Sheboygan surf scene gets back to its roots

It doesn't take an organized event for several hundred surfers to show up at Sheboygan's beaches to catch some Labor Day waves.

The organizers of the city's Dairyland Surf Classic, which started in 1988, announced last year that the massive festival that helped put Sheboygan's surfing scene on the global map would end.

But hundreds of surfers showed up last year on Labor Day weekend all the same, and it's expected that many will be back again this year to carry on the budding tradition.

"It's kind of the end of summer, but the beginning of our surf season," said Mike Miller, owner of the newly opened surf and paddleboard shop, EOS, in Sheboygan. "Even though there is no scheduled surf classic or events, people still come and hang out. It's just kind of a tradition."

Often referred to as "The Malibu of the Midwest," Sheboygan and its beaches have gained their fair share of loyal, surf followers. That's largely due to the ideal surf spots Sheboygan boasts, said Miller.

Surfers also are attracted to the challenge of surfing a freshwater lake, where waves can vary in size and frequency, and where the water isn't as buoyant as ocean saltwater.

Miller said the city also is a draw because of the people.

"There's a history of surfers here dating back 50 plus years," he said. "It just kind of became a great way to meet new people, and the people locally are just great here. It's just a great place."

Alex Marks, a lifetime Sheboygan resident who now works as manager at EOS, said he's looking forward to this weekend's gathering.

"The weather's usually really nice," Marks said. "We typically get surf that weekend, so it's kind of a last hurrah for summer and on that same note, it's kind of the introduction to our fall surf season."

For Miller, the weekend isn't only about commemorating the start of the surfing season. This weekend's crowds also offer a perfect opportunity to celebrate the achievement of opening a new store.

Miller and his employees will host a grand opening celebration with music, food and raffles at 6 p.m. Friday at EOS, 510 N. Eighth St. Surfing will take place throughout the day on Saturday at North Beach.

Miller said he's toying with the idea of getting a more organized event started again in the future on Labor Day weekend, possibly as early as next year.

In the meantime, however, Marks said the informal gatherings will do.

"Even though it wasn't officially organized last year, it was still a great turnout," Marks said. "That's how the event started, just kind of an organic gathering of people. So it kind of inadvertently has gone back to where it started."

— Reach Kali Thiel at 920-453-5134.