Apocalyptic days.
In a move only only Pat O’Connell could have seen coming, the city of Chicago, nestled on the banks of mighty Lake Michigan is set to receive waves over 16 feet high tomorrow as a strong storm with howling winds is currently developing.
16 feet = 87 feet Surfline.
While thrilling to big wave hunters like Kai Lenny and Garrett McNamara, who are likely panic buying United Airlines flights, stuffing coffins with long, pointy guns, hooded wetsuits too, it is very scary to Chicagoans not used to Waimea-like conditions.
The Weather Service released an ominous warning to rich homeowners, declaring, “These large waves combined with above-average lake levels will result in beach erosion, extremely dangerous conditions at the lakefront, as well as minor lakeshore flooding.”
Waves reaching heights of 18 feet (103 feet Surfline) are expected to hit the state of Indiana just north of Illinois.
Pat O’Connell, being a Chicago-born, has a clear advantage on where to poach and it has to be thought that Keala Kennelly and Laird Hamilton are watching his movements closely.
Exciting days.
But scary too.
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Speaking of lockdown rule breakers…
Whatever happened with Chas and his repeat offender fines for eating salad at Swami’s and stepping foot onto sand down the road?
I grew up in Chicago. No thanks. Never going back aside from a quick, non-surfing visit.
Couldn’t happen to a nicer place.
the Surfline unit of swell measurement refers to how from the shore it is breaking. they are usually pretty accurate.
I feel beachgrit is a cross between Vice and TMZ
“Guess what, gang? I’m now duty recruit. I’m the boss,” Koby declares while strutting back into the sleeping quarters.
This is the bra boy, who after decades travelling to find slabs suddenly found the meatiest one right in front his home beach ( no one could script that) and than immediately bailed o/s so he had didn’t have to surf it!
And Derek and Chas are too scared repost on it.
I can’t watch SAS!
But Chas ,you can learn how pro surfers describe team work and koby beat slater with team work ya know??
Try and read the recap –
https://www.news.com.au/ent…
That’s a Fox News 16 feet. Only slightly prone to exaggeration.
Those waves are 13′ at best
I’ve always wondered whenever there is a swell event, the big name guys just turn up and there always seems to be a jetski waiting ready for them to use. Whose jetski are they always borrowing? Does Red Bull just have a jetski locked in a garage in every city on the planet just waiting?
right?
and I hate jetskis!
Hobbsy? Where are ya mate? Is this your 100 year storm?
Headed to Bells!
Vaya con dios…
Did you score?
Nah, unfortunately had to pass on this one. 70 degree water temp with 45 degree air temp was a poor mix – with the 3/2 back in SD I was either going to freeze in boardies or bake in a 6/5. Decided I was probably better served by going to class.
Good call, someone needs to learn the smarts around here lol
He should have milked that interference opportunity. No good deed goes unpunished
Chicago Italian beef sandwiches are delicious. Kai Lenny loves Mark Zuckerberg.
Loves him a good ol’ Zuckerberg beef sandwich
Not nearly as good as the hot dogs with that fluorescent green relish!!
Just watched the vid. Looks like Port Phillip Bay when the winds not quite blowing hard enough to get bay waves. Fuck you’re pathetic USA media. Suck my cock.
Is this 16ft American standard? It might be a nice day to take my youngest kid to teach her how to stand up. I’ve met countless Americans on planes who tell me they surf their local at 6-8ft every weekend. Nearly all of those Americans were grabbing 10ft long board bags off the oversized baggage carousel. Rhino chasers? Unlikely….
what they mean is they take 6-8ft of forward momentum to struggle to their feet whilst looking like they’re using their arms to roll up the windows of car mid-90s or earlier vintage
You have a daughter?
Whaa? My local in Laguna is a solid 8-10 almost always, unless we gets a southern hemi or a big winter north, then it gets uge! I ride a custom Wavestorm with extra fins and Dremelled water grooves on the bottom with an extra wax layer to make it faster than a greased pig in a dress shop!
It’d be cool if this swell event births a south side storm a la the Brazilian storm, to topple the long-standing Anglo-Saxon hierarchy of the Great Lakes surf scene
I was born and raised on the southside for 18 years before getting the hell out of there. I have yet to meet any Chicago surfers anywhere (perhaps thankfully) let alone any from the SS. So I guess it’s up to me and my shiddy three stage cutty to start the chistorm….not gonna be pretty
can i be your andy king?
I spent 1 year in a lakeview room on the 16th floor of the Blackstone Hotel, South Michigan Drive… On Grant Park, Chicago… While writing a book on the Yoga Sutras while renovating and managing a high end Ayurveda Clinic, with specialists from India, after spending a half year in Madhya Pradesh, and nearby Jyotilinga Shiva temples. I surfed the Michigan side of the same Lake. Freezing. But a 16′ swell in Summer Heat would be sikkkkkk.
Real Chi town locals measure swell in deep dish pizzas
16ft = 87sf (Surfline feet) = 3.5 Chicago deep dishes
Makes more sense than Magic Seaweed.
Makes more sense after consumption of magic seaweed
I love Magic Seaweed, the fuckwits have the tides so arse about for down here the touro’s are fucken bum steered in a big way.
seaweed here works well here for wind – swell fair
0.75 Jason Stathams
tavern cut —Southsizide!
Can we get a no novelty follow up on this?
That the ‘Forecast Feet’ to ‘Surfline Feet’ ratio is non-linear causes me much discomfort.
I need to go for a wave. Is only 4′ Surfline tho
4’ surfline means you’re currently in a dry creek bed