let’s talk about landlocked states—because, honestly, they’re the ones that really test you when you’re trying to surf all 50. I mean, if you’re on the coast, surfing is easy to picture, right? There’s an ocean, there’s waves, you’re good to go. But once you hit states like Nebraska or South Dakota, you start wondering, “Okay, what have I gotten myself into?”
The first big challenge is obvious: no ocean. You can’t just drive out to the beach and hope for a decent swell. For landlocked states, you have to get creative. That’s when rivers, lakes, and even wave pools become your best friends. River surfing, especially, has been a lifesaver for me on this journey. Like, did you know there’s a pretty active river surfing scene in places like Colorado? The Arkansas River has a wave called the Buena Vista Wave, and it’s so fun once you figure it out. But it’s nothing like ocean surfing—you’re working with a standing wave, which means it’s all about positioning and balance. It’s a completely different skill set.
And then you’ve got lakes, which can be hit or miss. In some spots, the wind kicks up enough to create surfable waves. It’s usually small and choppy, but hey, you make it work. One time, in Oklahoma, I found this spot on Lake Hefner after a big storm rolled through. The wind was so strong that it created these little knee-high waves. Not exactly a dream session, but standing up and riding anything in the middle of Oklahoma? It felt like a win.
Wave parks are another game-changer. Some of the newer ones, like the Surf Ranch in Texas, have made surfing accessible in places you’d never expect. And sure, it’s controlled and man-made, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. These waves are consistent, which is great for practice, but they’re also super technical. You have to be on your game to really take advantage of them.
But honestly, the hardest part of surfing landlocked states isn’t the waves—it’s the logistics. A lot of these spots are off the beaten path. There’s no surf shop nearby where you can grab wax or rent a board. You have to come prepared for everything. I’ve driven hours to get to a river wave, only to find out it’s completely dried up because the water flow depends on dam releases. That’s another thing—you have to check river conditions constantly. Apps like RiverApp are lifesavers for that, by the way.
And let’s not forget the weather. When you’re surfing in the Midwest or the Rockies, you’re dealing with extreme conditions. I’ve surfed in snow, freezing rain, and wind so strong it’s blown me right off my board. I’ve also had to wear a wetsuit so thick I could barely move because the water temps were, like, 40 degrees. But that’s part of the adventure, right? You’re out there, pushing yourself, finding ways to make it work.
One of my favorite landlocked sessions was actually in Tennessee. There’s this spot on the Caney Fork River where you can surf a standing wave when the dam releases water. It’s not super well-known, but the locals there were so welcoming. They helped me figure out the best time to paddle out and even gave me some tips on how to catch the wave. It’s moments like that—connecting with people who are just as passionate about surfing, even in the middle of nowhere—that make this whole project so special.
If you’re curious about river surfing or want to dive deeper into the technical side of it, check out this guide from American Whitewater: https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Wave/surfing/. They’ve got a ton of great info on where to go and how to get started.
At the end of the day, surfing landlocked states is all about adaptability. You’re not just chasing waves; you’re chasing the experience, the challenge, the story. And even if the waves aren’t perfect, the journey always is.
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