Mountain Life
  • Daily Content
    • Trips & Expeditions
    • Climbing
    • Mountain Biking
    • Mountain Lifer
    • Multiplicity
    • On The Trail
    • Paddling
    • Photography
    • Skiing
    • Snowboarding
    • Stay & Play
    • Surfing
    • The Great Outdoors
    • The ML Interview
    • Travel
  • GEAR
  • VIDEOS
  • STORE
  • Magazines
    • ML Coast Mountains
    • ML Rocky Mountains
    • Vie En Montagne
    • ML Blue Mountains
    • ML Annual
    • ML Subscriptions
  • ABOUT
    • What is ML?
    • Our Team
    • Newsletter
    • Adventure Grant
    • Distribution
  • Podcast
  • Contests
  • CONTACT
    • ML Agency
    • Advertising
    • Contribute
Subscription Form

Get notified of the best News

Social Links
Instagram 22K Followers
Facebook 25K Likes
Twitter 5K Followers
Pinterest 1K Followers
Vimeo 34 Followers
LinkedIn 0
22K Followers
25K Likes
5K Followers
1K Followers
Mountain Life
Mountain Life
  • Daily Content
    • Trips & Expeditions
    • Climbing
    • Mountain Biking
    • Mountain Lifer
    • Multiplicity
    • On The Trail
    • Paddling
    • Photography
    • Skiing
    • Snowboarding
    • Stay & Play
    • Surfing
    • The Great Outdoors
    • The ML Interview
    • Travel
  • GEAR
  • VIDEOS
  • STORE
  • Magazines
    • ML Coast Mountains
    • ML Rocky Mountains
    • Vie En Montagne
    • ML Blue Mountains
    • ML Annual
    • ML Subscriptions
  • ABOUT
    • What is ML?
    • Our Team
    • Newsletter
    • Adventure Grant
    • Distribution
  • Podcast
  • Contests
  • CONTACT
    • ML Agency
    • Advertising
    • Contribute
  • Paddling

Riding Freshwater Giants: Coldwater Kayaking Lake Superior and Georgian Bay

  • March 24, 2016
  • Mountain Life Media
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
Share 0
Share 0

Invariably, rough-water kayakers and board surfers on Lake Superior turn to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration when the first high, wispy clouds foretell of strong winds. NOAA’s predictions are more detailed than their Environment Canada counterparts, not to mention colour-coded and projected in greater resolution. When Lake Superior glows red and purple on the online forecast, indicating waves in the 15- to 25-foot range, you can be sure that epic surfing is in the offing at the dozens of sand beaches and river mouths all along the north shore.

A sea kayaker in rough water storm conditions on Lake Superior in Ontario Canada.

By Conor Mihell   //   Photos by Aaron Peterson.

Lake Superior generally slumbers in early summer. But when the winds pick up in August, I turn to a secret meteorological weapon: my friend Joel Cooper has been observing and recording weather and studying the forecasts on Lake Superior’s east shore near the town of Wawa for over 30 years. A few autumns ago, Cooper predicted a “weather bomb.” He spoke of an intense low-pressure system the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane – significantly larger than the 1975 November gale that sank the Edmund Fitzgerald. I heeded the siren’s call, loaded up my sea kayak, whitewater kayak and drysuit, and drove up to Michipicoten, Cooper’s home and my favourite haunt.

“There’s nothing like the feeling of a steep swell lifting the stern of my boat – a sure sign it’s time to paddle like hell to prevent the kayak from penciling into the trough and being tossed ass-over-teakettle.”

Rough water storm paddling on Lake Superior in Ontario Canada.

There are two great surf spots: At the mouth of the Michipicoten River, where current meets swell and throws up towering waves and a dangerous rip current, making it the preferred option for advanced paddlers or intermediates when the waves are less than one metre; and the mellower break Sandy Beach, which is safer when the waves are berserk. The local outfitter Naturally Superior Adventures (naturallysuperior.com) offers instruction, kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals, and lakeside accommodations.

Rough water storm paddling on Lake Superior in Ontario Canada.

“Joel Cooper spoke of an intense low-pressure system the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane – significantly larger than the 1975 November gale that sank the Edmund Fitzgerald.”

I’ve come to prefer the faster, wilder, less predictable experience of surfing my 16-foot sea kayak. There’s nothing like the feeling of a steep swell lifting the stern of my boat – a sure sign it’s time to paddle like hell to prevent the kayak from penciling into the trough and being tossed ass-over-teakettle. First-timers usually prefer the greater control of a whitewater kayak; also, their planing hulls make flat spins and other moves possible. Regardless of the boat, immersion gear (wetsuits for summer sessions, drysuits for the fall), a helmet, and a companion or two are essential for safety.

Powerful Lake Superior waves crash at the mouth of the Michipicoten River in Ontario Canada during a fall storm.

On this day, a buddy and I had our timing just right. By late afternoon the howling gale had diminished to a mere breeze and the swell kept rolling – with plenty of space in between the waves for maneuvering and rolling up from a capsize. Exhausted by day’s end, our energy was buoyed for several calls of “one last ride” as the spectacular late-day sunshine illuminated the waves in a cold, sparkling, freshwater blue.

Rough water storm paddling on Lake Superior in Ontario Canada.

Stand-up to Superior

According to the 2005 documentary Unsalted, intrepid (or perhaps desperate) board surfers have been riding Great Lakes waves since the 1960s. The film depicted a staunch, sometimes quirky crew of surfers making the most of freshwater surf. But with scenes of clean, ocean-like breaks discovered on Lake Superior’s shore, the film showed that a real surfing experience could be had in the heart of the continent.

Among the first Canadians to pick up the board-surfing craze were Thunder Bay-based brothers Jaakko and Miika Natri, whose expeditions have focused on the Terrace Bay area, at north end of Superior. Besides thick five- and six-mil wetsuits to temper the cold water, the Natri brothers also pack a portable beach sauna for their surf sessions.

Great Lakes surfing on Lake Superior at Marquette, Michigan.

In Sault Ste. Marie, kayak surfers convinced snowboarder Vesa Luomeranta to take to the water. “My brother said, ‘These waves are big enough to board surf,’” recalls Luomeranta, “so I decided to give it a shot.

“The biggest different on Superior is that the waves are closer together than on the ocean,” adds Luomeranta, whose Superior East Board Shop (superioreastboardshop.com) rents surfboards, standup paddleboards and wetsuits. “You have to paddle out and set up quickly to catch a wave. And then there’s the wind, which we always seem to be battling. The hardest part is timing. You go out hoping that the wind stops because the clean-up is real nice.”

Luomeranta has discovered a point break at the mouth of Goulais Bay, just north of Sault Ste. Marie. “The contour allows the wave to wrap around, out of the wind,” he says. “We’re surfing smarter, finding spots in more sheltered locations.”

 

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
Share 0
Share 0
Related Topics
  • great lakes
  • kayaking
  • Lake Superior
  • Ontario
  • surfing
Mountain Life Media

Previous Article
  • MULTIPLICITY
  • CLIMBING
  • The Great Outdoors

MULTIPLICITY 2016: Jimmy Martinello on Finding Balance and Reconnecting with Our Surroundings

  • March 22, 2016
  • Ben Osborne
View Post
Next Article
  • MULTIPLICITY
  • Paddling

MULTIPLICITY 2016: Benny Marr—The Wild Ways of a Whitewater Wizard

  • March 30, 2016
  • Ben Osborne
View Post
You May Also Like
Saint-Lawrence-ice-canoe-Jean-Anderson
View Post
  • Paddling

Jean Anderson: 40 Years of Ice Canoeing

  • Editor
  • January 31, 2023
alpacka_archives
View Post
  • Paddling
  • Videos
  • Women

Friday Flick: Sheri

  • Ned Morgan
  • November 18, 2022
Action-Takers-Mountain-Life-Ontario
View Post
  • On The Trail
  • Ontario
  • Paddling
  • Skiing
  • Snowboarding

The Action-Takers

  • Mountain Life Media
  • October 20, 2022
Mountain-Life-Blue-Mountains-cover-Jenna-Kitchings-Collingwood-surf-crop
View Post
  • In This Issue
  • On The Trail
  • Ontario
  • Paddling

ML Blue Mountains Fall ’22 Issue Out Now

  • Mountain Life Media
  • October 6, 2022
Canoe-Alta-Lake_Whistler-Les-Anthony
View Post
  • Paddling

Travels with Neegik: Humanity’s Default Watercraft

  • Mountain Life Media
  • September 27, 2022
Phillip-Edward-Island-sunset-Georgian-Bay
View Post
  • CAMPING GEAR
  • Ontario
  • Paddling
  • THE GEAR SHED
  • Trips & Expeditions

Paddling Georgian Bay’s Stormy Northwest Corner

  • Ned Morgan
  • September 12, 2022
Spanish-River-red-canoe-rapids-Colin-Field
View Post
  • Paddling

‘Full Reset’ on the Spanish River

  • Mountain Life Media
  • August 30, 2022
Three-Waters-Pilgrimage-A-Father-Daughter-Tandem-SUP-Mission-Paddleboard-On-Spit
View Post
  • Ontario
  • Paddling

Three Waters Doc Screening

  • Ned Morgan
  • August 15, 2022
Featured Posts
  • Mountain-Life-Coast-Mountains-Winter-2023 1
    ML Coast Mountains Winter-Spring ’23 Issue Out Now
    • February 3, 2023
  • Saint-Lawrence-ice-canoe-Jean-Anderson 2
    Jean Anderson: 40 Years of Ice Canoeing
    • January 31, 2023
  • CHOK-Images-RAB-Avril-2022 3
    Chic-Chocs: True Eastern Alpine
    • February 2, 2023
  • Life-Time-Grand-Prix-gravel-bike 4
    New Docuseries Profiles the World’s Elite Off-Road Cyclists
    • January 30, 2023
  • Fjallraven-Nuuk-Parka-daniel-blom-photo_jacket 5
    Gear Shed: Multisport Winter Roundup
    • January 26, 2023
RECENT POSTS
  • L'Hymne-des-Trembles-Laurentians-Quebec
    L’Hymne des Trembles: Uncompromising Laurentian Skiing
    • January 27, 2023
  • Brian-Hockenstein-surfing-Iceland-water-and-ice-ML
    In the Land of Water & Ice
    • January 24, 2023
  • Marie-Pier-Desharnais-A-Womans-Experience-on-K2-flag-crop
    Marie-Pier Desharnais: A Woman’s Experience on K2
    • January 23, 2023
Social Links
Instagram 22K Followers
Facebook 25K Likes
Twitter 5K Followers
Pinterest 1K Followers
Vimeo 34 Followers
LinkedIn 0
INSTAGRAM
mountainlifemedia
22K Followers
Live It Up EP 22 is OUT NOW!
NEW ML Coast Mountains Winter-Spring ’23 Issue is OUT NOW! 🙌
There are some first times that we will always remember. Like the time I skied off-piste through the alpine highlands of le parc national de la Gaspésie.
@shimizuimg getting those January goods ❄️ #mountainlifer
With four decades of ice canoeing under his belt, Jean Anderson has dominated a sport that's unique to Quebec and that he helped shape.
Featuring three gravel and three MTB events, the series explores the intense competition and love of the sport among 60 of the world’s premier cyclists.
Winter commute with #mountainlifer @michelle_pittam ❄️🚵‍♀️🌲
@lhymnedestrembles.ca is no mirage. Set in the lush Laurentian forest, yet easily accessible (less than an hour and a half from Montreal), this luxurious ski-in ski-out residential resort by @groupebrivia is nestled at the foot of the Versant Soleil side of Mont Tremblant. The Tremblant region is a perennial destination for outdoor enthusiasts from around the world, and within the province, attracting 3.5 million visitors annually.
ML staff and gear partners highlight the latest jackets, boards, crampons, hoodies, insoles and bindings in alpha order. #Linkinbio to learn more!
Adventures like this one require an inspiring team. @timemmett is a longtime friend, adventure partner and extraordinary human; an explorer, pro climber, surfer, freediver—you name it. @luca.freediver is an incredibly talented freediver, fresh off breaking the Canadian national freediving record (85 metres). The fourth man on the team, @brianhockenstein, is a filmmaker and multi-talented snowboarder always ready to jump into the fray and capture the magic. - words Jimmy Martinello. #Linkinbio to learn more!
Follow

Subscribe

Subscribe now to our newsletter

Live It Up EP 22 is OUT NOW!
NEW ML Coast Mountains Winter-Spring ’23 Issue is OUT NOW! 🙌
There are some first times that we will always remember. Like the time I skied off-piste through the alpine highlands of le parc national de la Gaspésie.
@shimizuimg getting those January goods ❄️ #mountainlifer
With four decades of ice canoeing under his belt, Jean Anderson has dominated a sport that's unique to Quebec and that he helped shape.
Featuring three gravel and three MTB events, the series explores the intense competition and love of the sport among 60 of the world’s premier cyclists.
Mountain Life
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising

Input your search keywords and press Enter.