Surf Spot Break Down: Far Rockaway 90th Street

Every time I step off the subway at 90th street I’m filled with an unexplainable euphoric joy. There’s always that strong chance that Surfline has lied, the surf could be flat, but after sitting on the subway for two hours coming from the Bronx, the thought of Surfing dominates your mind.

To get to Far Rockaway Coming from Manhattan, you’re going to want to jump on the A express train downtown to Far Rockaway.  Anytime the NYC subway goes above you know its going to be a long train ride. After getting off at 90th street it’s about a 2-3 block walk to the water. 
I’ve surfed 90th street several times as well as 96th street, and all have been during hurricane swells so I don’t really know what the surfs like during non-hurricane swells.

My first trip last year was to surf Hurricane Bill. After walking up the berm at 96th street, this being my first time at Far Roc,  I was totally impressed with what Bill had to offer.  The surf, a solid 4-6 (though rather mushy, and without current) necessitated that the lifeguards on the beach not allow anyone in the water.  Now I’ve been swimming for the past 15 years so I’m not going to let some lifeguard with bleached hair and earrings tell me where and when I can swim. So I start charging out into the mediocre surf sans fins.
Immediately I hear whistling and sirens, and probably several gunshots, remember this isn’t exactly the best neighbor hood.
I guess if the surf’s over 3 ft. they don’t let swimmers in.
What’s worse I wasn’t whistled out of the water by the lifeguard who was too busy making out with his girlfriend, I was whistled out by 200-300lb. black woman wearing pants and shoes.
Needless to say her rules did not apply to me, so I headed straight back out.

Surfing is a completely different ball game.  With no restrictions anyone is free to paddle out, and I mean anyone.  Surfing the jetties at 90th street is a free for all hodge-podge usually complete with a couple of navy landing crafts sprinkled in just for fun.  At 90th street there is a left that comes in and shoots off the rocks. If you position yourself right in the perfect spot you can get some decent lefts.  Now for those regular footers there are rights, but they are usually not as consistent and you have to walk. 

The locals are pretty mellow, although this probably changes day-to-day and swell-to-swell.  From what I have seen of surfing in New York is that it is still an intimate thing.  Fellow surfers understand how hard it is to wake up early and to carry your stuff though the city, and to sit on the subways for hours, and to brave the crowds and snow…

It’s a very beautiful mutual respect...

Go get wet, if not keep dreaming.