Oct
02
Fall Storm Season Begins for Surf Kayaking Lake Michigan I really love that first autumnal drop in temperature, when the clouds roll in, and the sky turns what Patrick O’Brian called gunmetal gray. The wind begins to gust and howl like a frightened dog at a stranger. Trees are bending over and people keep saying, …
Aug
08
Lake Michigan Surf Kayaking South Haven August 8th As in many cases where kayak surfing is concerned. It is not a planned activity. It is a weather driven spontaneous event. When the leaves begin to rustle outside my window, and blades of grass begin to brush down from the breeze, I start scheming. Maybe some …
Jul
14
Lake Michigan Surf Kayaking July 13th, 2008 Waves were reported at 3-5 feet on the buoy. A sudden summer squall was ripping across Lake Michigan that would die off towards evening. Steady breakers were showing on the web cams. So the family packed it into the van and headed down to Dog Beach in South …
Apr
16
Job Prevents Kalamazoo Man from Kayak Surfing The surf is building on Lake Michigan. To quote Ben Stiller, I feel the need to grab some time in the green room! I have ordered a composite Mega Neutron. I am hoping it is delivered and available by the time fall rolls around. Until then I feel …
Oct
28
Some days you can’t get a break, and then you do… I seem to be on a run of bad luck that won’t quit. I’ve finally gotten all the right gear, the right craft, and enough skill to surf big fall storm waves. But now I just can’t seem to get some good luck. I …
Oct
12
Surfing hydraulics are indeed the stuff of legends. Once the waves start to top out at 8 feet or so they can do some pretty impressive things. When the waves spill the forces within are quite strong. This is an understatement of Olympian proportions. The forecast was for 8-10 foot waves with wind at 30 …
Sep
11
Jason Roon and I headed out to South Haven with the wind roaring in the treetops like an angry lion wanted them to fall over. We arrived on South Haven north beach to see that the wind had died out almost entirely from the south west. We drove back to the south beach side and …
Jul
28
Funny how things move in cycles. When the wind started to howl, I woke to check the weather report and the surf cam. Making promises of future familial devotion and activity to Laura, I peeled out of the driveway towards South Haven. How am I still married, is anyone’s guess. For once I was rewarded …
Apr
30
How often have I paddled from South Haven pier towards Van Buren state park? Maybe in the hundreds of times? I don’t know. It is different every time. After kayak surfing in San Diego, I feel like I’ve cheated on a very loyal, but tempestuous milky skinned midwestern girl in favor of a more tanned …
