I was over skiing some spring sugar at Alpine Meadows earlier today and on the way back grabbed a picture of this unnamed surfer catching waves by Agate Bay. That ride looks oddly like an ironing board. Please Confirm. Also, I like a little starch in the collar.

Although Lake Tahoe is not a very large body of water, yet at times it “boileth like a pot.” Tremendous gusts of wind rush down the surrounding gorges from the summit of the Sierra Nevada mountains most unexpectedly, and those who navigate the waters of the lake in sail-boats must at all times–even in what seems the best of weather –keep a bright lookout for squalls. At this season the lake is very dangerous for small craft, and there are frequently times when the steamers dare not venture out. A few days ago at the time when the recent general snow and rain storm was brewing, some gentlemen of the Comstock, who were at Tahoe City, witnessed a grand and remarkable spectacle. The day was windy and the lake rather rough, but a number of persons stopping at the hotel–out Comstockers among the number–concluded to go to the end of the long wooden pier and try their luck at fishing. They had not been long at the end of the pier before their attention was attracted by a great roaring. Looking across the lake in the direction of Glenbrook, they saw a regular cyclone approaching. Before the hurricane came a long unbroken wave, at least 15 feet in height. Knowing that this would sweep the whole line of the pier, all present beat a rapid retreat to the shore. When at a safe distance the party turned to gaze upon the incoming wall of water. While thus employed they were startled by a tremendous roaring to the northward, and a moment after a cyclone from that direction struck the lake. This sent before it a huge wave which had soon attained the height of that coming from the southward. In a few minutes the two wves came together. When they struck a column of water and spray was sent into the air to the height of at least 100 feet. The collision of the two waves was followed by a report that sounded like a heavy clap of thunder. A moment after this grand shock of the waters five or six hug waterspouts made their appearance, all within an area of three or four miles , and carried great columns of water and spray to the height of several hundreds of fee. These circled to and fro over the lake for some 10 or 15 minutes, and then one after the other subsided, and for a time thereafter there was almost a dead clam. Waterspouts are very frequently seen on the lake at this season. This is owing to the peculiar situation of the lake , under the crest of the main ridge of the Sierra Nevada range of mountains. When a fierce gale from the west cross the ridge it plunges down the great canyons and thus are brought to bear on the lake conflicting currents of air. When a hurricane is blowing from the west immense volumes of air appear to be damned up and compressed behind the ridge of the Sierras, which at times escape and come over and down the gorges in tremendous puffs. No navigator of the ocean sees half as many waterspouts in a three years’ voyage as are seen by person residing at Lake Tahoe in a single season.

Wave Story

BY CHRISTIN ANELLEMANN

Winter in the Sierra and Tahoe Range is notorious for its hellacious winds. Wet storms coming in from the California coast sweep over the mountains and bring with it 80-100 mile per hour winds on the tops and 60-70 mile per hour winds in the valleys.

Time to go surfing!

When I was a teenager, if we timed it right and got up to the lake just when a storm was hitting, we could watch some of the Tahoe daredevils attempt to surf Big Blue. They were as far from Maui as you can get. Instead of balmy tropical breezes, the winter winds would blow sharp bits of snow in your face, and instead of board shorts, the surfers needed to wear 3 millimeter suits to protect their bodies from the 39 F degree water. But the gale force winds would kick up 3 to 5 foot waves that made for some excellent surfing.

One of the best places to surf the lake is at the North Shore near Incline Village or King’s Beach where there is more sand and less rocks. This video from GO211 shows us how it’s done.

Photo courtesy of [RickC/Flickr]

via Hang Ten at Tahoe | Lake Tahoe | NileGuide.

We surf Tahoe about 10 times a year. This was I average day last winter. This fall I found a new spot. The swell bounces off a rock, doubles in size and has descent push.

via GO211 Surf Video- Surf Lake Tahoe.