfed most of my life and consider myself a "soul surfer". Someone who rides waves not to be seen but strictly for myself. I have talked to people when there was not so much developement on some ofthe coast line of California and what that was like. No crowds and no kooks. Michigan surfing is like that now. Michigan will never be California or the northwest coast but it is what a person (man, woman or child) that loves to surf can dream about. Get out of the car walk to the shore and paddle out wihtout passing neon surf shops and a bunch of "dudes" with brand new sticks that rarely get wet. Also, there is no sneaking out onto "private" property to get rid of crowds that are always present in California. I have surfed The Strand, Santa Cruz, Hunington, and numerous other places in California and Florida and I will say that I have never met more people that are simply surfing for the love of it. In short a great book about one of the few places left actually "just surf".

Milwaukee Surfer
This book is a must for people starting to surf the great lakes. It gives great insight to weather conditions and lets you know how to get started.

My husband is one of those crazy great lakes surfers. Over the years, I have traveled to various surf spots around the country and into Mexico with him (vacations are always governed by where the surf will be at that time). I have found that the great lakes surfers are the most misunderstood surfers around. Most ocean surfers just can't believe that there really are places to surf on the great lakes. Do you know how many times I have heard "surfing Lake Michigan, you've got to be kidding, were?" Grand Haven has one of the best spots around on the big lake. It was great to finally see a book letting people know that there are quite a few Great Lakes Surfers out there and they do know how hold their own while riding big waves. I personally have seen waves at Grand Haven in the fall stretching to 10 feet or higher. That does not stop surfers from going out and showing off their stuff. I am very glad to see that the great lakes surfers can hold their own in the surfing community along side ocean surfers and this book helps show that.
My husband has owned this book since if first came out and I can only say one more thing about it "Awesome Book!"

It took me three days to put this little marvel down once I started reading it. I've surfed everywhere from California to Costa Rica to Florida to New Jersey, and having recently moved with my husband to Ohio, I thought I'd never surf again. But now this book! The photos, maps and charts are incredible, and the text clearly and intelligently describes how and where to catch freshwater waves. Here I thought my surf life was over. Not by a long shot.

This is really one of the more remarkable pieces of nonfiction i've read in a while. I'll admit to being somewhat skeptical about surfing on the great lakes before i read it, but after i read my boyfriend's copy, i think it is incredible. The info in the book is voluminous, and the photos are great. Sure, not all of them depict head-high waves, but there's more than 250 pix in the book! From people surfing all over the lakes! Way to go!

This is a good attempt at a sport which there are few and for good reasons...cold water and small surf. I am a Great Lakes Surfer. The pictures killed the book. I have surfed clean head high+ waves that compete with any ocean on Lake Michigan. It is hard to create an interest in a sport where we surf year round, with bad pcitures. I have seen and surfed real ocean like waves here, but was very upset that none of those pictures made it into the book, could be none exsist. Surf does exsist here, and more time is needed to photograph and document the surf. It's complex and you have to WANT to surf, even if the air is 20 and the water is 38 degrees. Maybe next time.

The only thing smaller than the waves pictured in this book are the pictures of these miniature waves. The cover describes this as a guide to "Monster waves", yet where are they? In all the years this area was alledgedly surfed, surely there must be at least one picture of a "monster" wave. Nothing here appears larger than typical afternoon wind-chop in the three foot range. I feel sorry for these landlocked wannabees.

The tiny waves depicted in this book are only exceeded by the tiny waves on these lakes. Surely after all these years a picture of an alleged "monster" wave should appear, but is absent. The largest of these waves are about the size that us ocean surfers exit when the afternoon winds chop up the morning glass. The diminutive size of the book is prophetic, no real waves here, no real surfers either.