Meet the Surfers of Michigan's Great Lakes

“My mom always felt an immense sense of privilege to be along what is now Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore, and she bore witness to the power of the Great Lakes. When we came into the world, we were encouraged to embrace Lake Michigan in all of its forms,” Ella said. 

Paddling, swimming and boating are all beloved freshwater activities, but surfing was the big bucket-list experience that the Skrockis craved. Unbeknownst to many, a low-key surfing scene has existed on Michigan’s Great Lakes since the 1960s, but finding the right equipment and gear was a challenge. 

In 2004, the Skrockis opened Sleeping Bear Surf Shop and in true “if you build it, they will come” fashion, the community blossomed. 

“Once we opened up it was like all these people were like, finally,” Annabelle said. “We’re still close friends with those people that came in that first summer.” 

Now in its 20th year, Sleeping Bear Surf Shop continues to break barriers and build community, creating a network that extends far beyond the small village of Empire. Several other shops have since emerged, including Surf Shop Grand Haven, SoHa Surf Shop in South Haven and Third Coast Surf Shop in New Buffalo. 

“Our mom was an amazingly joyous, extraordinarily generous human being, and that was very much the foundation of this business. She realized there was a massive gap and that people didn’t have a way to connect with the lake the way we did,” Ella said. 

Surfboard shaper Tim Folkert and his wife were among the earliest supporters of Sleeping Bear Surf Shop. As an avid surfer in California, he had only recently discovered lake surfing on a visit back home in Michigan. During an internship monitoring the piping plovers at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Folkert and his girlfriend (now wife) spotted a “Coming Soon” sign for the surf shop. 

“We called the phone number and before we knew it, she had a job and a place to live with the family within a matter of days of meeting,” Folkert said. “That speaks so much to who the Skrockis are and what they’ve built.” 

Folkert — who permanently moved his business, Migration Surf, from California to Michigan — explains the enormous differences in surfing between the coast and the lake. 

“On the West Coast, swells are usually generated in the Aleutian Islands chains of Alaska, so you’re surfing in gorgeous, sunny conditions with clean waves that are a long way from the storm. Here in Michigan, the waves are generated by wind from close proximity.” 

Perhaps the most stark difference between ocean and Great Lakes surfing is the season. The most consistent waves arrive in fall when the water has been warmed through the summer and the air becomes colder and denser. Dedicated surfers will continue all the way into winter when blasts of arctic air come in from the north and the lake is slushy with ice. Wetsuits are a must and reading wind forecasts becomes an art form, with no guarantees that you’ll always catch a great wave. 

“It’s that idea of chasing the unknown and being willing to be uncomfortable to experience new things,” Folkert said. “To me, that's where I find the greatest joy and excitement.” 

For photographer Beth Price, chasing the waves wasn’t just a learning experience; it created a foundational shift in her career. Burned out from wedding photography, she was challenged by a friend to go out and shoot something for fun, and not for money. 

“I started paddling around with a friend who was a windsurfer. I would follow her out and take photos from the beach, and then slowly I realized I needed to get in the water with my camera,” says Price. 

Shortly after, she reached out to Sleeping Bear Surf Shop and made the inevitable connection with Beryl, and then found her way into the Great Lakes surfing community. What she discovered was an incredibly welcoming group of enthusiasts. 

The more time she spent on the surf, the more she learned the nuances of capturing shots in the middle of the action. Constantly adapting to changing light, protecting her gear from the elements and staying out of the way of a surfer catching a wave all became part of her art. 

“I was a little timid about being in the lineup,” Price said. “I was familiar with surf etiquette, but I didn’t want to take a wave from someone who was better than me. Some surf communities can be very exclusive, but here everyone is super friendly and encouraging.” 

What each of these surfers has in common, besides their enthusiasm for the sport, is a deep love for the Great Lakes and an honest motivation to inspire others to create the same kind of attachment. 

“Beryl said this all the time, and we feel the same way. Once you form a connection with the Great Lakes, you’re more apt to advocate for them,” Price said. “We have one-fifth of the world’s freshwater here, and we are inherently responsible to educate people and help protect the waters. We truly want people to come experience it and form that connection.” 

Watch this TripAdvisor exclusive about Sleeping Bear Surf Shop and the family’s mission to educate and inspire others on the Great Lakes:

Click here to learn more about how to surf the Great Lakes from Third Coast Ryan Gerard.