Surfing in Montauk is not just a recreational activity, it is truly a way of life for many out here on the East End. We caught up with two of our favorite local surf instructor businesses, East End Surf Club and CoreysWave to ask firsthand what surfing in Montauk means to them, as well as the importance of passing the culture down to generations to come!
Q: Why do you think keeping the surf culture in Montauk alive is so important?
A: Surfing is part of the fabric of our community. People come from all corners of the earth to surf here in Montauk. It elevates and diversifies our culture and elevates our economy. For Mike and I, it has given us a livelihood to be proud of and given us so much opportunity to give back and to take advantage of what Montauk has to offer to surfers. I always say surfing has given us so much and if we could give back a fraction of that to other people it’s a win. Surfing dictates the people we hang out with, the clothes we wear, the way we talk, the places we travel to; it’s so much deeper than a hobby and we take a lot of pride in all of that, and more specifically being a surfer from Montauk. Go to most places in the world and tell people you’re a surfer from NY or more specifically MTK and see the reaction you get. It blows people’s minds, and really is something special. Then talk about the history. People started surfing out here in the 50s and 60s. It is truly ingrained in our DNA and a part of why people come to Montauk just as the stories of prohibition, whaling, fishing, and those sorts of cultural characteristics that make Montauk what it is. And we see it daily. We meet all sorts of people, from all walks of life, all brought together here in Montauk by an urge to surf. Simply put, without surfing, Montauk would be missing a huge part of what makes Montauk, well Montauk. Then you know the people who come here to learn to surf, whom it might be new to. We have arguably (bold statement) the best waves in the world to learn how to surf, second to maybe Waikiki in Hawaii. And because of that, people like Mike and I with East End Surf Club and other surf schools, have been able to not only spread that love for the sport and for Montauk, but have also been able to find a livelihood in it that allows us to be able to stay in the town we call home and we love so much. Without surfing, Montauk would be a mere shade of what it is today or once was. It’s part of our economy, culture and way of life.
– Pat Fallon and Mike Poli (East End Surf Club)
Q: What sets the surfing culture in Montauk apart from other surfing hot spots?
A: I could go on forever about this in so many directions, but let’s just start with physical location. First and foremost, between the Jersey Shore and here, you have two amazing surf zones within striking distance to the greatest city on earth in New York City. That alone makes us unique. Can’t go many places and find waves like we get here in such close striking distance to a major city like NYC in regards to economy, cultural diversity and ease of getting here. Then you talk about wave quality and the fact we’re at the top of the Gulf Stream which funnels swell to us. In the summer we get consistent small waves with great conditions and some larger, novelty hurricane swells thrown in, which if you’ve ever been a surfer around for one of those – great waves + warm weather = bliss. But the consistent quality conditions and user-friendly waves, makes for an awesome place to be as a surfer of any ability. Then in the winter we get very consistent swells, with challenging conditions, but also minimal crowds because of the temperatures – which those swells get a lot of attention. Imagine pulling up to a beach during a snowy nor’easter and seeing a pack of guys paddling out in 10 foot surf in sub freezing temps … Happens pretty often here actually. So that’s a blessing for any advanced or dedicated surfer. It’s not easy, but it sure is worth it to be a winter surfer in MTK and that’s a cultural brotherhood in itself.
Then you have to mention the amount of surf talent that’s come out of Montauk is another impressive cultural detail in itself. There are so many talented surfers born and bred in Montauk, and some have even gone on to have careers as pro surfers, or within the surf industry and that says a lot to the culture here as well. Then we talk about how ingrained surfing is in our everyday culture; The local, or even nonlocal, businesses that develop brands or livelihoods around surfing in MTK. The events that celebrate surfing like the Rell Sunn surf contest to raise money for cancer research, or the A Walk On Water’s event where we surf and raise money for surfers with special needs, or public surf movie nights, or experiential events like the Skip School and Surf day for local kids that we held last year, or even the beach clean ups after big storms, and community driven efforts organized by surfers for the betterment of our environment and community as a whole. Surfing and Montauk have a deep connection that goes back for decades, and simply just go hand in hand. Montauk is at the forefront of surfing culture on the East Coast as we are one of the first towns known for it. A lot of people come to MTK to surf, plain and simple. Surfing is so important to our DNA and identity as a town. And again I think a lot of people who don’t know, write off NY as a surf destination, but spend one day in MTK and see how deep surf culture runs in the roots of the community.
– Pat Fallon and Mike Poli (East End Surf Club)
Q: What is your favorite part of teaching surfing to young surfers?
A: My favorite part of teaching to anyone has to be the feeling I get when I see people experience that moment where something truly amazing clicks in their head about surfing. The look on a person’s face when this happens is unmistakable and being the one to help people to achieve their surfing goals without a doubt will keep me motivated to teach for the rest of my life. We also get to relive that first-time feeling of riding a wave alongside our beginner surfers. When you have been surfing your whole life, it’s easy to forget how amazing it feels to ride a wave. But when you’re alongside beginner surfers, whether they’re 8 years old or 40 years old, you get the full force of feeling that first ride “stoke” all of the time and it’s infectious. We are lucky to be surf instructors and that we get to share the stoke with our students all of the time.
– Corey Senese (CoreysWave)
Q: What do you feel is the most important part of teaching surf?
A: I believe there are two “most important parts of teaching surfing”. First is ensuring your students learn the rules of the road, how to be safe in the ocean, how to practice safe technique and proper etiquette amongst other advanced and local surfers. Second is that they always remember that surfing should be fun! An old saying in surfing goes, “The best surfer in the water is the one having the most fun”, and it’s super important to never forget that!
– Corey Senese (CoreysWave)
Q: Could you share a memorable surfing experience or a wave that stands out in your memory?
A: A more recent memorable ride for me was surfing during a hurricane swell in Montauk–Hurricane Humberto. We were paddling further and further out to sea at this one spot that can be extremely powerful. My friend Evan, who is always a good leader in powerful surf conditions, was leading me further out in a very unpredictable ocean. When I finally saw the wave coming to me I knew it could be my only chance. I remember paddling as hard as I could and the wave was moving so fast that the wind moving up the face of the wave nearly kept me from dropping in, which held me up enough to make it a very critical takeoff. The wave was over 10 foot and the late drop-in was super memorable. A local photographer, Dalton, took a great picture of me which helps keep the memory fresh.
– Corey Senese (CoreysWave)