Surfing is all about the free ride….. Whether you’re charging double-overhead Mexican beach break or you’re hanging a cheater five on a knee-high mush burger, the stoke that you feel after a great ride is undeniable.
Surfing has truly become a worldwide sport (credits to our friend, Robert August). It seems that wherever the weather conditions exist to produce a rideable swell, the locals turn up with surfboards in hand and finds a way to catch a wave. Some would argue that the most hard-core surfers in the world are not from California, or Australia, or even Hawaii, but from a small town in mainland America where the conditions are downright brutal and surfers are melting icicles off their beards: Muskegon, Michigan.
The town of Muskegon, Michigan is mostly known for fishing, historic architecture, and pleasure boating. But due to its west-facing coastline along the expansive Lake Michigan, Muskegon can get some downright epic surf. Although most surfable days are windblown knee-to-waist high, legend has it that when conditions come together during a big winter storm, these freshwater waves can have a short window of perfection.
The surf community in Muskegon is growing everyday. There is so much love and stoke focused around wave-riding, that every year in mid August, this surf town in Michigan hosts the Great Lakes Surf Festival with a full agenda of events including: surf and SUP lessons, live music, art galleries, local cuisine, and a free raffle giveaway.
WHAT: Great Lakes Surf Festival
WHERE: Pere Marquette Beach, Muskegon Michigan
WHEN: August 13th 12:30 – 6:00pm
Prizes include: surfboards, surf gear, clothing….. This year for the 2022 Great Lakes Surf Festival, the Grand Prize is a 7-night surf trip to Witch’s Rock Surf Camp for two in Tamarindo, Costa Rica.
The organizers of the festival are a group of experienced surfers and board riders who have a heart for the Great Lakes surfing community and are focused on sharing the stoke and on giving back. It’s a celebration of Great Lakes surf culture and is open to all types of disciplines that enjoy the surf. “The goal of our festival is to bring people together and most of the water activities will focus on fun for all ages and a safe family atmosphere.”
Although we cannot make it to the even this year, we can’t wait to see photos and look forward to hosting the lucky grand-prize winners and taking them to the World Class Waves in the Tamarindo area.
This is not the first time that Witch’s Rock Surf Camp has appeared in the Great Lakes Surf Festival. In 2019, Witch’s Rock owner, Joe Walsh, attended the 2nd annual festival to check out what Great Lakes surfing is all about.
Check out the Get Out and Surf Podcast, episode #33 where Joe and his crew speak about their experience attending the festival and getting their first fresh-water surf session on the Great Lakes.