Feeling Minnesota
Justin Cote
- December 23 2008
- 4,668 views
- 21 comments
December 15, 2008 saw epic conditions on the North Shore. Not that North Shore—the North Shore of Lake Superior, just north of Duluth, Minnesota, far removed from the swaying palms, soothing trade winds, and 78-degree water of Oahu. I’d even bet that the waves at Stoney Point, Minnesota were better than those at Pipeline that day. Crazy? Trust me, the entire North Shore was flooded, flat, rainy, and brown while surfers on the other North Shore were enjoying chest-to-head high, offshore-groomed freshwater surf. Albeit, the air temperature was minus 10 degrees and the water a not-so-balmy 34 degrees…hardcore doesn’t even begin to describe the surfers of Minnesota’s North Shore!—Justin Cote
After seeing a few photos of the session, we did a bit of research and tracked down Bob Tema from the Lake Superior Surf Club for a quick chat…
What was the water temp that day Bob?
Bob Tema: We’re not really sure because they’ve pulled the buoys in (from the lake) but it’s usually in the mid 30s by this point in the year. It reaches its cold point right about now in mid-December. If it gets any colder the lake will freeze over.
How often does that happen?
On average, it freezes solid every fifteen years but in the winter we always have ice on the shore and floating ice fields that shift around with the wind. The harbors and other shallow areas are always freezing up, too.
Do you guys surf right there in Duluth or do you make treks to other spots?
One of the more popular spots, the Lester River mouth, is right there in town. A little further up the coast, in the wild nature area, is Stoney Point, and anything North of there is kinda secluded—we call it the North Shore ironically enough. So yeah, there’s a bunch of breaks in town (Duluth, Minnesota) and more up North all the way to Canada.
Are you guys wearing drysuits or just normal ones?
We wear regular surfing suits, 6mm with built-in hoods. Personally I wear a 5/4/3mm—I think that’s just fine with a hood, booties, and gloves. I usually stay pretty warm, but it’s usually your feet and hands that get cold fast.
My feet and hands get cold in 59-degree water! Anyway, what’s the local surf scene like there up in Duluth?
It’s pretty amazing and has grown a lot in the last five years. I’ve been doing this for ten years and it used to be just my buddy, Brian Stabinger, and me and we’d only come across another guy every now and then. All of this time we’ve had our site (www.superiorsurfclub.com) so I don’t know if it’s due to the site or just improved communication over the Internet. There’s now a group of about 30 guys surfing around here, and just the other day at Stoney Point I counted 16 heads in the water—the most ever. By California standards that’s a pretty light crowd, but by Lake Superior standards, that’s a pack.
Do the waves come in as sets, or is there just a steady flow of waves?
They come in as sets. The big difference is the wave period—they come in much closer together and eight seconds is considered a pretty long period. That’s because we don’t have 1,500 miles of fetch to draw out the wave period. A lot of times we’re surfing in the middle of the very storm system that generated the surf.
What’s the best part of lake surfing?
I think it’s the whole spirit of adventure and surfing in a really unlikely place. A lot of the places Brian and I have surfed have never been surfed before. We were pretty much the first to surf Stoney Point, another friend of mine, Greg, he surfed out there in the 70s, but only on small and warm days. That was before wetsuit technology really allowed anyone to get out there during the good season; which is late fall and Winter. The whole adventure part of it is really cool and keeps us coming back, and there are plenty of new spots that have yet to be surfed. The way I look at it, we have our own little, cold Indonesia out there.
There are a lot of untapped spots I’d imagine.
Very much so, but there are access issues. The Minnesota North Shore coast is very rugged; it’s all rocks, coves, and cliffs. In many places, there just aren’t roads to get in there. We haven’t gone as far as to get jet skis or anything, but someday, you know? If we take it to that level, we can really get into some of those nooks and crannies.
I’m sure you’ve thought of it before, but why don’t you move to California or Hawaii? What keeps you there?
Well I grew up in Hawaii so I’ve already been there, done that and can go back anytime. I love going back there and surfing, and I go visit a friend in Encinitas (CA), too. Again, it comes down to the adventure thing—I’m discovering untapped and unridden spots out here. The cold aspect just adds to the whole gung-ho part of it. I get away on at least one surf trip per year, I’m going to Ecuador in February, so I travel when I want to get in my warm weather destinations but I’m happy to stay right here in Minnesota to seek out all the great surf we have.
Go to www.superiorsurfclub.com for more photos and info.
Are you a freshwater surfer? Leave us your comments below!
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December 23rd, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Great story. ‘Course I’m gonna say that cause I’m the one who was interviewed. But seriously, all the facts are accurate and informative questions were asked. Great job Justin, and a big shout out to the Superior crew!
December 23rd, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Here’s more cool pics from an area photog of my Lake Superior break:
http://www.lakesuperiorphoto.com/lakesuperiorsurf0408/lakesuperiorsurfingapril2008.html
December 23rd, 2008 at 10:35 pm
East Coast versus West Coast rivalries. Same on the lakes. Lake Superior versus Lake Ontario rivalries. And it turns out just like in the ocean, Superior has better surf (like the West Coast) but Ontario has better surfers (like the East Coast). Haha, jokes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIoTX3uBfuU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5TdSPyDHHo&feature=channel_page
December 23rd, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Fresh water surfing. The thought blows my mind!
December 23rd, 2008 at 11:46 pm
great shots…..i grew up surfing the lakes and the superior shots still blow my mind……you guys are lucky….stay stoked
erik holt
December 24th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Thanks for you time Bob, keep ripping and maybe one day we’ll come out there and join you for an icy session or two!
December 24th, 2008 at 10:06 am
wow this is truely AMAZING!!! one of the most raddest things ever!! who ever would have imagined to get waves like this off a frikin lake! dayuuuuum! intensitty! better waves then myrtle beach!!!!!!!!
December 24th, 2008 at 10:07 am
wow so you guys dont have to worry bout SHARKS and your getting great waves like that gnar!!!!!!!
December 24th, 2008 at 10:51 am
maaan !!!
and nobody mentioned burton and Will driving how many hours (!?!?!?!) from racine wisconsin to get in on that c-c-c-cold but gorgeous looking swell !!!
good on ya boyz !
snake out
December 24th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Just an awsome experiance once again surfin this sleeping giant and just the drive and the awsome vibes there is nothing like it in this world for sure. Keep Surfing! Burton
December 24th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Hey guys great to see the story on Transworld!!! Wish I couldve made it up to document it as well, but couldnt get out of work friday. Sick pics, straight story - well done!
Mike
December 24th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Respect!
I’m complaining about having to switch from my 2mm to a 3/2
because the water here dropped below 60. You guys are “gnarcore”!!!!!
December 25th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
niceness!!..keep it fresh.
peace
e
December 25th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
No jellyfish, no sharks and no facefulls of saltwater, but plenty else to contend with. The temperatures and wind chill are certainly something to deal with, but the currents that make it impossible to stay in one place without constantly paddling are even tougher. The lack of bouyancy makes it harder to paddle out, paddle into waves and generally move around. The waves are so close together, it’s often tough to paddle out. Still fun though and a better workout than I’ve ever gotten in the ocean.
December 26th, 2008 at 7:26 am
You want braggin rights? Stop surfin over crowded salt and check fresh. Cold water, warmest hearts, fresh clean water. Thats adventure!!!! Cheap too. Great Lakes 11,000 mile of undiscovered fun. Thanks, U guys rock.
December 27th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Been dreaming about doing trip back to Minnesota from Oregon, a surgical strike mission to Stoney on the right forecast… Just so happened that forecast randomly coincided with my visit back for Christmas. Best present I have ever received. Stoked to see the familiar faces in the water, Stoney is like no other, a truly magical place.
December 28th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
coolest locals, coldest water, great photos Bob! Can hardly wait to do it again…
December 30th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
these guys have some balls
January 16th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
man i grew up in minnesota snowboarding and skateboarding, never thought about surfing until i moved to so cal 15+ years ago, props to you guys, that is f-ing crazy! Stoked to see some waves in my home state!
February 7th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Bob and Mr. Cote’,
Nice job on the interview.
Yes, the lakes are really fickle. I have been surfing them regularly since 1979 and have even taken a board and westuit up to Duluth five (5) times. I’ve been skunked every time, as the main reason for my trips was business (didn’t plan the trips on the weather forecast) but I will definitely surf Stony Point and especially my namesake, Lester River one of these days.
Aloha to the Minnesota Madmen,
Lester Priday
ESA Northeast Region Director.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
I’ve been body surfing Lake Superior’s South Shore since 1987, but usually in August and September when East winds blow big, warm waves from the top of the lake into shore. I have yet to meet another body surfer. Great spots can be found in Herbster WI and especially in Duluth MN on the longest fresh water sand bar in the world, named Park Point.
I’ve never worn a body suit, so in 2007 when I visited my son in San Fran’s Sunset district, and body surfed the beach 2 blocks away, locals asked me if I wasn’t cold, but nothing’s as cold as Lake Superior. That surf and the surf at Malibu the next week were, I’d say, equivalent in force and height to waves I’ve ridden in Atlantic City, and maybe not as strong as some really good surf I’ve ridden on Park Point.
Now, how to body surf Stoney Point?
Kriss O