Stand Up Paddle Boarding in Chicago
This article was originally published at www.examiner.com
by Ken Ilio
for Chicago Photography Examiner
A stand-up paddle boarder starting out from the beach on Lake Michigan last week.
There seems to be an upsurge in interest in paddle boarding (stand up paddleboarding) on Lake Michigan in the past two or three years. I’ve seen them spring, summer and … yes, even in winter. Just last week, just before going to work, I glanced out of my window and saw a paddle boarder on the lake. Naturally, I grabbed my camera and took a shot.
Two years ago, Joe Bidwid, one of the pioneers of high performance windsurfing and kiteboarding in the Great Lakes crossed Lake Michigan on a paddle board – from St. Joe, Michigan to Chicago! That must be a record.
One crazy pela paddle boarding on Lake Michigan, seen during the summer last year.
How about this guy?! In the middle of winter last year!
I hope they don’t get arrested like these surfers that I saw back in 2003. As soon as they got out of the water, police swarmed and arrested them. Apparently, it is illegal to surf on Lake Michigan in Chicago … although many surfing sites say that surfing is approved on Montrose beach (or maybe authorities just look the other way).
Surfers on Lake Michigan, ca 2003.
Read the original article here: http://www.examiner.com/x-463-Chicago-Photography-Examiner~y2009m4d1-Stand-up-paddle-boarding-Chicago
wierd… from time to time i would google “chicago stand up paddle” to see if there was anyone else around. that’s how i happened to noticed this the article at the examiner.com site on the same day it got posted up here. strange thing is every time i paddle in lake michigan i couldn’t help but wonder what it must look like from above (from one of the high rises or the occasional helicopter). then to find three pictures of myself in different seasons from both aspects (on a building and from a helo or plane). bizarre indeed!
Too bad you didn’t get over for the downwind board showcase Evan. You would have met Alan (a.k.a. shapeshifter)…the guy in the Chicago pics. Great guy…we’ve been corresponding for a year and a half or so (started when I was talking about building paddles on the zone) and I finally got to meet him. He was out sourcing materials for a skin cream he’s come up with for folks that get in and on the water a lot. Organic, high SPF, non-greasy, antibacterial….awesome stuff.
I’ve paddled a few of chicago’s beaches and loved em. Here’s a short video of me paddling @ montrose. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDnPLpGONYg
enjoy!
Cory
Interesting article. We’ve been seeing a lot of increased paddling in our neck of the woods, Holland, Mi.
We’ve been out about every other weekend this winter.
Excited for spring, but the site above has some links/pics of our winter activites. I’ll keep it recent.
Thanks, Keep paddling.
AC
I will be in Chicago for the month of July 2010. I was wondering if there are any “SUP” events taking place?
Been supping out of Burnham Harbor for 5 years. Moved to New buffalo Harbor this summer, awesome!