Family Beach Day (pics)

Three generations of Gerards spent the afternoon grilling and surfing at the beach last weekend. Erin and I had the SUPs from the demo that morning, the southwest wind picked up, and some small waves started rolling in. In a few short hours, the kids, parents, and grandparents all caught their first waves. What a great day.

Think they're having fun?

Tandem.

Kim, ending the wave in style.

Tees and SUPs (pics)

New TCSS Shop tees in stock with more arriving.

You won't find these at Walmart.

If we don't carry the highest quality stand up paddleboards

on the market, I don't know who does.

And for you surfboard snobs...

yes, that is a hand shaped STEP DECK SUP at second from top.

Small South Swell (pics)

We had to go after a couple weeks with barely a ripple, and it payed off in the form of a stomach high, glassy little peeler over a limestone reef/point. Surfing and camping in the woods is worth every minute of a 16 hour drive.

Sunrise & Sunset (pics)

We are fortunate to see some incredible ones here in Michigan. I snapped these photos of dusk and dawn over multiple days, in different locations, within the last week...

Live WGN Interview Video & Photos

Erin and I drove into Chicago yesterday and headed for the WGN studios. It was pretty neat to see the whole operation, from the news room to the actual on-air studios. We even got to see Tom Skilling sitting at his weather desk!

Tom is an underground lake surfing hero...the guys that taught me how to surf on Lake Michigan would watch Tom every night to see when the next big front was moving in - big fronts = waves. Times have changed and our forecasting methods are more advanced these days, but the bottom line is Tom has the most comprehensive weather forecast around; they need to extend his segments for all us weather junkies.

We tried to meet Tom and get a picture, but he was waaay too focused on his work like a good meteorologist should be.

Here is the video from the live segment we did. And below, photos from behind the scenes!

Deana feels the surf wax. "So sticky!"

Serious business.

"Don't mess up, kook."

The news room.

In studio.

A Clean Beach is the Best Beach (pics)

A solid group of South End surfers came out on Sunday to clean the beaches we surf in Hammond and Whiting. Many of us ended up with multiple bags full of garbage over a three hour period - the least we could do to give back to the beaches we receive so much joy from...

More than 20 people came out to help.

Even the groms pitched in.

End of the line.

180° South : Conquerors of the Useless DVD

The long awaited Woodshed film is now in stock. If you are a Patagonia fan, you might want to pick this up. You can find it in our Online Store by CLICKING HERE. And, here is the trailer...

Rainbow Sandals In Stock

Rainbow is a San Clemente, California-based company which has been making killer leather sandals for decades. If you haven't tried them you're missing out - my last pair broke in so nicely and lasted 7 years. No Joke. We just got a huge shipment in...get 'em while they last!

Two Photos

Two photos that tell a little about what we do here on an average day...

Work.

Not work.

The Meyerhoffer Design

I met Thomas Meyerhoffer at last year's Noosa Festival of Surfing in Austraila and hung a bit with him again at this year's Festival. He is a forward thinking designer who has worked for companies like Apple in the past and is slipping into the world of surfboard building in the present.

We were able to surf his board in the contest last year and it went really well. There is currently one for sale in the Shop if you want to see it for yourself.

In the meantime, check out some of the design features below. And for a glimpse into his other stuff, visit www.meyerhoffer.com.

For The Ladies (pics)

We know you like Havaianas and Sanuk Sidewalk Surfers so we stocked up big time this year. Over 17 styles of Havaianas and 10 styles of Sanuk now in stock. We also have sandals from Reef and Ocean Minded! Don't worry...we'll have stuff for your man when you guys come in, too ;)

Surf Tattoos (pics)

Our friend Pete Matushek learned how to surf on Lake Michigan less than two years ago. He lives, works, and surfs in northwestern Indiana and seems to be as addicted to riding waves as anybody I know. Here he shares his new tattoos featuring a couple well known South End Lake Michigan surf spots...

Season Opener

Last weekend was the opener for our second store and our brand new Galien River Kayak & SUP Livery.

Our second "satellite" store is in downtown New Buffalo, a mere 6 blocks from our main Shop. It's pretty simple, really...that store gets all of the walking tourists that flock downtown and who may not know about our main Shop. They go there, come here, and vice versa. This is year three for TCSS store #2.

We are super excited about our newest offering at TCSS - our Galien River Kayak & SUP Livery. Located just two miles north of New Buffalo on Red Arrow Highway, we will be set up at the access site on the east side of the road, right on the river, all summer long. All you have to do is show up to rent a kayak or paddleboard...no reservations needed. And at $15 an hour, it is an affordable way to get out on the water.

Here are a few photos from opening day at both locations. Stop in and say "hey" sometime when in New Buffalo.

Galien River Kayak & SUP Livery - right on the river all summer long.

Chris Mullen, friendly TCSS employee and river rental guy.

TCSS Store #2 in downtown New Buffalo.

A peek inside our cozy little satellite Shop.