CRITICAL SLIDE
CRITICAL SLIDE FUN GUY SURFBOARD
CRITICAL SLIDE FUN GUY SURFBOARD
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If you surf Lake Michigan around St. Joseph or drive up from Chicago, you know the drill: short-period wind swell, shifty sandbars, and sessions that turn on fast and shut down just as quick. This board is built for exactly that kind of chaos.
Plenty of foam to get you into soft, running lake waves early, but with enough rocker and bottom contour to come alive when the wind backs off and the sandbar starts throwing something a little more critical.
Local tip: Grab this board here in St. Joe, then book a 1:1 lesson with Tyler. He’ll help you dial it in on our local sandbars so you know exactly how it wants to be ridden before you take it back to your home break.
Why It Rips on Lake Michigan
Perfect for St. Joe sandbars & Chicago missions
The low, relaxed rocker and generous outline help you get into those fast-moving, steep-but-soft Great Lakes peaks before they outrun you—whether you’re surfing right here in St. Joseph or chasing a wind window up from Chicago.
Stable in chop, playful on the face
Local winds rarely line up perfectly. The extra volume in the nose and tail smooths out bumps and backwash, while the vee-to-double concave lets you tip it rail-to-rail without feeling twitchy when a cleaner set finally rolls through.
Handles everything from knee-high sliders to fall nor’easter sets
Classified as a fun shape, the full outline keeps you cruising on smaller summer windswell, but the moderate rocker and refined tail let you step back and turn once the period jumps and the waves stand up on the outside bar.
Forgiving for pier and river-mouth sessions
Whether you’re threading reformy shoulders by the pier or dealing with cross-chop and backwash, the wide sweet spot under your front foot makes it easy to adjust, trim, and recover without bogging.
Outline
Full and generous from nose to tail for maximum stability in small to medium waves—the bread and butter of Lake Michigan. The rounded nose keeps plenty of area up front so you can comfortably shift your weight forward and cruise through softer sections. The subtle taper through the tail makes it easy to pivot and redirect when you hit a steeper pocket or need to dodge a closeout section.
Rocker
Low, relaxed rocker = easy paddle speed and fast entry on short, punchy lake peaks. It accelerates from takeoff with minimal effort and allows for long, flowing turns down the line—especially useful when the wave stands up for a moment, then quickly flattens out.
Contours
Vee-to-double concave bottom for smooth rail-to-rail transitions and control when you’re driving off the tail. That extra grip and hold is clutch on those steeper, wind-built peaks you get during strong north or southwest blows.
Foil
Plenty of volume in the nose, tail, and out towards the rails gives added stability and forgiveness. That makes this board simple to ride for surfers stepping up from foamies or wave-pool sessions into real Lake Michigan surf, while still having enough performance for more experienced riders to push it.
Fins
2+1 setup with FCS II side plugs:
Run it as a single for smooth, cruisey trim on mellow sandbar peelers.
Add the side bites for more hold and drive when the lake is thumping.
Quick, tool-less fin swaps mean you can change the feel of the board in the parking lot depending on what the wind and sandbars are doing.
NOTE: Rider weight is based on board volume and intermediate rider skill level
We’re unable to ship surfboards, but this is the perfect day trip from Chicago or anywhere along the lake. Drive up, grab your new board, and jump in the water for a lesson with Tyler to get it dialed on real Lake Michigan waves before you head home.
