There are many ways to get started surfing. Many people get into it the same way I first started. You have a friend who's a surfer that doesn't ride his or her first board anymore because they've graduated to something shorter than 8 feet. He or she straps both boards to their roof rack; you pile into the car and get a quick 5 minute brief on how to catch a wave. When you get to the beach you hop into the water, struggle to make your way out past the surf, sit out beyond the break and watch your buddy catch a wave. You see another set coming in, get a little nervous but paddle your arms off and start cruising down. You put your hands down, pop onto the board, and then just as quickly as you stood up (if you're lucky to get that far)...you face plant into the sand bar.
After a few hours (if you're as stubborn as I am), maybe you caught a wave or two, maybe not. You're almost certainly in a little bit of pain, will definitely be sore in the morning, and there's a good chance you're not as fond of surfing as you thought you'd be. If you were really lucky, you were able to learn without too many other surfers around so you didn't have to deal with being chastised for not knowing the proper etiquette or dropping in on somebody's wave because nobody taught you how to handle yourself in the water. If not, maybe you've been turned off entirely and have no desire to surf again. Believe me when I tell you there's a better way; and lucky for you, I found it. The fact that Long Island has some of the East Coast's best surfing means there's no shortage of entrepreneurs who spent their childhood on a surf board.
Cue CoreysWave.
CoreysWave is one of many private outfits specializing in surf instruction throughout the east end. Based in Montauk, they offer private or group lessons in surfing and stand-up paddle surfing (one of the latest movements in water sports), kids surf camps, and guided trips to surf destinations all over the world. Corey also was brave enough to take me out for my own private lesson to show me what surfing is really all about...and to try to get me to ride a wave for more than 3-4 seconds.
I met Corey Senese and business-partner/fiancée Kristin Angiulo at Ditch Plains, the mecca for surfing on Long Island (see Brett Mauser's "The East End's Top Surf Spots" later in this issue). The surf had mellowed a bit by the time I got there and after some beach instruction I was in the water and riding my first (albeit small) wave in no time. We spent about an hour in the water, and with the exception of a minor injury on my second wave (I listened a little closer to some safety items after that, I'm still icing my hyper-extended elbow as I type) the overall experience was amazing.
One of my favorite parts of the day was sitting out in the water listening as Corey and two colleagues from one of the local surf shops in town (whom Corey taught personally) cheered on an 8 year old female student every time she caught a wave. I only wish I had gotten her name to give her some credit for showing me up all afternoon. CoreysWave instructor John Angiulovitch puts it best:
"What makes CoreysWave exceptional in terms of surf instruction is a combination of the experience of the instructors and the dynamic that we all share working together. The instructors are a group of close friends who have spent most of their lives in the water at Ditch Plains. Because of their knowledge of the break and the incredibly fun work environment each lesson is an authentic surf session where laughing is constant and success is nearly inevitable."
When choosing a surf school or instructor, there are a few important factors to consider. First, always remember that, as is the case everywhere, you generally get what you pay for. Many shops and schools advertise group or semi-private lessons in which the surfer-to-instructor ratio can exceed 5 or even 8-1. Make sure to ask how many other students will be with you and your instructor.
By itself, the ocean can be a dangerous place. Add in dozens of people all on hard 7-foot long (give or take) boards with sharp fins traveling at high rates of speed with the potential to go flying in any direction at the blink of an eye and you can have a recipe for disaster. Pick a school that emphasizes both safety and etiquette as some of their core teaching disciplines.
And overall and most importantly, don't forget that you're out there to have fun! Head down to the beach and meet your instructors before you commit. Watch a couple of their lessons, see how the students react to them, and don't be afraid to talk to the students as well. A good instructor will make the experience a wonderful one no matter your age, sex, or skill level. At the very least you'll get to spend a day on the beach!
For more information visit www.CoreysWave.com or contact Kristin Angiulo at info-at-coreyswave.com (516) 639-4879
