Surfing in NYC?

Anyone have any experience surfing while living in NYC (without a car)? I have surfed in New England my entire life, and it's the one thing that I can't live without. Obviously I understand that working in finance comes with sacrifices, but I would love to try and get in the water whenever I have a Saturday off. Have heard that Rockaway Beach is a good option from Manhattan, and can get some fun waves fairly consistently. If anyone has any experience getting out of the city to surf, I would love to hear about it. Cheers 

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I've gone surfing a few times in NYC. From Manhattan, I take the A train and then the shuttle which takes me to Rockaway Park-Beach 116 St. This station is next to a sweet surf shop called Station RBNY with affordable board and wetsuit rentals and it's only a couple of blocks' walk to the beach. I'm not good at surfing myself but the beach has a lot of great surfers (including some of my friends who are pretty good), so it must be decent by at least local standards.

On holidays like Labor Day weekend, the beach gets taken over by hordes of people (surfers and non-surfers alike), which makes it a little too tight surfing for my comfort. Most weekends in the summer though I've found it to be pretty empty.

I hope that's helpful.

 

And to add some color to the overall experience, I'd say it's significant a time commitment. From Manhattan, door-to-beach time (assuming you are renting) is 1.5-2 hours. I've learned from experience to only go when the conditions are gonna be good, otherwise, half the day has gone to waste.

 

Pretty much sums it up. Expect long transportation and of course cold water but besides that decent. Winter brings some amazing storms and waves. Really have to make a point to find time and get out, not very easily accessible.  

 

buddy of mine who I surfed with in college in the SE did a stint in manhattan and would board the train from manhattan to LI and surf long beach and rockaway, there's ample jetties that spread out the people and it gets pretty rideable to from basically august-may and occasionally epic. agree with whoever said above that it's a hike, so buy the surfline premium membership and "know before you go"

 

Yeah Surfline Premium is pretty good. 

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