|
So
you’ve got your board, you’ve taken a lesson or two, now
you’re ready to hit the road. You’ve got hundreds of miles
of coastline to scout for a beach that’s just right for you.
Changing winds and tides mean a beach can have great waves on
day and be as smooth as glass the nest. Always call the local
surf shop for the wave report to avoid a pointless drive.
Beginning surfers should stick to beaches with slower waves.
Most shore towns have at least one or two beaches that allow
surfing during the day, but they can get packed, which is a
problem for new surfers and veterans alike.
“A lot of the beaches get too crowded, “ Kevin Morris,
manager of Heritage Surf and Sport in Sea Isle, says,
“There’s no way to weed out the good and bad surfers.”
More advanced riders, or those preferring a less stressful
learning experience, usually bring some friends and paddle out
after the beaches close.
“Always look out for your buddies,” says Nick Fisher,
manager of Heritage Surf and Sport in Ocean City.
On Long Beach Island, Taylor Avenue in
Beach Haven has a nice, guarded beach, while Hudson
Avenue in Harvey Cedars
boasts large, strong waves. The most well-known surfing beach
on the island is Ninth Street in Ship
Bottom, called 7-11 by locals. “You’ll surf
there from 7 to 11,” Faria’s Surf and Sport manager Gary
Grippaldi says. “Everyone goes there.”
Brigantine’s Kirby’s
point Beach on Ninth Street is a popular spot. Atlantic
City has surfing beaches at Delaware Avenue and
Annapolis Avenue, but a few surfers can be seen in the water
at South Carolina Avenue after hours. Ventnor
Pier on Cambridge Avenue and Margate
Pier on Essex Avenue are good for beginners to ride.
Ocean City is home to the
most rideable waves at the shore. Even when most other beaches
around here are a bust, there’s usually something suitable
for a beginner. Seventh Street is the only guarded surfing
beach, but a good chunk of the island has good waves after
hours. Try Park Place, Waverly and from North to Third Street,
as well as the beaches on the south end of the island.
If you want relief from the crowds, check out Strathmere’s
Sherman Avenue. John F. Kenneedy Boulevard in Sea
Isle provides instant gratification to surfers who
want to head straight from the parkway to the waves.
Farther south, the surfing beaches get a bit sparse. Avalon’s
30th Street pier allows all day surfing on the north side of
the jetty, and at Nun’s Beach, at 114th street in Stone
Harbor, you’ll see lots of parents and kids
surfing together. North Wildwood’s
Ninth Street and Wildwood Crest’s
Rambler Road are all guarded and host a few riders. Because of
its older vacationers and residents, Cape
May is passed over by most surfers during the
summer.
|
