Riding surf in Lake Superior MN coast

Just as the title suggests, how is the riding in Lake Superior on the Minnesota coast from Duluth to Canada? Is it similar to ocean riding minus the salt water? Any good places to land skis that you would suggest?

I'm also interested. Lake Superior is really cold, so there is that. I've heard that great lakes "surf" is closer together than ocean "surf" for any given height, which adds some difficulty, but I've never ridden in either so I have no idea if that's true.

I like to ride Duluth, there's a nice sand beach just over the lift bridge but you need a cart. Watch NOAA like a hawk and be ready to go when the forecast picks up. Great lakes surf is not predictable and it seems to get better as the weather gets worse.

Are you talking about the lake side of Park Point? Where do you park isn't that all residential houses near the bridge?

I park here and cart over the dune boardwalk and ride the beach.


https://www.google.com/maps/place/1...d382240e2b8a80!8m2!3d46.7718368!4d-92.0874238

Nice that looks perfect, how long is the cart trip?

corwin said:

Nice that looks perfect, how long is the cart trip?

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100-150 ft

I go up to grand marais a lot, not to ride but I was scoping out a bunch of places to ride up there this summer. I found a few spots that where pretty descent. I just got a dry suit...if I finish a ski I'd like to make it up there to ride

I rode in Two Harbors last time I was up there. Unfortunately the lake was glass that day. I didn't think the water was that cold but I usually ride pretty cold water

Killer looking spot!!

yamanube said:

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yamanube said:

I park here and cart over the dune boardwalk and ride the beach.


https://www.google.com/maps/place/1...d382240e2b8a80!8m2!3d46.7718368!4d-92.0874238

View attachment 362733View attachment 362734

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That looks horrible! You don't want random waves like that, you want lines and separation. The only way to get lines on the Great Lakes is to ride near breaks and reefs. The entire north shore of Lake Superior is NOT ideal for this. The north shore is a steep drop off and rocky. The south shore is the direct opposite, shallow entry and sandy. Also Duluth us tucked away back in a bay, which means it'll only get good waves from one general direction.

This is why I ride Sheboygan, WI on Lake Michigan. It's located on an elbow, where it's exposed to more wave action. It has sand reefs that clean up the surf before it gets to shore. This gives the waves a chance to break multiple times and assimilate. I've seen longer lines riding in Sheboygan than I've seen at Daytona, just not as much separation.

We're having the Third Coast Freeride this weekend and next. We'll be in Sheboygan at Kohler-Andrae State Park. I chose a state park because, one it's public, two it has the easiest beach cart landing ever, and three it has about 2 miles of public beach you can pull up on, in case you break down.

Can you feel it? ~WAVES~ARE~COMING~

@bird Horrible is a relative term, best beach and best waves within 2 hours of my garage. Sheboygan is nearly 3 times the drive. Shoulder high washing machine is how you keep out the goofballs.