Lake Michigan surfer dude gets community service, stays defiant
BY KIM JANSSEN Staff Reporter kjanssen@suntimes.com February 16, 2012 10:58AM
Ian Jacobson does a hand stand on a surf board out in Lake Michigan to show support for Rex Flodstrom, who was arrested for surfing at Oak Street Beach. Thursday, February 16, 2012 | Brian Jackson~Sun-Times
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Updated: March 18, 2012 8:13AM
A surfer arrested for catching waves in the frigid Lake Michigan waters at Oak Street beach last month will have charges against him dropped if he does
community service, prosecutors said in court Thursday.
Rex Flodstrom, 40, was slapped with a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge and accused of violating three park district ordinances after Chicago Police
pulled him from the lake Jan. 17.
But with the support of an international brotherhood of surfers — including 11-time surfing champ Kelly Slater — Flodstrom vowed to fight for the right to surf Lake Michigan.
Supported in a West Side courtroom Thursday by a dozen ruddy-faced winter surfers, and represented by high-profile defense attorney Ed Genson, Flodstrom denied doing anything wrong by surfing outside of the four designated areas where surfing is legal along the Chicago lakefront.
But Genson — best known for defending R. Kelly and former Governor George Ryan — said that Flodstrom was willing to do community service “out of respect for the police officer who pulled him out of the water.”
Though Flodstrom was enjoying surfing and was not in any danger, the officer went to great lengths in what he believed was an effort to save Flodstrom from the icy water, Genson said.
Speaking outside court, Flodstrom said that he hoped his case would lead to surfing being allowed along the entire lakefront.
“Surfing is not a crime,” he said. He said he had no plans to surf again at Oak Street unless it is legalized.
But he and other surfers planned to pick up trash and paddle out into the lake at Montrose Beach — where surfing is legal — Thursday afternoon he said.
Judge Gloria Chevere agreed that the charges could be dropped against Flodstrom if he completes 20 hours community service before March 19.
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