SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — Large waves rolling off the shores of Lake Michigan have attracted a growing number of surfers and transformed the city into a surfing hotspot.

That’s why some surfers now call it the “Malibu of the Midwest.”

Andrew Jakus is owner of the EOS Surf Shop in Sheboygan. Jakus grew up in Sheboygan and has lived most of his life in this city.

“Catching a wave, being out in the water, you know, with a few close friends, there’s not really anything better than that,” said Jakus. “Being able to kind of separate from the stresses and distractions of life and just be there in the moment.”

In the last 15 to 20 years, he said he has seen his surf shop business grow. He said he sees more and more people taking up the sport.

“Our busiest time of the year definitely is once school lets out in June and through the holiday season,” said Jakus.

When he’s not helping customers, you can find him catching a wave himself. He said there is a reason why people call Sheboygan the “Malibu of the Midwest.”

“Malibu is known for having like really small clean waves, and that’s one thing Sheboygan does really well,” said Jakus.

But what makes Sheboygan so special? Jakus said it’s all about location.

“So, we’re kind of smack dab in the middle of the lake, and what’s really cool about that is we can do well on a north wind or a south wind,” said Jakus.

Most of all, he said he is proud to be in the place he calls home, surfing on fresh water.

“In my travel, surfing other places, whenever I tell people I am from Wisconsin, I often won’t even say I am from Sheboygan and as soon as I say I am from Wisconsin, they go, ‘Oh have you ever surfed in Sheboygan?’ And I go, ‘Yeah, that’s actually where I live!’”