08/18/2025
Our PHOTO OF THE YEAR award goes to Ryan Rumpca from Duluth Minnesota. Congratulation to Ryan for being the people’s choice at GLSF2025, having received the most votes for this incredible shot. Herr is Ryan’s account of how he captured the magic:
“The remnants of a late spring swell on the west side of Lake Superior, March 2025.
The northeaster died over night. Hoping for clean waves in the morning, I set off before the sun with a coffee in hand and gear loaded. Pulling up to the spot, my eyes strained to see a handful of surfers preparing to get in the 40F water. As the sun rose, it illuminated a freighter far off in the distance and I instantly knew the shot I wanted. Moving up and down the snow covered shoreline, I spent the next 35 minutes positioning my shot. I was waiting for the laker to get into frame, a good set to come through the lineup, and a surfer to take advantage of their selected wave. As the ship was leaving frame, the anticipated moment happened. Gianni Laudadio, a Lake Michigan surfer visiting from out of town ended up being the surfer to make the shot a reality. “Yep, thats the shot” I said aloud, doing a quick replay on my camera to confirm my assumptions. This shot was a great example of “right place, right time” and patience, and I am stoked with how it turned out.”