Being from Massachusetts means that we are privileged to a lot of things other people aren’t - for better (Revolutionary history, foliage, two presidents, 17 NBA Championships, Aerosmith and Bobby Orr) or for worse (Nor’easters, the Big Dig, Julio Lugo, the last 15 years of Aerosmith, John Cena and Mitt Romney.) But we also miss out on a few things and, most notably this time of year, is good surfing.
It’s a sad fact of life for we Bay Staters who like hitting the waves with a board in hand. The water is frigid and we just don’t get the winds. It is also particularly sub par in the summer months, with the best waves coming during hurricanes and Nor’easter seasons, hardly the best time to start a new hobby.
The beaches in this neck of the woods are particularly worthless to the aspiring surfer. Going surfing at Nantaskett or Brant Rock means you better be good enough not to fall or your knees or suffer the consequences, and I’ve seen bigger waves from my brother doing cannonballs. You can get decent waves on the Cape and the Islands or down in Newport and Narragansett in Rhode Island if you follow the surf reports, but the trip out there coupled with the price of rentals or buying equipment makes it a very expensive activity indeed.
Despite the obvious drawbacks, you will not find a group of people more passionate about what they do than New England surfers. There are surf shops scattered across the South Shore and they have their fair share of clientele. And most of these people go to the extreme to make the best out of a bad situation. I’ve talked to multiple surfers who have told me how fun it is to be out in the water catching waves during a Nor’easter, when there is snow falling around you and it’s eerily quiet.
While they can have all the winter water they want, there is still plenty of summer surf left for people who want to learn and there is nothing about the North Atlantic water that a good wet suit won’t fix. If you are willing to look for waves and make the best of the cold water, you will find people willing and happy to help you get started. I came back from surfing in Australia a few years ago thinking that I would have to save up the frequent flyer miles again before I got back on a board. But the surf culture here is very active and very New England.
The Internet has been a huge help for New England surfing. If you don’t know where to go or even where to start, there are tons of Web sites like nesurf.com dedicated specifically to area surfing where you can find everything from beach spots to board shops. Though I should warn you that some New England surfers are as a protective of the “surf spots” as Theo Epstein is with pitching prospects.
So I would suggest people take a shot at surfing this summer if they get a chance. Like most other Massachusetts sports, we don’t often get the breaks, but we do have the passion.
It’s a sad fact of life for we Bay Staters who like hitting the waves with a board in hand. The water is frigid and we just don’t get the winds. It is also particularly sub par in the summer months, with the best waves coming during hurricanes and Nor’easter seasons, hardly the best time to start a new hobby.
Whitman-Hanson School Committee 5.20.08
EPA ruling against Dunham Farm contractor
