Surfing Soapbox: Surfing comes to Chi-town — legally

I woke up this morning to the song, “Life is a highway.” A fitting song considering my day — up early to write my column.

It seems lately all of my travel days are on Thursday and in the morning to boot — which is coincidently the same day — I mean morning — that my column is due, and in many ways it’s the greatest way one could start a day.

It’s like writing a postcard to your closest friends.

With a rumored “swell of the decade” and the U.S. Open of surfing in Huntington Beach happening this week through the weekend with a $100,000 grand prize up for grabs, I will be in Chicago where surfing has just been legalized in the last month.

I’m pretty sure no south swell is forecast for the Great Lakes.

I will say, however, that the growth of surfing is alive and well, and just beginning in Chi-town.

Stand-up surfing will no doubt be the next blossoming trend of a sport there.

In fact, when I did a little stand-up paddling right smack dab in front of the magnificent mile it was one of the most memorable experiences I have had.

Of course, then it was illegal.

That is what this weekend is all about in Chicago, and more importantly for the surfers there, a celebration of the legalization of surfing.

I know it sounds weird to think that surfing was illegal here, but that is now in the past, and the future looks bright.

It’s still kind of weird to me that they actually surf in the lakes, but they do — and I have.

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, I will be presenting Chicago city officials with a surfboard that has been donated by my surfboard sponsor, Lost, which has a great drawing on the deck of it of the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower).

I think they’re going to be impressed to say the least, and I must take a moment to thank my sponsors that have made this great day possible: XS Energy drinks, Lost surfboards and clothing, Ethos FR, Boost mobile and the Surfrider Foundation.

Peace.

JAMES PRIBRAM is a Laguna Beach native, professional surfer and John Kelly Environmental Award winner. His websites include AlohaSchoolofSurfing and ECOWarrior Surf.com. He can be reached at Jamo@Aloha SchoolofSurfing.com