best place to be a surfer

...and in the summer months - nothing usually gets past Vero Beach. Every so often maybe, but after living in Cocoa Beach for a while the epicenter of east coast summer surfing appears to be New Smyrna. That place picks up swell constantly. When it gets bad here in late July I'll drive the 50 minutes up and catch some waist high LB waves. Awesome option, as long as you don't mind surfing with about 5000 three to six foot long Bull sharks patrolling the mouth of the inlet.

 

Never been to LBI. But I'm not seeing how it has a better angle for north winds. From looking at a map. Either way. Point remains the same. If your in jerz or ny, you got options in either state a short drive away.

To clarify, I'm not saying its the best place to be a surfer. Just pointing out a benefit.

 

Ha, same ranking also had Iowa as the best place to live, Iowa. I would rank living in Iowa just slightly above death.

 

Right on the the money. I do not mind the sharks, except when then swim right toward me, then I mind a little.

 

Article states that North Dakota has the best "Quality of Life". I've been to North Dakota. The author obviously HASN'T. No mountains, no ocean, mostly winter with lethal cold, at least there are tornadoes in the summer.

 

I've been to Melbourne/Cocoa area in the summer and had to do the same thing....its pretty amazing how much more ridable and peakier those little summer wind swell lines are up there at that inlet.

 

Sorry... wasn't clear: LBI is better than where I live now in NoMoCo when the wind has a lot of north in it, not better than NY.

 

You’re right.

Southern end of LBI picks up north wind flawlessly. Same with most breaks south of that island.

 

A lot of sand builds up South of the Jetty and makes it break on the smallest of swells. It is shorepound mostly at that size but long enough rides to be fun in the Summer. It’s shallow and crowded usually when it is small. Go down to Dunes Park and walk the trail in before they open the gates for people to drive on to get a head start before the crowd fills in.

 

Oh i gotcha. Was very confused there. You actually make a good point haha. The jerz guys do have more options within the state. I guess the NY/NJ proximity works out better for the NYers.

 

I never really paid much attention to NY/NJ growing up but in recent years (probably thanks to swellers and NJNY), I have.

I have noticed over the last 6-7 years that often times I'm dealing with waiting for the outer banks to clean up while you guys are getting both plenty swell and good conditions (this swell is prime example)...in the last couple of years it seems we have had some good swell events that I have gotten skunked on due to conditions only to see my NE brethren scoring sick tubes! Especially Jersey boyz!

Anyway just venting and stoked for others who ar scoring...

 

The grass is always greener. I see it the exact opposite. I live in NJ but I have friends down in Hatteras and follow a few photographers on social media and it seems the outer banks scores a lot more often. The climate is also a lot more favorable with the water temp often a full 10* warmer on any given day. You also have two different facing beaches in Hatteras. The fishing is off the charts down there too when the surf is flat.

 

Just saw a video this morning after the storm and that house is almost on the beach again. Couple more storms and it might be in the same predicament again. I've gotten great surf a few times right in front of its new location.

 

Your probably right CJ. Although I live an hour and a half form Lighthouse, it does get very good and having that option is sweet. I hate the cold even though I grin and bare it!

I guess there have been a hand full of good swells in the past few years where I recall the conditions being good up there and total crap here.

 

Good to have you back Scobes.

You guys had an awesome season until about January IIRC

 

Love it!
Those "best places" ratings are a crock: Money magazine, US News, Kiplinger, AARP, et al...
What is rated #1 one year comes in 25th the next. Based on whose criteria?
Iowa, So Dakota,...WTF? Might as well be hell.

 

One thing that really distorts those lists is cost of living is ranked as a negative (which I get) without properly ranking the positive of living somewhere on the ocean or in the mountains. If you are going to sit in your house surfing the web and watching TV all day, then sure, why spend more to live in Ventura instead of Fargo.

 

We're surfers. Of course, who of us thinks that being landlocked on a flat, desolate landscape in the Heart of America with a bunch of farmers is the ideal place to live?

But pragmatically, I understand why these places are rated as such. Low crime rates, low cost of living, friendly neighbors, good paying jobs (local industry, for sure), great schools, excellent quality of life.

I understand why urban dwellers don't get it. But there's more to life and living than money, shopping, nightlife and geography.

Hell, I lived in Colorado and felt trapped and landlocked, and I'm an avid skier.

 

If you can deal with the cold, Rhode Island has a lot to offer for surf. The south exposure actually seems to work out really well because those pesky NE winds are offshore. There are several beaches, each of which is different, and outside of surf season access couldn't be easier. There are also tons of reef set ups, and I really love that variety.

Surf season is another story. The seaweed is a real bummer, but worse is the horrid crowds. And not just surfers. There are just so many people in the shorebreak it's impossible to surf after about 10 or 11am.

I seriously considered staying here, but I just can't deal with the winter. Love the waves, but man I am just over having to put all that gear on just to get a few waves.

 

You actually hit on an interesting nerve. One that gets on my nerves (as a surfer).

The "Urban" life unfortunately is near all of 'our' surf spots (domestically speaking).

So, we seek the nuggets. Extra waves-sustainability-good vibes-and Flowers-
Auwuwuwuwuwuriiiiite!