Finding waves in places you’d never expect—that has been one of the wildest parts of this journey. Like, when I first thought about surfing all 50 states, I kind of had this mental map of where it’d be obvious, you know? California, Hawaii, Florida… easy. But when you hit states like Nebraska or North Dakota? I mean, come on. You can’t just Google “surf spots” and have it magically pop up.
Okay, so, let’s start with rivers, because rivers are kind of the secret weapon here. A lot of people don’t realize it, but river surfing is a legit thing. It’s not like the ocean, where you’re waiting for the perfect set to roll in. Instead, it’s all about finding the right flow—like a standing wave in the current. Montana was one of the first places I really got to try this. There’s a spot on the Clark Fork River that’s just insane. You paddle out, but instead of chasing waves, you’re basically fighting the current to get into position, and once you’re locked in, it’s like this endless wave. The first time I caught it, I couldn’t stop laughing. It felt so weird but so fun.
But not every place has a natural wave like that. That’s where creativity comes in. I’ll admit, I’ve surfed some really weird stuff. In Kansas, for example, I found this lake that gets crazy winds. Like, enough to kick up these tiny, choppy waves. It’s not what you’d call “surfable” in the traditional sense, but I’m out there on this longboard just wobbling around. And honestly? That counts! It’s about getting out there and making it work.
Oh, and then there are wave parks. When I started this project, I was kind of against the idea of surfing in a man-made wave pool. It felt like cheating. But once I got to Texas and saw how much people loved the wave parks there, I was like, okay, let’s give it a shot. And, man, the technology is incredible. You can ride these perfect, machine-generated waves over and over. It’s almost hypnotic. Plus, I realized it’s a great way to connect with local surf communities in places where they don’t have access to the ocean.
One of my favorite unexpected finds was in the Midwest. I’d heard about a spot in Wisconsin where people surf on Lake Michigan, but I didn’t totally believe it until I saw it. Turns out, the Great Lakes can get pretty gnarly during storms. There’s this crew of hardcore surfers who live for it. I went out with them on a freezing day, and the waves were these messy, windblown peaks. Getting into my wetsuit was pure torture—I’m talking ice on the zipper kind of cold—but once I was out there, it was magic. You’re surrounded by these massive freshwater waves, and it just doesn’t feel real.
Then there’s Alaska. Okay, this one was just ridiculous. It was summer, so the water wasn’t completely unbearable, but still. I ended up surfing a tidal bore—which, if you don’t know, is basically a wave created by the tide rushing into a river. It’s this single wave that travels upstream, and you have to time everything perfectly to catch it. I paddled out with a local guide who’d done it a million times, and he’s yelling instructions at me while we’re waiting. And then, out of nowhere, here comes this wave barreling toward us. It’s not huge, but it’s fast. I managed to pop up and ride it for, I don’t know, maybe 30 seconds? Longest wave of my life. Afterward, I was just sitting there like, did that really just happen?
I think the biggest lesson in all of this is that surfing isn’t just about the ocean. It’s about finding the flow wherever you are. I’ve had to adapt my expectations so many times, but that’s what makes it fun. It’s not always glamorous. I’ve surfed in muddy rivers, freezing lakes, and even places where people were like, “Wait, you’re trying to surf here?” But every single session has taught me something, whether it’s about surfing, myself, or just how people connect with water in different ways.
So, yeah, waves can show up in the most unexpected places. You just have to be willing to look for them—and sometimes get a little weird about it. But honestly? That’s where the best stories come from.
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