The calm before the storm (3/3)

We were in the car on our way to Lake Erie. It was a Monday. Mark and I had taken the afternoon off to go surfing. We had reached half way through the interview and I still had so many questions to ask Mark. Luckily for me, we still had about 45 mins for me to finish the interview; I knew that as soon as the waves would be in sight, I would lose Mark's focus for the interview.

I feel privileged to have such a great friend to share these exciting moments on the water. I am also proud to share with you this portrait of him through my #isurf photo series.

1. Would you say surfing the Great Lakes was a life changing experience?

Yes, I love the peace it brings to my life. It’s almost like it can solve any troubles I have, it is such a positive and soothing experience to surf the Great Lakes.

2. Everyone knows that the winter is the best season on the lakes, can you tell us more about the winter season on the lakes? Was your first winter season on the lakes?

My first time surfing in winter was on a trip to Halifax. Surfing in the winter is a humbling experience every time. The traffic and crowd is way less, but the waves are better and more consistent. You are working and enduring a certain level of pain just to catch a wave and keep improving. You get thrown and beaten up. Hard days in the winter make easy days… easy!

3. Do you have any stories that stands out during your winter sessions?

With Pat at the Burlington skyway in February. The wind was really strong about 50-60 km/h! I could barely walk from the car to the beach. Hail was pelting in my face and the waves were big. You had to try to catch a wave, not let anything bother you and when you do it feels like you have achieved something at the end.

4. When and where did you catch you best ride?

Can’t comment! I don’t like this question! I can just say that you can catch more waves than thought on the Great Lakes.

5. What do people say when you tell them that you surf the Great Lakes all year round?

Surfing is more popular, but I still have to explain and convince people that you can surf on the Great Lakes. Also, some people view it as a fun activity on the beach, others as a lifelong craft to be mastered.

6. What is your view on surf?

I view surf as a craft; it is a way of expressing myself, it feels right. I’d like to say I’m a chill guy, but if I put effort into something I will invest myself fully. I am always ready to go surf and I love my surf boards.

7. What is your view on the Great Lakes?

The Great Lakes are very unique. I think that if I grew up in California, surfing wouldn’t feel as unique. To me, surfing the Great Lakes feel more special, more original, but also more unknown. I know that there are a lot of surfers on the lake now, but often times you are by yourself, finding new places that possibly no one has surfed before. There is so much coastline to choose from so you can always find yourself in a unique place.

8. Any advice to new surfers?

It is an individual sport with a lot of freedom so you can dictate more what you do. Appreciate every session as well the people who are supportive and accept you for choosing this lifestyle.

Be original with your surfing and listen to yourself. It is you with nature.

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The #isurf series follows people of the Great Lakes community and retells their stories through anecdotes, interviews and photographs. #isurf will be released every other month, the first part will be released on the Wednesday and the second on the Friday.

The calm before the storm (2/3)

We were in the car on our way to Lake Erie. It was the start of the fall season. Mark and I have spent numerous hours travelling over the past couple years, chatting about all the potential surf and spots we might want to go to. He introduced me to Great Lakes surfing.

I feel privileged to have such a great friend to share these exciting moments on the water. I am also proud to share with you this portrait of him through my #isurf photo series.

Name: Mark Stewart

Occupation: Designer

1. Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Southern Ontario close to Sarnia, in a small town called Camlachie.

2. What was life like growing up by the lake?

It was great! I feel very lucky to be born and raised close to Lake Huron. I grew up swimming in the waves with my sister, Laura. Sometimes we would bring out inner-tubes and ride them all the way to the beach! I loved exploring underwater and swimming out far when it was flat. I always went to the beach; it is so calming and a separation from regular life.

3. What attracted you to the lake?

Well definitely growing up next to it and being exposed to the environment. I mean I got used to it, it was normal for me to be at the lake. I used to do competitive swimming and I would spend a good amount of time practicing and relaxing at the lake.

4. How did you get into surfing? You started with skimboarding first, right?

Yeah I started with skim in high school, but I always interested in surfing. I had a general idea of what surfing was, just like everyone else. I didn’t really grow up watching surf videos or anything like that though; at the time I didn’t know that you could surf good waves on the lake. I got more into skimboarding because of my high school friends, we would watch skim videos and I just aspired to do more skimboarding… and got more into it.

5. So when did you first surf?

Well I used to pretend I would surf on my skateboard in the driveway (which I still do). My first-time surfing was on a one-week trip to Tofino when I was 18. I took a surfing lesson and then surfed when I travelled from there on out.

6. Did you travel primarily to surf?

No, I was interested in surfing but I didn’t travel specifically for surf. During college, I started to do backpacking trips a lot. I travelled to Australia and New Zealand for 6 months. I thought it was a better life choice to travel more, than to put more effort into college. After Oz, I came back to finish college and then started travelling for surf specifically. I went to South America twice with some close friends. When we were in Chile, I really enjoyed meeting the local skimboarders and surfers and the kindness they showed to us. I would later go on to travel/surf in Japan, Costa Rica, across Canada and California.

I used to travel more to explore than to surf or skim, but now I travel more to surf than explore.

7. How would describe that trip to Australia? How was the surf community out there?

Australia was a great experience overall, but I wasn’t able to surf well and the spots I went to were too advanced for me. It was good because I got exposed to the different types of surfers, waves and conditions… good or bad. I don’t think of Australia as a community of surfers but more of a population of surfers. Everyone surfs there!

8. Why that change from swimming and skim to surf?

Well I used to do a lot of other sports like basketball too and it took a toll. You also can’t skim forever, so I got more interested in surfing. I bought a surfboard and started surfing at home.

9. When did you start surfing the Great Lakes then?

Well I started at home after the Tofino trip. But I would only surf a couple times a year on a big swell. I was totally unaware of other spots on the Great Lakes and the consistency of the waves on the lake at that time.

I would probably say I started surfing more often after college when I moved to Guelph. I didn’t have the greatest outlook on the future and I was bummed that I wasn’t close to the ocean or lakes. I took a trip to Costa Rica and really got into progressing at surfing then. I came back thinking I can’t wait to surf the at home. I went to Lake Erie one day and that was a game changer! Our group started going surfing more and checking out the other spots. I surf up to 2-4 times a week now depending on the conditions.

The calm before the storm (1/3)

I am proud to share with you this portrait of Mark Stewart through my #isurf photo series. Mark and I have spent numerous hours travelling over the past couple years, chatting about all the potential surf spots we might want to go to and life in general. He introduced me to Great Lakes surfing and always encourages me to get out there to take more photos. I feel privileged to have such a great friend to share these exciting moments on the water.

It was 5:30 AM

We were on a Costa Rican beach and the swell was building up. I was rather anxious; I had never attempted to surf in 7-foot swell and the 9-foot board I rented felt like it weighed a ton. As I saw more experienced surfers passing by me with their shorter boards, I felt rather embarrassed about the size of mine (a rather common misconception of surfboard and surfing that I use to have).

“Ready to hit the surf?”

It was Mark, a 6’1” surfer from Ontario, staring calmly at the horizon, eyes focused on reading the waves with his 5’6” fish surfboard under his arm and a half-hidden smile. I met Mark through one of my engineering friends at a Halloween party, it was around the same time I started showing some interest in photography and considered the idea of trying surfing.

“It’s pretty big…”, I answered half-heartedly.

“Well… You gotta do, what you gotta do”

he replied with his rather naturally calm and nonchalant voice, slowly walking towards the surf. I stared at him as he walked away, trying to make any sense of that answer he just gave me.

I’ve been friends with Mark for a couple of years now. We share the same interest for the ocean, waves, music and a genuine hatred for school! To me, Mark is the friend that has that calmness that settles in after a moment of panic (e.g: staring at the big swell you will face!) and makes you realize you can take on the challenge ahead. Over the few years I have known Mark, we have travelled to Latin America, went for a winter surf trip in Halifax, explored the shores of the Great Lakes and I have come to embrace this calmness.