October 2017. Kincardine, Ontario.
Ontario isn't exactly known for surfing. At least, it wasn't back then. I remember making the four-hour drive across the province to meet Dan after a pretty last-minute call. He'd been telling me about a new surfboard he'd shaped himself out of recycled construction foam. As far as I knew, he was probably one of the only people in Ontario crazy enough to make his own board and chase waves on the Great Lakes. A true frother.
I remember sitting on the shoreline that day, bundled up against the cold and rain, watching Dan paddle out. I was pretty much in awe of the whole thing. The commitment it takes to drive hours for a few waves, suit up in freezing temperatures, and spend your time surfing a freshwater lake in the middle of an Ontario autumn is something else.
The surf season on the Great Lakes is largely a fall and winter affair, running roughly from October through March when strong winter winds push across the lakes and generate waves. It's not exactly the kind of surfing most people dream about. There's no warm water, no sandy beaches, and certainly no tropical sunsets. Just cold water, unpredictable conditions, and a small community of people who are genuinely obsessed with being out there.
There's something special about that kind of dedication. You don't do it for the lifestyle or the postcard moments. You do it because you love it.
That day, the photos and Dan's words eventually made their way into the winter edition of @greatlakessurfersjournal, which was pretty cool to see come together.
We also managed to spend $70 at McDonald's somewhere along the way. Which, looking back, might have been the most impressive part of the day.
A little throwback to a cold, wet day on the Great Lakes and a reminder that some of the best stories happen in places you wouldn't necessarily expect.
