Editor’s Note: The Hometown Hype film tour is presented by White Claw.
Surfing in Northern Michigan? For most people, it sounds pretty out there. But for filmmaker and Hometown Hype: Michigan director Mike King, it’s a story worth telling.
“The conditions are not the best in the world, so the people going out and doing it are not afraid to go out in pretty crazy conditions,” explains King. “Sometimes it could be sunny and 75 degrees. Other times it could be negative 10 degrees, with two feet of snow. So it takes an interesting type of person [to surf that]. The swells don’t happen as much as we’d like them to, so every time they do, everyone’s so excited.”
In a place where the waves are fickle, the water is freezing, and disbelief is the default reaction, a small but passionate community continues to paddle out. They’ve built a surf scene defined by grit, optimism, and a healthy dose of idealism — because to surf the Great Lakes, you have to believe it’s possible even when it doesn’t look like it.
And the learning curve has been real. As the scene’s developed, expertise in the conditions that create the best waves have increased, and the equipment best suited for freshwater has been refined and improved. For locals, it’s been fun to be a part of.
“Surfing the Great Lakes as a whole is still relatively new and we are all still learning,” says Mike. “The swells, the waves, all the factors, let alone the actual act of riding a wave. It’s just been a hoot, people going out and just playing in the water and just really trying to make the best of it. I think that’s just kind of unified the group, and makes it a special experience.”
King’s film delves into that camaraderie and more, as a community works to expand its wave-riding prowess together. Just one aspect that makes searching for surf on the Great Lakes so special.
Directed, Shot & Edited by
Mike King
Produced by
Ella Skrocki & Luke House
Additional Footage by
This is Practical
Ryan Busch
Spencer Milbocker
Beth Price (16mm Footage)
Grant Piering (8mm Footage)
Still Photography
Beth Price Photography
Special Thanks
Ethan Sperber
John O’Callaghan
Kile Parker
Featuring Watermen
Sean McLain
Chad Jordan
Johnny Bapka
Matt Mulligan
Jim Rogers
Ella Skrocki
Frank Skrocki
Reiss Skrocki
Beth Price
John O’Callaghan
Mike King
Special thanks to White Claw for supporting this community based film tour.
