Surf: The Chicago city beachbreaks (Osterman, Montrose, 57th Street and Rainbow) are best with spring N/NE winds and all the Illinois breaks from Chicago up to Zion will work on a NW wind. Grand Haven is surf central in Michigan, and the South Pier handles the bigger SW to NW windchop, plus there's easy access from the end of the pier and more jetty breaks to the south. Environment: City of Chicago lifted a 20-year ban on surfing at selected city beaches along Lake Michigan (Osterman, Montrose, 57th Street and Rainbow are open during the offseason, and only Montrose and 57th Street are open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. ). In the process, the Surfrider Foundation Chicago Chapter was born.