9-12 foot waves

Steve C · 12-24-2009, 10:20 AM

Thats right, 9-12 foot wave on Lake Michigan today & Christmas day. Upper 30s is a little to cold to go out but this will give us something to look forword to in the early spring & late fall. I must say though we have not had 11 footers in about 2 years. Would be a good time to take a drive to sight see. Steve C.

Steve C · 12-24-2009, 12:49 PM

Downgraded a little. 6 feet today, 11 feet Chrristmas Day. Steve C.

02 sxipro · 12-25-2009, 09:37 PM

Call me a sally, but 11 footers are a bit too big for my liking. I'm all about the 6's though.

IndyBlaster · 01-12-2010, 04:03 PM

I have been up there with fastlife twice on a small craft advisory. . . The first time there were 4 - 6 footers. The second time, I think they called for 6 - 9 footers. . . When we got there, (11 a.m.) there were some 6 footers. . . Later into the mid day and on, there were spotty 8 footers. . . I was ALL over those. . . Erwin was hangin' back in the 6ers. . . LOL Now that I have a MOD pipe coming for my blaster, I will be up there WAAAAAAAAAAY more often... haha

fastlife23 · 01-12-2010, 04:06 PM

That becaus Erwin got tossed and practically almost drowned so he was taking it easy! LMAO I wish the waves were a little more spaced out.

IndyBlaster · 01-13-2010, 10:58 AM

OOOOOOHH yeah... Thats the only problem with lake Michigan... Suuuuper close wave sets.. Man, if they were more spaced out, I'd probably move to the hood in Gary, and be 5 minutes from the beach!! LOL

fastlife23 · 01-13-2010, 11:32 AM

You would be Tyrone's gf for sure

fox river pwc · 01-13-2010, 11:45 AM

Yep, waves on Lake Michigan's west side can be jam packed together at times, and at different places. Some of the bender regs probably recall the times I've described riding there as "survival riding". When the 6-8 footers are jammed in tight, sometimes there are literally waves forming on top of waves, and just keeping the pump primed enough to maintain steering/control takes a fair amount of skill. Actually, sometimes at bender, the waves break so huge and close together right outside the exit/entrance of the marina, that just getting out of there requires precise timing and some guts

- cuz getting rolled at that spot could cause a rather rocky landing.

Now, if you head north to Sheboygan, it's like a different lake. I've ridden in florida on both the gulf and atlantic sides, and the waves in Sheboygan often break very much like what I've experienced in florida. In fact, when racing there, I always say that the back straight is toughest part of the course (on your legs). You'll make the turn to enter the back straight, and you're staring at beautiful sets of 4-6 footers, perfectly spaced, but then you have to hunker down and work your a ss off to stay low and keep the pump in the water.

Also, I've ridden winthrop harbor a few times. The waves there can be much like bender, but they tend to space out a bit further. The problem there is just that beach access sucks. Bender is so nice to have the launch, parking lot, bathrooms, and beach all RIGHT there - along with some waves - then life is good

...

fastlife23 · 01-13-2010, 11:58 AM

Paul Lake street is much like bender as far as having access to everything. I would be interested in going up to Sheboygan with you this season let me know.

Dustin Mustangs · 01-13-2010, 03:15 PM

We must get them a little bigger over here on the 'right' side. 9-12' is pretty common this time of year. Here are some pics of Grand Haven's Pier I took in late September of this year. The NOAA had a forecast of 18-21' but I suspect it was closer to 15-18' when I took these which was the predicted peak. Note the size of the man door on the lighthouse for a sense of scale. I've ridden in waves that big before at Port Sheldon and it really isn't that much fun. If you bail in the break you are pretty much screwed until someone comes to tow you to your ski. I'll take some clean head-highs any day over stuff like this...