a lake michigan surfer's journal

February Surfing

2012-02-14T09:23:00.000-05:00

Saturday, February 11th was a great day to be a surfer in West Michigan. Instead of the usual chaos that characterizes lake surfing, strong winds and shifting waves breaking all over the place, this day was a beauty. The wind blew all night and then turned just enough to smooth out the nearshore waves. As seen in the picture above taken by Justin Bruursema of Burly Surfboards, whose Fist Pump I am riding, the surf was picturesque. The waves came in smooth, lined-up, not too big but big enough, and occasionally took me all the way to shore. [more pics]

creative, innovative, a must see

2012-01-19T11:30:00.000-05:00

Fresh snow and surf

2012-01-13T14:01:00.001-05:00

Last night the snow fell and brought some waves along too. The waves weren't great but it is always fun to surf when it's snowing. I guess this is West Michigan's version of "aloha!" I will take it.

Nothing like a good video about building surfboards.

2012-01-12T10:03:00.000-05:00

In Built To Ride - Volume 1 - we delve into the world of Santa Barbara, California surfboard shaper, Jason Feist and meet the man behind J7 Surfboards.

for more on Jason Feist and J7 Surfboards, please visit:
http://j7surfdesigns.com/

surfer: Keoni Cuccia

a film by Andy Miller & Robin Moore
http://plusmproductions.com/

Albacore

2012-01-10T09:37:00.002-05:00

I need at least three of these =)

Pleasure Point

2011-12-27T19:41:00.003-05:00

All rights on a borrowed 8 foot board. The Elmer T would have been awesome here. My brother-in-law drove me to Pleasure Point and took a few shots.

Surfing with Mitch at Huntington

2011-12-22T17:45:00.000-05:00

Huntington Beach treated us well this morning.

The Coaster

2011-11-23T13:52:00.001-05:00

The Coaster, 5'10" x 20.5" x 2.5"

5-fin set up

shiny hot coat

2011-11-12T16:47:00.000-05:00

This is The Coaster. It just got its hot coat. There is nothing like a shiny new surfboard! But before it gets initiated in the great lake The Coaster will need its 5 fin boxes.

Hey Ho Let's Go Surfing

2011-11-09T11:10:00.000-05:00

Fun day at the park

2011-11-02T18:44:00.001-04:00

Pictures from 11/2/11 at Holland State Park.

Now I want to make a new surfboard...

2011-10-28T11:25:00.000-04:00

Dane Reynolds Sucks At Surfing. from Michael Kew on Vimeo.

October 15 @ Muskegon

2011-10-25T20:58:00.000-04:00

The Elmer T got a little squirrely on these bigger waves. But the Red Stripe handled the bottom turns with ease. It is nice to have both a twin fin and a single fin in the quiver. And I loved putting my two favorite boards to the test. Many thanks to Uncle-Mike at SmugMug for taking and sharing the pictures he took Uncle-Mike (you can see me in picture 67).

not lake michigan...

2011-10-25T10:45:00.001-04:00

Shape | Schralp from Ryan Lovelace on Vimeo.

Wednesday @ South Haven

2011-10-19T18:08:00.000-04:00

Before

After

The Elmer T really performed well on these 3-4 foot waves. Waves were smooth and a little on the slow side but it only took a couple of rail-to-rail pumps before I really took off on these waves, laying down some nice groovy lines and the occasional cut back or off the lip.

waves for monday

2011-10-17T09:15:00.001-04:00

Heading to Muskegon. Hopefully, the waves are lined up there. One thing is for sure--there are waves =)

apprentice surfboard builder

2011-10-09T22:38:00.000-04:00

Someone wanted to help sand the coaster...

Wave Showdown on Friday

2011-09-28T14:59:00.000-04:00

Looking forward to the Muskegon Showdown on Friday.

started glassing the coaster

2011-09-27T02:00:00.000-04:00

come hell or high water (trailer)

2011-09-26T14:08:00.001-04:00

powerfully fluid surfing + innovative surfboard design

2011-09-16T13:23:00.001-04:00

Star Dust - Sea Movies from www.KORDUROY.tv on Vimeo.

Here is the link to the board, 6' x 20" by Ryan Burch

Birthday Surf

2011-09-05T12:13:00.002-04:00

Scored some nice waves on the Elmer T on my birthday at South Haven.

Hopeful Birthday Forecast

2011-09-02T10:37:00.000-04:00

I hope my birthday brings some waves. Look at all that red on Sept 5!

Last day in CA

2011-08-10T17:14:00.002-04:00

Tiny tuck for the last day of surfing in CA.

The Elmer T

2011-07-07T13:47:00.001-04:00

The Elmer T is my attempt at a mini-simmons--a fairly wide, parallel board, step-deck, almost no rocker, flat bottom. It started out with a solid rectangular piece of EPS foam (6' x 24" x 3"). The fins took the most time and were made from scrap plywood and scrap cloth. Opposed to what I am used to, I decided to make a leash loop, using scraps of cloth from the Alger Board Room.

Dimensions: 5'8" x 22" x a smidgen under 2.5"

Gem from Ryan Lovelace

2011-07-04T14:30:00.000-04:00

d.Bowlzzzzx from the PCProgress blog

I love everything about this board!

Leash Loop on the Elmer T

2011-07-02T17:43:00.000-04:00

Continuing the experiment of building this board from hand and using materials I already have laying around, I made a leash loop out of scrap 6 oz cloth. All that is left to do now is to sand and apply the gloss coat.

New From the Alger Boardroom

2011-06-18T20:03:00.000-04:00

Andrew with his racing SUP in the works. Good things happening in the Alger Boardroom.

Lucky Me!

2011-06-17T15:42:00.000-04:00

I am the lucky winner of a Bad Elf! After entering a summer giveaway drawing a friend of mine suggested I actually won! Now, I NEED an iPod Touch =)

About the Bad Elf:

"Plug the new Bad Elf GPS accessory into the 30-pin dock connector on ANY iPod touch, iPhone, or iPad, and obtain highly accurate GPS data for ALL location-based iOS applications currently available at the App Store." Read more @ Bad-Elf.com

First Catch

2011-06-16T22:11:00.000-04:00

Nathan's first fish!

Elmer T's fins

2011-06-09T22:10:00.000-04:00

The "Elmer T" has glass on the bottom

2011-06-02T14:44:00.000-04:00

The "Elmer T" was glassed with champagne colored resin.

Grand Rapids Surfer Giving Surfing and Skateboarding to GR Kids

2011-06-01T09:12:00.000-04:00

http://www.supsurfmag.com/features-stand-up-paddle/news/surfer-wants-to-give-the-gift-of-stand%11up-paddling-to-inner%11city-kids-201105311106/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+StandUpPaddleSurfingMag+%28Stand+Up+Paddle+Surfing+Magazine+News%29

The "Elmer T" is in the works

2011-05-26T23:59:00.000-04:00

This is the latest from d surfboards. It is my stab at a mini-simmons: 5'8" x 22" x 2.5". The plan is to glass an color it next week.

Great Night

2011-05-26T23:50:00.000-04:00

Tonight was a great night to surf Lake Michigan. At Macatawa the waves were decent size, smooth, and friends were out too.

DIY Snowboard - looks awesome

2011-05-19T21:23:00.000-04:00

COMUNE // SPRING BREAK from COMUИE on Vimeo.

"Preconceived Noceans" Trailer

2011-04-28T12:36:00.000-04:00

Surfed today!

2011-04-17T21:48:00.000-04:00

It had been four months since I last surfed. The waves were better than they look in the above pic. I am sure this doesn't do anything for my CA cohort but it was what it was--fun waves with friends. Mitch and I paddled out first. Later, Justin, Andrew, Scott, and a guy named Nick made it out. If you are able to zoom in on the photo--phone cam--you will see Mitch. This was a great way to begin the week.

Lake Superior footage

2011-04-07T22:44:00.000-04:00

Sketch ad from Simple Shoes

2011-03-05T13:27:00.001-05:00

This is part of an ad in Surfer magazine for Simple shoes--taken with mobile phone cam. I love the drawing. But notice the surfer is wearing full winter gear. This is not a tropical daydream, imagining Indo or Costa Rica. This is a cold water surfer. This time of year in Michigan, it is easy to imagine warm water surfing. But I will take the cold water too. Ice melt, PLEASE!

sustainable surfboard building

2011-03-03T09:33:00.000-05:00

happy valentine's day

2011-02-14T11:52:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day - Sea Movies from www.KORDUROY.tv on Vimeo.

nicely said

2011-02-10T19:50:00.000-05:00

"Surfing is and always will be a series of close calls and near misses; danger always lurking, but the attraction never fades." Gerry Lopez

amazing video of alaska

2011-01-21T10:45:00.002-05:00

http://www.wired.com/playbook/2011/01/alaska-long-surfing/

whoa

2011-01-20T14:59:00.000-05:00

that was fast!

2011-01-07T09:17:00.000-05:00

Last week it rained. This week it snowed. Now there will be no surfing a HSP for a while.

classic surf history lesson from 1967-1971

2011-01-04T11:39:00.001-05:00

http://pcprogress.blogspot.com/2011/01/1967-1971-in-motion.html

new year's day photo

2011-01-02T13:40:00.003-05:00

Waves were fun and it wasn't too cold. A friend of Brian Macdonald took this one of me =)

The 2011 line-up. I am on the far right.

happy new year!

2011-01-01T13:16:00.000-05:00

New Year's Day at Holland was not as cold as I thought it was going to be. And the waves were fun too. Nearly 30 surfers showed up for a photo taken by the GR Press. Happy New Year!

couple pics from CA

2010-12-30T18:20:00.000-05:00

It was raining for most of the time we were in CA for Christmas. The sunny days were pretty fun, however.

on my wishlist

2010-12-15T09:31:00.001-05:00

This looks like a good present for me. Cold Water Souls @ Amazon.com

I could surf that

2010-12-13T12:08:00.000-05:00

I am working but can't help but wonder what it would be like to surf right...

dec 6 @ macatawa

2010-12-11T15:10:00.000-05:00

Andrew and I surfed on Monday, Dec 6. The water was somewhere around 40 with 20 mph winds from the north, and air in the 20s. The conditions looked bad. But Andrew and I were committed to the adventure and were glad to spend a couple cold hours surfing. As it turned out, the waves were better than they looked, maybe 3-5 foot rights and a couple lefts holding up pretty well just inside the elbow. Andrew introduced his newly made fish to Lake Michigan. And I got to ride a mini-simmons made by Burly Surfboards.

winter is here

2010-11-26T22:48:00.000-05:00

Photo of the Red Stripe in action by Justin Bruursema. Justin, Ken, and I made it for a post-Thanksgiving surf session between the pier heads at Muskegon. Before we left, the air temp was 26 with a windchill of 9 degrees. It may not need to be said, but it was cold. The wind was howling and made the paddle out bitter. The waves were soft for the most part, having a little size. But the chill was what I will remember most--ice fell off my suit when I poured warm water over me before changing. Oh, the adventure of surfing Lake Michigan. I can officially say fall is over and winter is here.

easily distracted

2010-11-19T11:50:00.000-05:00

Lis Fish from Hydrodynamica on Vimeo.

And read this history lesson on the fish. My inklings toward the Mini-Simmons and finless boards are being pulled in yet another direction. With two pieces of foam to work with I am in daydream heaven!

boards on my mind

2010-11-16T15:04:00.000-05:00

The Seventh Movement | Photos of Mavericks 11-2-2010

2010-11-11T09:04:00.001-05:00

Everyone should check out these photographs. They are amazing. The Seventh Movement

i gotta try one of these

2010-11-03T13:28:00.002-04:00

maybe i can make one =)

http://www.theinertia.com/surf/tom-wegener-eps-alaia-tuna-seaglass-projec/

holland is going to be fun soon

2010-11-03T12:33:00.001-04:00

Judging by the looks of those waves on the left it looks like the Hollanders are going to have fun really soon. That kiter must be stoked there isn't anyone to dodge in the lineup.

fall quiver

2010-11-01T10:06:00.000-04:00

stoked and broke

2010-10-29T12:24:00.001-04:00

big wednesday on lake michigan

2010-10-27T12:27:00.000-04:00

sunday morning

2010-10-24T06:42:00.000-04:00

sometimes i love longboarding

2010-10-22T08:30:00.001-04:00

Cobblestone Slipperies // Dane Peterson from Nathan Oldfield on Vimeo.

PJ Hoffmaster is OK to surf

2010-10-03T20:10:00.000-04:00

View Untitled in a larger map
I had fun taking some kids surfing on October 2 in Lake Michigan. And I discovered that this spot has a nice lined up wave. I don't know if I would gamble on it opposed to Mac or Pier Marquette but it sure was a fun longboarding wave, even at 2 feet.

psychedelic board building

2010-09-28T20:22:00.000-04:00

Andrew's fish is looking sick! See what it did to my camera when I tried snagging some pics from the Alger Board Room.

september was good for waves on lake michigan

2010-09-28T20:19:00.000-04:00

so that is what the stringer is for...fascinating

2010-09-16T10:51:00.016-04:00

Surf Science: One of the big design aspects you have worked with is the parabolic stringer. What do you see as the major benefits of this change?

Bert Burger: Projection, Strength & Higher Performance. The stringer is the magic bit. Your stringer is the bit that makes your board spring back to its original position after its been flexed. It also transfers rider energy through the length of the board.

It is really an interesting feeling riding a PU stringerless board. Its just dead and floppy. At one point in time conventional surfboards were built stringerless. Even though most people would conclude that a surfboard would be stronger with a stringer. That wasn't the case. A stringerless board could bend further before it snapped, therefore absorbing more force over a longer period.

The stringer was needed for performance. Quote Len Dibben "Those old stringerless didn't break, we put stringers in because they didn't go." The boards needed to have something that stiffened them up and make them spring back to the shape quicker. That gives a basic picture of what the stringer does.

Surf Science: How does the stringer come into play when we’re engaging the rail on a turn?

Bert Burger: As we get further away from our stringer we are relying on materials that don't transfer energy as quickly or as efficiently. The stringer will transfer energy the length of the board but not out to the rails. The harder we surf off our rails the harder we need to work.

This means when we put a board hard on rail so the stringer is out of the water we are then relying purely on foam and resin to hold us in, as well as project us into the next turn.

There is a stringer line and a rail line as we load into a turn. The rail line on a conventional board will bend easier & twist off with more curve relative to the stringer line. Picture a flat bottom square tail loading into a bottom turn. The rail that is in the water will load, bend a create roll & V off one side. As surfboards have become thinner, lighter, more flexible, there comes the need for a noticeable concave. This offsets the flex so the bottom of the board is in a more favorable position when being loaded though a turn.

If we place our stringer on the rail line it stiffens up the rail. It allows a greater range of flex in the whole board. When the rail is loaded hard into a turn and is made to flex, the string back occurs right there at the rail. The rail that is engaged with the water already, you can push right off the loaded rail and feel it want to project or spring you into the next turn. It makes the board respond quicker so you can leave tight turns until the last second. I remember when Munga stepped on one back in 2005. First surf and feed back was - difficult to time. I made the comment "Just leave it as late as possible and push hard, the more you put in the more it gives back". Munga comes back after the next surf raving. He passes similar comments on to Taj, who went on to say "you put 100% in and it gives you back 120%.

Source: http://www.surfscience.com/topics/surfing-lifestyle/shaper-interviews/bert-burger-parabolic-stringers/

surfer magazine review

2010-09-12T21:59:00.001-04:00

So, I resubscribed to Surfer magazine after like 20 years. Overall, this first issue in a long time is a decent one [October 2010]. The highlights are several. First, there is a review of the film Cancer to Capricorn--free download, so go get it! Second, you will find an article about a very likable professional surfer, a story about Bede Durbidge and the path to his dream of becoming a professional surfer. Third, you can learn "how to do everything." A chunk of the issue is devoted to being practical. It is hard to take this seriously, which made me laugh aloud as I read "...pretend like you made the barrel you just blew" or "...compliment a friend who sucks." If you are in an airport you will want to read that section! And lastly, there is an article about shaping--6 points. I am always looking for tips about shaping and if there were a magazine about shaping and shapers I would totally subscribe.

I thought I would totally dig the article. But I didn't. And it wasn't because it was too short or anything. It was its bottom line and cover description: "It's not as easy as it sounds..." Alright, shaping is not easy. But the notion that it isn't as easy as it sounds, who ever said it was easy? And if ease is the measure of whether a person or a surfer should attempt to try something then surfing itself would be out of the question.

Admittedly, my shaping skills are not even comparable to board builders advertised in Surfer. However, I am surfing boards that I never would have dreamed I'd be surfing thanks to shaping my own boards. If I stuck to riding custom boards by the shaper I dig I would not own the Red Stripe or Half-Pint. And my quiver would be a lot smaller because a lack of imagination. The boards I make are attempts at connecting a style of surfing I want to explore along with the types of waves I may encounter in the immediate future (I hope!). So the thrill I get when I see my vision go into some poly urethane, to fiberglass and epoxy resin, and then into an actual wave and work is one of the greatest surfing experiences I have had as of late.

Ok, I am stoked to surf. I am stoked to shape and build surfboards. I am stoked to get a Surfer magazine in Michigan. And I had to write about it. Cheers.

the lineup on sept 6

2010-09-06T08:49:00.000-04:00

looks like labor day is going to be fun for whoever gets out

(not so secret spot!)

nice day at the lake

2010-08-31T23:12:00.000-04:00

Holland State Park

Air 85

Water 75

Wind SSW 20 mph

Waves 2-3 ft

I got to practice my cross stepping on the Singlefin 9.0 =)

lake surfing

2010-08-26T14:23:00.000-04:00

Yesterday there was supposed to be surf all day, 3-5 feet. The waves came super early but didn't last. Not only did the waves go too soon, so did the water temperature. It was a bit over 70 on Monday. Yesterday it dropped to the 50s. Today Lake Michigan looks like a lake.

surfer girl

2010-08-14T21:51:00.000-04:00

Zelda's second day surfing. Jenny captured some Kodak moments for sure. I think she likes it! Zelda told me later that she didn't really surf because she didn't stand up. What do you say to that all you bodyboarders out there? ;-)

first surf for kiddos

2010-08-11T21:58:00.000-04:00

Tonight was a big milestone for the Williams family. Nathan took his new board out into some one footers at Lake Michigan for the first time--first time ever laying on a surfboard in the water! And, I brought Zelda (3 years old) out on the Singlefin 9.0, paddled around with her, paddled with her into little waves, and, then, pushed her into a bunch of tiny peelers that took her all the way onto the sand. She had a blast. I am a proud daddy =)

surf wyoming | CNN

2010-08-10T07:27:00.003-04:00

http://cnn.com/video/?/video/living/2010/08/06/snake.river.surfing.cnn

shorties: the red stripe and the half-pint are done

2010-08-04T14:07:00.000-04:00

Perfect timing for pre-fall surfing!

Red Stripe is coming along

2010-07-26T07:22:00.000-04:00

The Red Stripe is nearly done and I dig it!

She got her stripe

2010-07-24T07:01:00.001-04:00

Got back to work on the Red Stripe yesterday--cut lap + red stripe. I went with a fat 24" stripe.

land surfing in east lansing

2010-07-21T19:53:00.000-04:00

end of the week

2010-07-16T22:37:00.000-04:00

Southwest winds pushed some leftovers my way at Holland State Park. You could hardly call them waves they were so small. But the water was tropical, nearing 80 degrees. And my foot didn't touch this inland sea till about 8:30pm. The short surf session I had consisted of calve-to-knee-high waves topped by the beautiful sunset shown above. This was a good way to end the week.

Andrew's Craftsmanship

2010-07-15T12:43:00.000-04:00

I was helping Andrew with the board he has been building in the Alger Board Room. As you can see it is looking killer. I won't tell you how many he has made before because you won't believe it.

half-pint update, july 11

2010-07-11T08:57:00.000-04:00

Last night I glassed the logo on the 'half-pint.' Zelda and I were modeling the latest update this morning. She likes taking pictures, sometimes I am in them. The bottom pic is of the Alger Heights Board Room. Zelda nicely captured a couple works in progress (along with the upper half of my face). One is Andrew's first board, a longboard with a blue resin tint that is looking sweet. And above Andrew's board is my other board--the Red Stripe--that will be glassed soon.

Shredder: Popular Science Article on Cardboard Surfboard

2010-07-06T10:45:00.000-04:00

June 2008 Popular Science article

another early surf

2010-07-02T19:25:00.000-04:00

Today might be my last surf session in Cali. Once again I was the first one in the water, the only one from 5:15am till 6:30am. It wasn't as good as Thursday. But I still got some nice ones.

5am @ Hermosa

2010-07-01T10:32:00.000-04:00

It was too dark to get any photos. My surf photos haven't been all that impressive anyway. This morning was a gamble, however. The report called for early drained out because of the low tide. I made it out before the low actually hit. So I scored all by myself. The waves were fast and glassy, coming in around the chest high zone. Early plans made for a super early session and that paid off big time: zero people out, fast rights, and a few barrels (came out of one). Good way to start the day.

friday @ hermosa pier

2010-06-25T16:48:00.000-04:00

Three guys plus myself were all riding Barry Vandermuellen boards @ Hermosa Pier.

Red Stripe fin from Fiberglass Fin Co.

2010-06-24T19:06:00.000-04:00

Picked up from Larry @ Fiberglass Fin Co.

says it all

2010-06-24T18:41:00.000-04:00

Played in the minuscule swell with Nathan.

dying swell and dolphins

2010-06-22T14:02:00.000-04:00

This morning was an uneventful surf session. However, the water was smooth, the SUPs were casually cruising about, and the dolphins were surfing with three longboarders and myself. I am hoping for the hurricane off southern Baja to generate something really soon.

no center fin

2010-06-21T14:33:00.000-04:00

The forecast called for decrease in size and power so I decided to go experimental and pull the center fin out. The waves were actually bigger than yesterday with a bit of texture to 'em. That made for a really fun session. I discovered that the center fin really does something. It keeps the tail from sliding on hard turns. However, without the center fin you get to slide the tail all over the place and generate some really fun maneuvers. This morning I surfed Hermosa pier again and shared the north side with an SUP (8' 10") and two other surfers.

father's day

2010-06-20T13:20:00.000-04:00

Father's Day at Hermosa Beach
Woody gave me greeted me as I checked the surf.

Report: 2-3 feet, poor-fair, sunny, and warm water.

Dale report: Waves were better than they looked.

small waves AND warm water =)

2010-06-19T19:16:00.000-04:00

Waves: thigh to stomach high.

Water: 65+

Sunny

Dale: smiling

It is good to be back in salt water!

stopmotion surfing

2010-06-15T14:13:00.000-04:00

180 South

2010-06-14T13:45:00.000-04:00

Watched this cool film on Saturday. It is a cool adventure story that includes surfing, rock climbing, sailing, ecology, activism, and beautiful cinematography. Watch the trailer of 180° SOUTH

half-pint update

2010-06-10T12:01:00.000-04:00

Painted Nathan's board first part of the week, glassed bottom last night, and hope to glass the deck this weekend. The Half-Pint is looking good.

progress on the half-pint

2010-06-03T13:46:00.000-04:00

The Half-Pint for Nathan is moving along. The dimensions are: 4' 6" x 22 1/2" x 2 1/4" and finless!

how not to be a kook

2010-06-03T08:46:00.000-04:00

red stripe in the making

2010-05-19T09:42:00.000-04:00

Cut the outline of the Red Stripe last night in the Alger Heights Boardroom.

the klassiek

2010-05-06T12:51:00.000-04:00

The latest creation is ready for surf. 6' 4" x 21" x 2 5/8

weekend warriors | marlon lipke

2010-04-30T14:05:00.000-04:00