“30 minutes South of Buffalo brings some fun, long waves and a great creek entrance to the lake.”
The only thing money is good for is traveling and gear! Buffalo is known for its cold snowy winters. So when we get a chance to paddle the creeks and lakes in January it is a blessing! I geared up with all my essential cold weather paddling attire, my Kokatat Polartech power dry liner, Kokatat Icon Dry Suit, and Orbit PFD and headed to Lake Erie. I knew it would be cold and id be paddling through ice chunks so I choose my Pau Hana Ricochet Board and my Kialoa Insanity Paddle for the durability. As soon as I hit the water I was so grateful to own this gear that allows me to paddle in any condition!
I had to enter the water by a local creek because that’s where the water was flowing out. The shores of the lake were piled with snow and ice mounds and it was too slippery to cross with a board. When I first attempted I slipped and fell and cut my hand open on ice. While entering the creek I spotted a Bald Eagle and it instantly made me so grateful to be out on the chilly water instead of bundled up on the couch watching tv.
I paddled through some beautiful Icebergs then headed out into the lake. We had very high winds the night before and while coming out of the creek I spotted waves near some sea cliffs. I paddled over and was able to catch 3-4 foot waves and catch some 40 second rides all the way to shore. It was a great gift to surf the lake in January! I’m so lucky where I live. The day before this I was Ice climbing and the next 3 days we will have whitewater. This is the perfect time of year to cross train with the right gear!
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