Surfing in New York??

Question

Im going to NY this summer and i was just wondering if i can surf AT all? If i can are the beaches Near NY city? And also, can i surf with good warm water in the winter too??

Answer 1

I agree with what John F said, but to add from the perspective of a new york local...

The summer is the most inconsistent time for the East Coast, so don't expect epic waves. Hurricane season is your best bet, the prime time being August to November. So, if you longboard you're probably okay, but definately bring a fish or swallow tail.

I have to say, I laughed when I read "good warm water in the winter." There's nothing even close to that. The steps we take to surf a north east winter are elaborate...but they are definately worth it.

The East Coast experiences the best waves during the winter. Unfortunately, the water is a lot colder. Below is a link which gives coastal water temperatures. New York, in the winter gets to be around 33-38 degrees F. In addition, if there is more than a 10 knot wind, thats going to make it seem a h**l of a lot colder.

http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/index...

To be prepared for the winter, you need either a 6/5/4 or a 5/4 wetsuit, booties (not split toe) and gloves (more like mittens), and preferrably a spare suit. In the winter, the water is a lot darker and heavier; its hard to penetrate the water with all that neoprene. And, the cold zaps your energy fast; no more 6 hour sessions. A lot of us surf in the winter, you simply need to brave the cold for good waves (its not all that simple, really).

Beaches near NYC include the Rockaways, which are 84th and 90th street. From Manhattan, you need to take the A train (Its about an hour and a half ride). There are actually two, one that runs to Lefferts Blvd in Queens, the other runs to Far Rockaway, also in Queens. They split at Rockaway Blvd, while the Far Rockaway A turns south and goes over Jamaica Bay into the Rockaways. There's also 27-39 st. in the Rockaways, but the only road access is from 30-39 st., from 27th to 39th you need to walk first along a gravel path and then behind some houses. Other than the Rockaways, Lincolns and then Jones Beach are your next best bets. If you're driving, the easiest route is either through the Cross Bronx Expressway over the Throggs Neck Bridge, or along the Belt Parkway (which connects to both the Southern State Parkway and Rt. 27 leading to Montauk). The Belt has a couple exits for the Rockaways, I think they are exits 7-18 if I remember correctly, but I'm not 100% sure. The A train back into the city is not fun when you're soaking wet though, I suggest taking a car.

Answer 2

there is a beach with waves in the city, Rockaway Beach, I think near Beach 90th st. its very crowded even on marginal days and the fact that most of them can barely surf is not even the issue, which is there is absolutely zero etiquette practiced there. If you don't mind people paddling around you, dropping in on you and paddling out through the takeoff zone, you'll love it. There are other surf spots near NYC in the town of Long Beach on Long Island and of course all of NJ shore  has established surfing communities. With regards to the warm water question, if you surf in the winter you need a 5/4 wetsuit with boots, gloves and a hood

Answer 3

h***s yeah you can surf in NY.  The waves are storm driven, so they can be rather inconsistent.

http://www.surfli.com/

http://www.surfline.com/travel/index.cfm...

http://newyorksurftours.com/

Answer 4

There are places to surf inside the City limits of NYC, however, the water quality is probably a little hazardous. NYC is an easy drive from some great east coast surf spots. Long island, particularly the eastern end has some almost legendary breaks.

I have been surfing in southern New jersey since '66, and found that it stacks up well against most of the more popular surfing regions of the country.

As for warm water in the winter, you have to travel all the way down to South Carolina to get reasonably warm winter water temps. I have surfed the east coast up and down in winter, and I head for South carolina every winter.

The real long stuff that follows is quoted from surfline.com, about New Jersey surfing.

New Jersey is like Denny's. You don't set out to go there --it's just a place you end up. It's not always warm, and never lush or tropical, but, fortunately, for anyone who has to travel here for one reason or another, it's a place that gets lots of good waves.

At almost any surf travel destination in the world, you're likely to run into at least one surfer from Jersey. Be friendly, and you'll be invited to stay with them when you end up in Jersey. That would be good for you, because it's expensive. New Jersey, one of the most densely populated states in the union, is not a cheap stay. In the summer, people from all over the eastern half of the country flock to the shore. Hotels are full; rooms are expensive. The winter should be cheaper, but it isn't. So many places shut down for the winter, that the few that remain open are rather pricey, too. Making friends here is the way to go.

Despite what you hear, there aren't toxic waste dumps around every bend, and the water is no worse than in surrounding areas. With one of the oldest and most extensive water-testing programs in the country, New Jersey beaches close when things get murky. The water quality today is as good as it's been in the past 30 years -- and at least as good as most southern California breaks.

Jersey shore nightlife isn't all about big hair and Bon Jovi. Some beach towns are rather sleepy, but some go freakin' nuts. Wall-to-wall clubs and crazy bar scenes in Seaside Heights, Atlantic City and Wildwood are fronted by classic boardwalks with amusements and pizza pie. If you've never experienced a New Jersey boardwalk, think sleazy mall with greasy food court and creepy carnival -- complete with cheesy games of chance, and state-of-the-art amusement park features -- all rolled into one. That's not to mention that this whole circus runs parallel to the beach, with amusement piers and hairball rides often situated directly over the surf.

Waves and beaches aren't the only attraction for the traveling surfer, considering it's in the midst of some of the most important cultural centers in the world. Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City are right next door to Jersey beaches. You could surf the evening session at Long Beach Island and still make it up to NYC, or over Philly, to catch a cool band or an art show opening. Or, you could dawn patrol at your favorite New Jersey spot and still make it to almost any of the Northeast's best mountains to take a few runs before dark.

The Northeast is so great a cultural hub, in fact, that air travel in or out of the area is the most inexpensive in the country. At certain times of the year, flights to Europe, the Caribbean and the West Coast can be ridiculously cheap. New Jersey is a great pivot point to anywhere. By car, central Florida is little more than a day's drive. Leave for Cape Hatteras after a surf and breakfast, and make it to the Lighthouse in time for a few late-afternoon waves. But, the bottom line is that if you're stuck, or visiting, for one reason or another, the bonus is waves. Jersey gets them, and, for the most part, she's pretty willing to share.

Crowds

New Jersey spots can be very crowded -- just try to get a set wave at Manasquan Inlet or off the jetty at Broadway Beach in Cape May during the peak of a hurricane swell. But the crowds you might endure during the summer or early fall soon fade away. As winter approaches, you'll be left surfing with a few friends. Late winter and early spring might find you hunting around for someone to paddle out with. For the seasoned traveler, Jersey crowds aren't really much to deal with. Hazards

Beach badges, Trump Towers' slot machines and the closing of beaches during a hurricane pose the biggest threats to your sanity. We wish this were still a place where you could worry about being eaten by a vicious, man-eating shark. Jaws was loosely based on a 1916 account of an extraordinary series of shark attacks that left four dead and one injured over a two-week period on the Jersey shore. Sadly, pollution, over-fishing, sport-fishing tournaments and the like have done a number on the shark population. While you can't discount the possibility, count yourself fortunate if you even get to experience one of these mighty creatures at close range. Dolphins and porpoises abound in the lineup during summer and fall months, so know the difference. And those used syringes on the beach you heard about in the '80s? They rarely puncture a firm-soled pair of booties. The Seasons

Summer

June, July and August can be reasonably fun, occasionally excellent or pancake flat. What is frequently maddening is that no matter what the surf conditions are, both the local and visiting surfer will be frustrated by limited surfing areas during daytime hours, and by lifeguards who won't let surfers in the water during a hurricane swell. Beach tags, those pesky little badges that are required to get onto many beaches, are especially troublesome. Believe it or not, you need a different one for almost every town. Weekend crowds clog the roads, turning a 45-minute jaunt up or down the coast into a three-hour tour. Getting quick routes down, and knowing where and when to go, is the key to a rewarding session during the New Jersey summer. Dawn patrols yield unlimited surf-spot access and parking, uncrowded highways and, often, better wind conditions. Evening sessions can be equally rewarding, after the beaches empty and the surf glasses off. Fall

Prime surf season: the swell improves and the water stays warm, the summer crowds have gone back to work or school, and you can surf anywhere you see a lip crack. This is the peak of hurricane season, and, during a good year, you will neglect your job, school, lawn and everything else for weeks on end. Water temps remain pleasant at 50 to 68 degrees. Winter

Winter storms bring great surf, but there are fewer waves in between swells. Crowds are pretty much nonexistent, and you can surf the best spots whenever you want. The downside is that, with the shorter daylight period, nine-to-fivers will have to cut work or wait for the weekend. A warm (4/5/6mm) fullsuit, plus 5mm to 7mm booties, 5mm gloves and a hood, are a must. Water temps range from 33 to 50 degrees. Spring

The water is still freezing -- 40 degrees in early March, to maybe 60 degrees by the end of May. Spring starts out with winter juice, but storms begin to lose their punch as the temperatures warm. Winter suits are still a must, but there is always some fool who thinks that because the air is warm, they won't need boots and gloves for the 43-degree water.