Dear Surf the Greats family, In the dance of the waves, there's a story of ebb and flow, of surges that rise with strength and fall back into stillness. It's within this rhythm of nature that I find the words to share a significant turning point in our journey at Surf the Greats. After a decade dedicated to riding the waves and weaving an unparalleled community along the pristine shores of the Great Lakes and beyond, the time has come for us to bid farewell to our shop and surf school, with doors closing for the final time on April 20th. This decision, weighed with heavy hearts, reflects not ..read more

You’ve probably noticed that ice baths, saunas, cold water exposure, paddling and surfing during the winter months are becoming quite trendy these days, and believe it or not there’s a fascinating reason for that. The research surrounding each of these topics primarily discusses that these activities are beneficial to not only our physical health but also our mental health. Each of these forms of leisure helps enhance the circulation of blood, improves insulin sensitivity, reduces inflammatory stress, and improves cognitive function (1). These facts are just the beginning of what we know about ..read more

Hey shreddies, it’s that time of year again and we’re coming into coldwater season hot with some incredible curated gift packs that will be sure to blow your loved ones out of the water (or should we say into the water)! We know finding the perfect gift can be tough which is why we have curated exclusive packages just for the holiday season for every kind of water lover at up to 30% off the total value!  Product discounts only apply on gift packs and are not valid for individual products, so take advantage of this opportunity to give more for less while supporting your favo ..read more

In this edition of Surfer’s Voice, we spoke to Geoff Ortiz, a long-time Great Lakes Surfer and local legend. If you’ve ever surfed around Toronto, you’re bound to have bumped into a smiling Geoff— either holding a paddle or camera. We chatted about how he got into surfing and lake surfing in particular. Having surfed the lakes for nearly two decades, and having photographed countless other surfers on Lake Ontario, Geoff holds a unique place in the Great Lakes Surf community—thanks for taking the time to chat with us, Geoff!  Where are you from? Where do you live? I grew up north of Toro ..read more

In the sublime realm where the water meets the horizon, a battle rages for the very soul of surfing. It is a struggle against the currents of racism, homophobia, xenophobia, and misogyny that plague our beloved sport. As a queer surfer, and the co-founder and CEO of Surf the Greats, my heart burns with a fervent desire to see a surfing world that embraces diversity and shatters the chains of discrimination. As we celebrate another Pride Month we see that most corporations continue to paint their logos with Pride colours without taking action, and that most surf brands quietly and anxiously go ..read more

If there was ever a time to launch a surf brand for women, the ‘90s would be a sure bet. The sister brand of Quiksilver, ROXY made its debut in the summer of 1990 as a women’s swimwear line and grew from there, becoming one of the defining brands of the decade as women’s surfing reached new heights. We went deep into the early days with ROXY co-founder Bob McKnight, who shared the stories and moments that built the company into the iconic brand it is today.  The idea of starting the first women’s surf brand started with a simple observation. McKnight and his business partner Jeff Hakman ..read more

As females presently continue to push for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the surfing industry, we figured now was a crucial time to highlight one of our favorite brands we carry in-store, KASSIA+SURF. Kassia+Surf pushes the limits of women's swimwear, athleisure, and wetsuit design in the lowest impact way. Kassia Meador’s knowledge for surfing and the culture that surrounds it has made her gear highly dependable, eco-friendly, and most especially sustainable. We are extremely proud to carry this female-led brand and share it with our Great Lakes community.  About Kassia   “Wh ..read more

If you have walked through the doors of Surf the Greats you have probably seen our famous surfboard rack decorated with a wide range of surfboards and colorful options. From shortboards, to mid-lengths, to fishes, to longboards, from Canadian and American shapers, we have plenty of surfboard options to offer for our various waves in Canada. Today, we want to highlight one of our most beloved brands: BING Surfboards.  BING HISTORY Founded by Bing Copeland in 1960, the California born brand became one of the major surfboard manufactures of the sixties and early seventies. Bing Copelan ..read more

January in Canada can be a hard time for a lot of us. The days are grey and short, it’s right in the middle of winter, and the holidays are behind us, which can often leave people feeling more susceptible to the stressors of life. We’re human! We love sunshine, plants, and social connection, and we’re deprived of most of these things for about four months of the year. I consider myself lucky to be a winter surfer, because it gives me something to get excited about once the weather starts to turn in November. But even still, I - and I’m sure many other cold water dwellers - fall ..read more

We have all been there. The very beginning. You just purchased your surfing gear. You have your 9ft foamie in hand, 7mm booties on your feet, and your 6/5mm wetsuit on your body. You’re standing at the edge of the lake getting ready to jump in. You look out onto the water and see other surfers on all different kinds of boards. Shortboards, longboards, mid lengths and bodyboards! Shredders everywhere! You start to feel a little bit nervous and your hands start to sweat in your 7mm gloves.  © Teigan Labor Don’t worry; we have all been there before. Surfing on the Great Lakes can be a ..read more