The (Totally True) Origin Story of the Burning River Surf Club — Est. 1969* Back in the groovy summer of 1969, while the rest of the country was busy landing on the moon and rocking out at Woodstock, a few rebellious Clevelanders had a very different mission: to shred the gnar on the shores of Lake Erie. Now, if you’re asking yourself, “Wait… surf in Cleveland?” — you’re not alone. So were they. It all started when legendary local lifeguard-turned-visionary, Dale “Flames” Flannigan, mistook a flaming Cuyahoga River for a beach bonfire party. Armed with a surfboard made from plywood and hope, he shouted, “This water’s hot, but the vibe is hotter!” and paddled straight into the history books. 🌊🔥 Thus, the Burning River Surf Club was born. It wasn’t your typical surf scene. There were no waves…unless a freighter went by too fast. The water occasionally sizzled. And members often wore more denim than wetsuit. But what they lacked in saltwater, they made up for in spirit. Despite the odds (and EPA warnings), the Burning River Surf Club grew. Generations of Clevelanders joined the club — not for the surf, but for the attitude: bold, weird, and wildly proud of their unsurfable surf town. Today, the legacy lives on in our ridiculously rad tees and tanks — honoring a club that’s half local legend, half environmental miracle, and 100% Cleveland. * Okay fine, maybe not totally true. But we’re sticking with