Surf Rescue Training

The Great Lakes are powerful, unpredictable, and often highly underestimated. Each year, they take lives that could have been saved with the right awareness, knowledge, preparation, and support from the shore.

That’s why we’ve partnered with the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project to bring back our annual Water Safety & Surf Rescue Clinic — a hands-on training designed to equip our local surf and beach community with real, life-saving skills.

Our goal is simple: to build a more equipped, capable, and knowledgeable water community— participants will walk away feeling confident and prepared to keep themselves and those around them safe in the water this season.

 

The training will teach participants how to:

  • Expand Awareness in the Water
  • Identify Hazards including Dangerous Currents
  • Prevent themselves from Drowning
  • Recognize the Signs of Drowning & Identify a Person in Trouble
  • Learn to efficiently & effectively throw a life ring
  • Perform an Open Water Rescue with your Bodyboard, Surfboard or SUP
  • Take Precautionary Measures in the Case of a Spinal Injury
  • Perform basic CPR

What to bring: 

  • Your preferred watercraft (surfboard, stand-up paddleboard, or bodyboard)
  • A buddy! You will be paired up during simulations, therefore you only need to bring one board per 2 people.
    • Can’t get a buddy to join you? No sweat, we’ve gotchu’!
  • Your wetsuit. We highly recommend a 4/3mm full suit. Have ~5mm boots & mitts? Bring ’em!
    • If you don’t have a suit of your own, you may reserve a rental up to 24 hours in advance of the event.
  • Water, towel, swimmies, and dry, warm layers are also encouraged

After the training, we shift gears and unwind!

Stick around for a more relaxed community gathering — we’ll have fires rippin’ in the Solo Stove, a fire rippin’ in the sauna from Sleeping Bear Saunas, pizzas provided by our buddies at Surfrider Northern Michigan and beverage by our sponsors at Stormcloud Brewery! A super-fun chance to warm up, connect, and celebrate a shared commitment to lookin’ out for one another!

This event is free to attend.
If you’re able, donations are highly encouraged to support the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project and help continue this wildly important work. Donations will be so graciously accepted at the event!

About the Course Presenters:
The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, Inc. (GLSRP) is a nonprofit 501c3 corporation that is about saving lives through water safety education, outreach, and research. They are dedicated stewards who specialize in Water Safety Surf Rescue in the Great Lakes region. Their mission is to eradicate drownings by being the leader of Great Lakes water safety by providing training, public preparedness, and public awareness.

 

We highly encourage you to watch the following short, engaging, educational videos before you join us, or if you can’t join us: