You can't make this stuff up…

Gone snurfin'...

So, Muskegon, one of my favorite things about you is your surprising claims to fame. I especially love the kind that people just can’t fathom at first. Here’s one: Try telling someone from Colorado or Norway or Tahoe that the snowboard was invented in a beach town in Michigan. It’s a good way to kill the credibility of anything you say from then on … especially when you add in that the original snowboard was called the Snurfer…

“Who invented it?!” they’ll ask. And if you think answering with “Sherm Poppen” will buy you anything but belly laughs, well, you probably should visit a mountainous state or country. Some of ’em know we ski on garbage dumps, some of ’em don’t. Many of ’em know Michigan is pretty perfectly horizontal when it comes to thinking of mountains or even hills...

Which is why I love that Sherm Poppen invented the Snurfer, the world’s first snowboard, in Muskegon, Michigan, so his daughters could surf the snow-covered dunes in the backyard (the idea of dunes in Michigan often is not easily comprehended, either – kinda like actual beaches on a lake). I adore the fact that the city held National Snurfing Competitions for years. And it just makes it better that the boards were manufactured by the famous bowling company, Brunswick. It’s like a whole sport invented for trivia night.

I’m glad you’re proud of the Snurfer, Muskegon, and I hope you get a big turnout for the Snurfer Sculpture Dedication at 5 p.m. Thursday at the corner of Fourth & Western. It’s a pretty awesome work of art, and, again, makes you wonder what else is being produced here …

I’m sure it’ll be a scrumptious time at the Sushi Snurfertini Social at the Holiday Inn following the ceremony … On the other hand, some prefer to celebrate the warmer months and will spend some time at the Meet the Artists Reception for the “Summer in the Gallery” exhibit at 5-7 p.m. at the Bettye Clark Cannon Gallery in the Hilt Building. The exhibit features paintings, photography, and mixed media works of art.

Just a couple reasons to go downtown, Muskegon – both free (except the Snurfertini Social). Why not check it out? There’s more to see down there every day…

See ya in the center…

--Imaginer

You bet this started in Michigan...

Snurfin' safari...