Steps to take before surfing on Long Island New York:
1. Check a Surf Forecast site
A great resource to use to check surf reports worldwide is magicseaweed.com. Magic Seaweed will tell you the swell direction (direction ocean is moving in) as well as wind direction and tide.
2. Check Water Temperature
New York is known for its cold winters that said, check the water temp. Before surfing to dress accordingly. In the springtime, you can get away with just a 3/2mm wetsuit with no gloves, hood or boots. Come February be prepared to get fully dressed including a minimum of a 5mm wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves.
3. Use the right board
For smaller swells (waves), you would be better suited to use a longboard. A longboard is considered any board 7feet and larger. The larger boars give you more surface area making it easier to catch a wave. Short boards are any board under 7 feet, these boards are for more advanced riders and are better suited for maneuver tricks.
4. Know the best conditions
On Long Island, New York, getting perfect conditions are extremely rare. That said, the best conditions on long island are, wind coming from the North West while the ocean produces a southeast swell. Lastly, the tide needs to be a neap tide. Put all these three aspects together and you have a beautiful long Island surf wave.
Get out there and surf this summer. We are The Smart Choice in Surfing!
www.Smartwavelessons.com