About Long Beach Surf Travel
In one of the rare instances on the East Coast where bathymetry actually helps the surf, Long Beach can thank the Hudson Canyon for its above-average size and consistency. “There are swells that don’t hit the canyon right, so they just come in normally,” explained Surfline Founder Sean Collins, “but when Long Beach is at its best, the Hudson Canyon is definitely working to grab that swell, twist it around and multiply it.” Of course, there has to be swell for any of this to happen, and Long Beach is fortunate enough to be a wintertime magnet. Often with snow on the beach, the winds clock offshore and the surf transforms into a cold-water dream. Five-mil wetsuits are a must, but the reward is certainly worth the effort. Hurricane season also brings plenty of opportunities. As was evident throughout the 2011 Quiksilver Pro New York, when a good tropical swell turns its attention on Long Beach the place can be magic. “When there is a swell in Long Beach, a number of things come together that really do help to create a great wave,” continued Collins.
Lincoln Blvd
One of the most densely populated areas on the Long Island coast, Long Beach is lined with high-rise apartment buildings, a boardwalk, and all the tourist shops you could dream of. Jetties poke into the Atlantic every quarter-mile and good waves can be found around each. Shifting sandbars mean the spot du jour does, in fact, change daily.
Crowds can be heavy, due to a large surfing population in the area. Summer visitors who try to pack a year’s worth of waves into two months, plus a robust gang of locals who’ve put in their dues all winter, equals high tension. Insane summer crowds might turn you off, but Lincoln is the happening spot in town. Another average beachbreak with slightly better lefts than rights, Lincoln isn’t as hollow as some places in town, but it definitely turns on with pushy, roping lefts off the jetty.
Lido Beach
The most perfect beachbreak on Long Island is nicknamed “Lido-Escondido.” And for good reason. South swells with north winds produce powerful, hollow, A-frame peaks that pound on a middle bar. A canyon of sorts just offshore points directly at Lido, translating into waves that usually are a couple of feet bigger than nearby Long Beach.
Lido doesn’t really get going until it gets overhead, at which time the paddle becomes brutal. The beach is wide open, allowing you to pick a new spot every time you surf. The beach cabanas, where you may rent a locker-size bungalow within walking distance of the surf, make summer beachgoing a nightmare because if you want to play, you have to pay.
West End
Unless you’re a karate guy, a wild city guy, or a crazy from Long Beach, you’d better not bother with West End. Insanely fickle since the jetty reconstruction, it offers occasional Sebastian Inlet-like right wedges for those in the know. The spot will turn off for several years, then reemerge for one shining season. So . . . good luck catching it.
On land, there is a one-day parking permit, and that still won’t help you out with the fact that it’s a long walk to the beach. Also, as in most small Long Island surf towns, the locals are very protective and have the place wired, so getting the better waves can be difficult. Better yet, forget about it. It’s best to go elsewhere, especially if you like your car.
Surf Crowds
Everything in New York is crowded, even the surf. You can have the lineup to yourself when it’s pumping and subarctic during the winter months, but fuhgeddaboudit during the summer.
Surf Hazards
Do humans count? Given that all forms of mankind somehow eventually find their way down to the beach during the blistering height of summer, it’s always a wild ride from the boardwalk to the waterline. Keep an eye out for the odd syringe buried in the sand too…step lively. When the swell’s up and the longshore currents are running the inexperienced surfer may find themselves wrestling with jetty rocks. And in the winter, when the surf’s at it’s best, hypothermia is a very real concern.
Surf Pollution
Here’s a disturbing fact for you. In 2013, Hurricane Sandy hit the New York shore and overwhelmed the area’s sewage treatment plants. Over 11 billion gallons of raw sewage was released into the ocean (enough waste to cover all of Central Park with a 41-foot layer of sewage). So, there’s that. Given its proximity to one of the biggest urban centers in the world, pollution is an ongoing and persistent issue around Long Beach. The waters on consistently monitored and tested, and improvements have definitely been made over the years, but it’s always a good idea to check the poop report before you paddle out.
Best Surf Seasons in Long Beach
1) Fall
(September-November) sweet, sweet autumn, it’s the prime surf season for the Long Beach faithful. Hurricanes can offer a healthy dose of swell after the long summer drought, and the North Atlantic can also start to rise from its slumber. The weather’s still warm, the days are still long, the crowds are more or less gone, and for Long Beach surfers, fall is definitely the time to keep an eye on the charts.
2) Winter
(December-February) for the hard core that loves a stiff offshore wind and snow on the beach. Break out the gloves, booties and hood and get out there. Nor’easters and Atlantic storms brew up solid swells that funnel right into Long Beach. And because it’s not tourist season, you may just find a peak to yourself.
3) Spring
(March-May) there may be some remnants and late-season storms, but by and large things start to slow down around Long Beach during the springtime. Limited ground swell and conditions in flux make it hard to find a consistent rhythm during these months, but on the plus side, the air and water start to warm back up and before you know it you’ll be back in trunks.
4) Summer
(June-August) summertime in Long Beach is crazy. There’s not really any other way to put it. When the Big Apple broils Long Beach is one of the preferred retreats. Unlike anywhere on the West Coast, there are a bunch of funky beach rules and regulations about when and where you can surf. Make sure you’re up to speed and avoid getting barked at by a New York lifeguard.
Directions to Long Beach
Plane, trains or automobiles, there’s no shortage of ways to touch down in Long Beach. If you’re flying in for a swell, it’s only about 20 minutes from JFK International Airport. That’s your hub. If you’re driving, the Long Island Expressway will get you there. And for those inclined to take public transportation to Long Beach, there are both train and bus lines.