Long Island/New York Introduction
The thought of New York conjures images of crime, gridlock traffic, the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building. What you don't expect are hollow beachbreaks and long, grinding points. The truth is, they are just as much a part of New York as the psycho taxi drivers, and have, in fact, been around a lot longer.
Staying true to its label as the melting pot of the nation, New York is all about diversity -- from the madness of Manhattan, with its 24-hour bars, sex clubs and theme restaurants, to the suburbs of Long Island, with its disgustingly normal homes with white picket fences, 2.2 kids and a Ford Taurus in the driveway. The surf scene is just as diversified, from Jersey-like waves exploding along groins in the west, to the long, uninterrupted, Hatteras-like beaches in the Hamptons, to the classic, New England-style points and reefs in Montauk. There is something for everyone. To truly score, you must be a motivated and versatile surfer. Monday, you could be surfing a 2-foot sloppy beachbreak, and Tuesday, you could be dropping into an overhead freight train at a pointbreak.
Having one of the largest economic and financial centers in the world close by can be very beneficial. Many job opportunities, and great surf just a 20-minute subway ride away, are big draws for a lot of city surfers. From the concrete cliffs in Rockaway, to the glacial cliffs in Montauk, Long Island has been serving up a little of everything for centuries.
Crowds
Long Island is just that -- a long frickin' island. It is 118 miles long, to be precise. It's the longest island in the contiguous United States. The farther you get from the city, the more exclusive and protected the breaks become. Toward the west end, innumerable jetties allow the crowds to spread thin. Toward Montauk, however, you'll find points and coves with smaller take-off areas that accommodate smaller crowds. Outside of summer, when tourists and south swells flood the island, the low temperatures keep the surfing population in check.
Hazards
Traffic is the most frustrating thing about surfing in Long Island, so road rage is a potential danger, especially when the surf is firing. Other than some tricky currents, frozen winter temps, some strategically placed rocks and a few territorial locals, it's a safe place to surf.
The Seasons
Summer
Long flat spells, ridiculous crowds and oppressive lifeguards can be almost unbearable. The entire population of New York comes to the shore with the sole purpose of making it impossible for the locals to surf -- or so it seems. With only one route out to the east end, travel is close to impossible. Water temperatures rise into the 60s in June and hover around 70 during July and August.
Fall
Frequent swells and friendly air and water temps are the norm. While not an official season, "Hurricane Season" is the most important of all, stretching from June 1 to November 31 and peaking in August and September. Hurricane swells, although inconsistent, can often last for a week or more, and usually pack a lot of power. Long Island, with its south-facing coast, is like a giant catcher's mitt waiting for anything the tropics can throw at it. This is the time to visit New York. Water temperatures remain pleasant until November.
Winter
With more consistent groundswells and uncrowded lineups, winter is welcome as long as you're equipped with adequate rubber. Arctic outbreaks can send air temps into the teens and 20s, and water temps into the upper 30s, giving even the seals head-freeze. Overcome the temperature barrier and you'll be rewarded with perfect and consistently uncrowded surf. A sealed 4/3 with gloves, boots and hood are required. If you have anything thicker, you'll need it.
Spring
Facing south, Long Island easily picks up south windswells, which become more common in spring. With them come warm air and dramatic weather changes. It is not uncommon for it to reach 70 degrees one day, followed by 30 the next. Water temperatures begin the long thaw by April, but gloves remain a necessity until sometime in May.
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