The cops didn’t know what P.L. Strazz was up to at Foster Beach last September–but they didn’t like it. They hauled his butt off the lake and led him to their cruiser.
The Lincoln Square resident endured a wetsuit-frisking and received a citation for “Wearing a skin-diving suit, using a surfboard and surfing during stormy conditions.” The judge dismissed the case when he couldn’t find any laws related to the charges.
If anything, Strazz, 37, should have earned a commendation for his ongoing quest to make Chicago surfing safe and fun. His brush with the law is one of many new items in BLT Books’ just-published second edition of his “Surfing the Great Lakes” (Big Lauter Tun books, $16.95).
For the record, the Chicago Park District says that city beaches are officially closed between Labor Day and Memorial Day. Anyone surfing can be ticketed or arrested by police. (Other communities have their own laws.)
So if you’ve ever wanted to try surfing, this is your last week to try it legally this year. You won’t see waves like in the opening credits of “Hawaii: Five-O,” but knee- to head-high waves aren’t unusual, Strazz says.
Likely beaches for surf-worthy waves include Montrose, Foster, Ardmore and Loyola. But it’s difficult to predict just when to call in sick and hit the beach. “There’s no best time of day–it all depends on how hard the wind is blowing, for how long and the direction,” Strazz says. (See sidebar.)
Spring can bring prime surfing, too, but the water is colder than in the fall and you’re liable to encounter ice. Truly dedicated surfers also brave Lake Michigan in the winter. As for summer, the season rarely produces good Chicago-area surfing but when it does, “It’s great because both the air and water can be really warm.”
Strazz hasn’t always been hanging 10 on Lake Michigan. “Like a lot of Midwesterners, I grew up thinking surfing was cool but figured that I’d never get a chance to try it unless I went to Hawaii or Southern California,” he says. “When I got married, I made sure we honeymooned in Hawaii so I could give it a shot. I had a great experience on Waikiki and got hooked on it. Possessed, really.”
Back in Chicago, he heard rumors that people surfed Lake Michigan and eventually found a photo on the Web of someone doing it in Sheboygan, Wis. Strazz spent the next year learning about what kind of weather created good Chicago-area surf.
“I picked up a used board and spent another 12 months trying to get to the right beach at the right time,” he says. “Since there were virtually no resources at the time about where or when to go, it was a lot of trial and error–mostly error. Meanwhile, I was dreaming about it almost nightly and couldn’t get it out of my head. I figured other people were experiencing the same thing and decided to write a book about it.”
Great Lakes surfers are largely self-taught, he says, but anybody in reasonably good shape who has upper-body strength, swims well and can finish a 10K race has the skills to begin learning the basics. There are no instructors on the Great Lakes, Strazz says.
Despite fickle waves, local surfers remain a dedicated cadre. Based on his research, Strazz estimates that about 500–at least a third from Chicago–surf the lakes.
As to why anybody would want to surf Lake Michigan in the first place, he’s philosophical: “You surf here because you can.”
Hang 10
Stoked to surf? Some tips:
1. Use a longboard: They’re easier to learn on and are good for the small, slow-moving waves typical of the lakes. You can buy new and used equipment at places like Windward Sports (3317 Clark St. 773-472-6868). Boards start at about $300 used and go up from there.
2. Get a wetsuit: Comfort is key, especially during the fall and spring. Wetsuits at sport shops are $200 and up.
3. Know your waves: Check out www.lakesurf.com. WGN-TV’s Tom Skilling often provides surf conditions in his forecasts, as well. Plus, check Skilling’s reports on metromix.com.
4. Get in shape, sharpen your swim skills: Great Lakes waves are different than ocean waves–and you’ve got to swim out farther to find them. So, being a good swimmer is mandatory.
5. Safety first: Surfing can be risky. For safety’s sake, never go alone.
