Surf's Up

Surfing Lake Ontario is the stuff of legends: not many have seen the crazy surfers but many have heard they're out there, and usually it's with disbelief that they retell it to others. This weekend when I was surfing...on flickr that is...I found some pics of the surf out at Bluffers Park and was pretty surprised at the size of the summertime swell. I've never really wanted to surf freshwater but looking at the set taken just a few days ago made me antsy. The last time I made it out was in LA and while the view at Topanga Canyon is pretty sweet, Bluffers might actually have something on The Golden State.

If you've ever thought of giving it a go there are a few things to know about surfing at Bluffers. First of all, it's a beach break with a sand bottom - thankfully no nasty rocks or coral breaking your falls. Riding a longboard is best on the short waves, and keeping it on a leash is important. Unless you're really nuts, you'll need a full wetsuit. Temp of the LO is about 15C right now, and since winds of 30km are ideal you're going to be chilly. Now until winter is a great time to get out there as waves can reach up to 6 feet. For some that may come as a surprise, however waves as high as 28 feet have been recorded on the Great Lakes. To others that may sound a little scary, so check conditions first.

According to globalsurfers.com, Bluffers is a good beach for beginners. Newbies should put some time in building swimming strength, always bring a friend or two and talk to surf pros for details about dangerous conditions and undertows.

(images: Gavatron)