Today we’d like to introduce you to Giles Schlehuber.
Hi Giles, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In the 60s, the Great Lakes Surf Association began, bringing friends together in Grand Haven, MI and going on to host competitions and events. In the 1990s and 2000s, an editor and small volunteer team produced several zines talking about the local events, waves, seasons, etc. Into the internet era, and as the original members began to age out, all that was left was a FB page.
I, Giles, got devastatingly obsessed with surfing and could not think about anything else. I had to put my thoughts into words. I asked local elders about restarting GLSA, but they all said it would be best to let it phase out and to begin my own thing. In September 2024, I began Five Lakes Surf Club to rally all the communities of the lakes together under one active page. A year in, it’s grown to become the home of the humble lake surfer.
We tell stories, talk about surf towns around the lakes, celebrate and support local creators and shops, and attempt to preserve the culture into the future.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
For the first 100 days, I posted every single day, featuring a community member every Friday and then posting a Surf Town episode every other Sunday. It was grueling work starting it up and growing its foundation. So much outreach and research and writing and trying to track down high-quality photography. It’s really hard work being the editor, graphic designer, social marketing manager, and creative director.
It helps that the community is so energetic about sharing their homes and stories. The major struggle is sourcing photography and narrowing down what we do, the easy part is knowing what to talk about next.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
By trade, I am a graphic designer with a BA. I specialize in social media management, community building and engagement, and illustration. But I truly am a writer at heart.
I’m most proud of something in my writing career that is yet to be confirmed and announced – for now, I can only really say that writing about surfing has led to some very interesting conversations with some of the most influential people in the surfing world.
What sets me apart is that I am a consistent storyteller who is organized and is actively writing about surfing in the Great Lakes. There are some who create, some who write, some who are consistent, but I am among the few who are consistently writing quality stories about surfing in the Great Lakes and sharing the stories of others.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Show up to the local pier near you or follow along at Five Lakes Surf Club. Comment on our posts or just DM us. We can point you to someone who is a local legend or to a surf shop in your area.
Pricing:
- You Can’t Surf on a Lake Shirt – $35
- FLSC Hat – $35
- Sticker – $4
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fivelakessurfclub.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fivelakessurfclub/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571411246483
