Here is what we had at The Bridge on 1 September 2005. Guys I have surfed with since the late sixties and currently have been yearly scoring overhead waves in Hamilton, Ontario in Lake Ontario.

The Bridge is a historic surf break do not let any posh or government alter this natural surf break.

The above photograph is copyrighted C 2005 Magilla Schaus.

Photograph Copyright C Sept. 2005 Magilla Schaus

The Bridge don't let them take it away!

This is Tyson "Seabass" Kowalski riding late in the afternoon at The Bridge when the waves began to lower in size. Without question his riding of a shortboard is exceptional on the Great Lakes.

Protect The Bridge and put the marina anywhere but there on Lake Ontario.

They want our surf break as bad as Geoge Bush wants Alaska and the Artic to drill for oil.

Photograph by Magilla Schaus Copyright C Sept. 2005:

This is another shot of The Bridge in Hamilton. Did you see that van out on the breakwall? There are studies being made of the wall structure. I smell marina over surfing.

At the last public meeting concerning this issue the concensus was to move the marina into the inner harbor and not on the lake. This is not something in stone.

Keep surfing at The Bridge forever.

Photograph by Magilla Schaus Copyright C Sept. 2005:

He loves riding The Bridge with the same passion as the guys of my generation who first surfed there before moving off to British Columbia and Toronto. Two exceptions: Longboard Steve and Frank Kunkel. They have been riding there got generations.

Finz also knows all the best Mexican restaurants to go to after a fantastic day of surfing at The Bridge after hurricane Katrina in Lake Ontario in Hamilton, Ontario.

Cheers always Finny! Ride on bro:

Photograph by Magilla Schaus Copyright C Sept. 2005

Good pics magilla-looks like it really cleaned up there in the afternoon Wed compared to when I left there about 12:30. Just a thought-I was thinking about the marina when I was there wed-I wonder IF they push the Marina through (which would suck) if they would consider hiring a consultant to design an artifical reef further S? Maybe even parks and recreation hamilton could have a hand in it??? Just a dream probably

You are taking some very good pictures of your surf action. Thanks for posting them. They sould be in the ESA Magazine! Nice work.

Magilla, thanks for posting those great images. It's an excellent reminder for all of us of how important it is to preserve the Bridge for the stellar surfing break that it is. Perhaps you can update us all on what we can do individually and/or collectively to ensure it remains as such.

For those of us who haven't had the extreme pleasure of riding at the Bridge, what's the best way to access it?

Jon W

PS. Was the water cold that day? Everyone's wearing fullsuits!

Don't know what was up with those guys, but I surfed at Port Dalhousie 8-10, Bridge 11-12, and Hutches 12:30-3:00 with nuthin' but trunks. Water was warm, sun was shining, and it was nice. I won't wear a wetsuit until I absolutely have to, but really it was warm and nice that day

These shots are of the smaller conditions that day at The Bridge. It was double and even triple the size earlier.

I had posted on this forum prior that there was possiblity for upwelling. Yet it did not happen. I was in lycra swim shorts and rash guard and never felt cold in the water that day. A wetsuit was totally not required. Nonetheless it shows that people came prepared for whatever may have come that day in water and air conditions. Perhaps a lot of those surfers remember surfing last year during hurricane Francis when we did need a wetsuit and booties. Last year during the hurricane surf the water was absolutely frigid.

To all my surfing friends that you for the compliments. I myself am not satisfied with what I missed getting on film that day.

I will post more shots for everyone to enjoy. There was no way I was going to get out of those bigger waves to take pics to submit to surfline.com. I wanted to write a story about The Bridge with excellent pictures for the world and The Hamilton Harbor Port Commission and the people of Hamilton to see. We need somebody local to get some big wave shots of riding at The Bridge and the campaign to save surfing there and get it published in the U.S. and Canadian press. The secretive way will no longer preserve this break. It is better to deal with a few more surfers than to have a marina and no surf any longer. Hey Grant come on down to The Bridge and do your magic. Big waves, hot riders, and excellent stoke like the old days of California dominant the vibe at The Bridge.

I keep saying that The Bridge to surfers is what Martindale Pond is to rowers. We surfers have to build on our traditions.

First place to do that is on the Great Beach Clean Up this month. The Wyldewood Surf Club maybe should hit Lake Ontario at The Bridge and Lake Erie with our garbage bags and show the world what Great Lakes surfers are all about. We need to be seen protecting and caring for our surf breaks.

Looks like someone found the most critical braking section of the wave to get covered a bit.


Photograph by Magilla Schaus Copyright C Sept. 2005:

Here is a smaller wave face as Hurricane Katrina moved towards the maritime provinces. The surf was still pushing at The Bridge in Lake Ontario late into the evening before sunset.

Photograph by Magilla Schaus Copyright C Sept. 2005:

This is the second sequence to the back door ride at The Bridge during Katrina.

Photograph by Magilla Schaus Copyright C Sept. 2005:

This is the kind of small swell we experienced later in the day at The Bridge. The wave just kept coming.

Part 1 of a two wave segment sequence.

Photograph by Magilla Schaus Copyright C Sept. 2005:

Those are great. Thanks so, so much for sharing. Just amazing. It's still hard to imagine there are places like that so close. Maybe one day I'll see it first hand. Keep the awesome pics coming.

Here he is with a long, wide open stretch of wave out in front of him. Sweet like the bee's honey!

Go bro!

Part II Second sequence of a two segmant shot.

Photograph by Magilla Schaus Copyright C Sept. 2005:

This shot was taken of Glen as the sun began to fade and the freightor began to head in for Hamilton. Here is Glen styling in great form.

Photograph by Magilla Schaus Copyright C Sept. 2005:

Another image of Glen turning to the back door at The Bridge just as the sun was going down.

High 5 and a glass lifted to cheers!

Photograph by Magilla Schaus Copyright C Sept. 2005:

This is one of three segments of a ride at The Bridge Sept. 2005.

Photograph by Magilla Schaus Copyright C Sept. 2005:

Second of three. I might have these shots out of order.

Photographs by Magilla Schaus Copyright C Sept 2005:

This is the third of three shots at The Bridge as the waves started to lower on that beautiful day of surfing in Lake Ontario.

Photograph by Magilla Schaus Copyright C Sept. 2005:

The Bridge on Sept. 2005. Everyone is having fun. Who gets the wave? 1st of 2 segments. Answer on segment 2.

Photograph by Magilla Schaus Copyright C Sept. 2005:

2nd of 2 segments at The Bridge & Katrina.

That guy on that red boogie board can ride! He just scoops up those waves and gets these long rides again and again.

The body boarder ruled that set.

Photograph by Magilla Schaus Copyright C Sept. 2005:

His reputation goes beyond the lakes for being a man of distinction and friendliness.

Craig "Finz" Rogers is seen riding the last ounce of hurricane Katrina's waves at The Bridge in Sept. 2005.

This plug is a shameless endorsement of a fellow surfer:

Aloha Divers is the name of Finz's swimming pool repair company. If you have a freind or a family member that wants their pool patched without draining it than you call Finz. Finz will come out with his scuba tank on his back and stop your leaking pool.

Aloha Divers Pool Repair Service can be contacted by:

Tel: (905) 627-2232

Fax: (905) 450-5052

Finz is the headman of The Bridge Crew, member emeritus of the Wyldewood Surf Club, respected body boarder on the Great Lakes and east coast, former ESA judge, knower of where for at the best Mexican restaurants near the beach in Burlington, family dude and Papa, and a distinguished, life long, four season, Great Lakes surfer.

You go Finz!:

My camera started going wonkie last year. The shutter drags and some beautiful shots have been lost. I tried to get the problem fixed to no avail. A new camera is beyond my means. So I am making due with what I have. Digital is cheaper but film still always transfers better in my opinion and that of the surf magazines. Surf magazines have the best photography in the world. They still use slide and print film.

I am getting slightly off track. I will post some of the shutter dragged shots so that surfers can see that I'm not playing favorites. Mostly grabbing what I am lucky to get from this camera.

The below shot demonstates my camera shutter drag problem.

The above posted photograph of Finz and this photograph are the property of Magilla Schaus Copyright C Sept. 2005.:

The Bridge as the punch of Katrina glances off.

Photograph by Magilla Schaus Copyright C Sept. 2005:

At precisely the moment that I snapped this photograph of Bob Sobering from Ancaster an alien space craft zoomed down between the two of us. It began to suck up lake water for drinking purposes of the intergalactic crew. Believe me the craft was sleek and a new anti gravity proto type beyond mortal comprehension. We are ten centuries away from developing this technology.

The owner of this surfboard is Bob Sobering. He is lucky that he wasn't snatched away to some planet called no smoking.

Photograph and story by Magilla Schaus and Mr. Motrin Copyright C Sept. 2005: (Illegal use of these lake materials may cause electromagnetic baldness and cyber use on surfless days.)

Hit some delete buttons by mistake. Sorry my computer skills are not up to my surfing skills. Although I wipe out on the computer and the board form time to time.

Just wiped out on the computer and eliminated photographs unintentionally. At a later time I will repost lost images. My wife has returned from under the Niagara River to share fish tales and ground me back to a normal, down to earth existence as a husband in real life.

Photograph by Magilla Schaus Copyright C Sept. 2005:

Here is part 3.

Photograph by Magilla Schaus Copyright C Sept. 2005:

Restored pic posting:

"Here it comes bro. SOme hurricane Katrina juice. Paddle, paddle!"

Photograph by Magilla Schaus Copyright C Sept. 2005:

Correction coming now.

This time I will post this correctly and restore what I deleted yesterday by mistake. This is the second cup of coffee but I still got ahead of myself.

OK. Return of Here it comes bro...

Photograph By Magilla Schaus Copyright C Sept. 2005:

The long open wave out ahead at The Bridge during hurricane Katrina.

Would this view look better with a breakwalled marina and masts on boats? If you are a surfer or someone that appreciates and understands the value of natural beaches than you will tell the Hamilton Harbor Port Authority that in no uncertain terms should any sort of marina ever be built at The Bridge surfing break in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada on Lake Ontario.

Photograph by Magilla Schaus Copyright C Sept. 2005:

This is the photograph that I posted yesterday and accidently deleted.

Don't let the government or the swells shade the light of day. Save The Bridge for surfing.

Photograph by Magilla Schaus Copyright C Sept. 2005:

We can restore a careless error on the computer but once a surf break has a marina dumped into it the waves will never be the same. Last week a dynamic surf break was destroyed in Mexico without any fore thought of nature or the value that recreational surfing has for the public health and well being.

This wave closed out as waves naturally do at times. The permanent closure of The Bridge will occur if you as surfers allow it to happen. To those who have spoken and written out I thank and applaud. More most be done by all of us. To any surfers that haven't expressed their opinion to save our surf break at The Bridge. Please do so immediately. The waves will thank you. The walls will be rude to you.

Photograph by Magilla Schaus Copyright C Sept. 2005:

This photograph is what has often appeared in local newspapers. However it is the end of the day and the end of a ride. The positive vibe this surfer felt has to be mighty high.

At the moment that I am posting this it is lunch time. I call this one a soup and sandwich deal.

Photograph by Magilla Schaus Copyright C Sept. 2005:

Standing

On our belly, knees, and feet
we start standing
on our waves
for our surf break
with traditions
fresh stoke
aloha
beyond borders
for moments
one with waves.

It's better than
standing on a concrete wall
looking at fenced in boats
with guards and signs
where we become seperated
from humanity by a cash register


the name fisherman's pier
casts of doubt
is a wall
that breaks the force of
waves again and again
buffalo herd after buffalo herd
gone, gone, gone away
they splash in
neat coarses
like piled up hides.

Photograph by Magilla Schaus Copyright C Sept. 2005:

The scene is at The Bridge under the QEW in Hamilton on a beautiful and warm summer day when the waves are breaking overhead on Lake Ontario.

Citizen 1: What are all these towers doing here on this beach?

Citizen 2: God they are ugly. Who would have thought of putting giant electrical transmissions towers on the waterfront? They look like gray tinker toys gone mad.

Citizen 1: Yah those were some genius's.

Citizen 2: Right.

Citizen 1: Nobody that knows anything about planning would have come up with this sort of monstrosity for a public beach.

(A surfer with a board walks up.)

Surfer: Excuse me but I couldn't help to over hear what you just said. You think the towers are dumb. Now they want to put a marina where we surf.

Citizen 1: Your kidding?

Citizen 2: Come on?

Surfer: It's unbelievable! We have been surfing here since the 1960's when they put these towers up. You know they are calling this project the Fishermans Pier development? But it for private boat owners and has nothing to do with fishing.

Citizen 1: What will happen to this beach"

Citizen 2: And the waves?

Surfer: We hope nothing will happen to the beach and the waves. We are protesting the further destruction of our beach. Tell the Hamilton Port Authority to put their marina over there in the bayside where there is already a protected harbor.

Citizen 1: We're with you. We have to protect this last remaining public beach in this area.


Citizen 2: And your waves too.

Surfer: Thanks.

Photograph and Script of, "The inverted Coho salmon tales," by Magilla Schaus Copyright C Sept. 2005:

Great pics magilla...thanks for sharing that epic day.

Some very cool pictures. Makes one wish for the next swell. Keep the pictures coming. Its something we all should try and do.

One question. Something that I've wonder about for awhile. Why on earth did they put power lines down the middle of a beautiful strip of beach? That must have driven you guys nuts when this happened. My wife and I were wondering about this when we stopped there sunday before last just for a walk around. Looks like the same idiot is trying his luck again.

The Towers have been there at least since the 50's ..way longer probably...

In the Gillie's super 8 film, "Winds of Chadoke" (I might have incorrectly spelled that title) there is a segment of the film showing those towers on their side on the beach at The Bridge. I believe that film was made in 1969.

I concede I might be incorrect about the date those towers were built. However it was a dumb idea like a Fishermans Pier marina in the middle of The Bridge break.

Thanks Frank for the correction.

I am pretty sure they were replacing old towers, I could be wrong...

Let's hope our fight won't be in vain. My son and I were the ones walking under the tower that day, glad you didn't catch our surfing action on film. My son is learning fast, I'm still getting pounded.

Hey Jon,

Just droppin in on you... Hey if you are coming to the cleanup tommorrow then we can meet up with each other . It would be good to talk to you. And as for the wetsuit question. the water was warm (70) but when you are in the water as long as I was it is nice to be comfortable for the whole session. I paddled out at around twelve thirty that day and got out after dark almost 9 hours. Even in the warmer water you will loose heat after that long. Enough school teachin I gotta check on some more stuff.

Ride em' if you got em
Finny

Hey Finz, I totally wish I could be there for the Bridge clean up but I'll be out of town for a wedding. I'm sure we'll meet another time maybe even in wavy conditions.

Man, nine hours in the water, that's impressive. I think my record is six. For Katrina, I was at A-bay but only for a couple of hours.

Well, best of luck with the clean-up. I still haven't ridden at the bridge yet but I'd really like to some time soon.

Happy riding,

Jon