♫ The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
   Of the big lake they called Gitche Gumee
♪ The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
  When the skies of November turn gloomy
The Great Lakes get pretty hazardous in bad weather, often worse in Winter.
That North wind whips the water making big waves... so lets go surfing.
=13px

When sane people don't want to even go outside these folks dive right in.
I guess it's not crowded but that makes it more dangerous...
... shrinkage!
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/winter-surfers-great-lakes