Editor’s Note: The following adventure was made possible through the support of Banana Republic.
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Last week we headed out on what was supposed to be an ultimate New York City surf escape. While the waves didn't exactly deliver, we had a blast and put together a quick hit list of tips to help maximize an urban surf trip. If you're with the right people, it's always a good time. Photo: Forest Woodward
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Tip 1: Pick your Crew. Pick them well. Don’t just pick anyone. And don’t pick their noses. Here's our crew: 1) Jeremy Dean: The Ringer! Eats, breathes, lives surfing. Frother to the max! He surfs mostly single fins and surf’s them better than you surf your thruster. 2) Jonno Durant: The Aussie. Has been known to surf all 50 States of the US. Aussies make all surf trips better. 3) Paul Boehls: The Skipper. Often, the life of the party. Wears boat shoes and smokes Marlboro Lights while catching fluke. Rides Josh Hall Long Fishes. Don’t leave your sister alone with him. 4) Forest Woodward: The Photographer. Never quote Forest Gump to him. Enjoys late night climbs along Marriot rooftops. 5) Tyler Breuer: ME. I put this together. I’m writing this. That’s all you need to know. Photo: Forest Woodward
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Tip 2: Always stop at roadside attractions. Connecticut is famous for many things: bankers, Yale, Quinnipiac polls, and the PEZ Factory. Off of I-95, A small lonely sign says PEZ Visitor Center. One can’t help but feel compelled to make a stop. A man needs his sugary fix and flip top head. Photo: Forest Woodward
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Tip 3: When near the coast look for narrow dirt trails. You never know where they are going to lead. Maybe something good. Maybe something bad. It beats sitting in a car. Photo: Forest Woodward
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Tip 4: Stop at Louis Lunch Box ,but don’t ask for ketchup: This ain’t a normal burger joint. The story goes that a construction worker in New Haven was in a rush and wanted a steak. He asked Louis, to throw the steak on white bread and make it to go. Thus, the Hamburger was born. It’s a damn fine burger, but don’t ask for ketchup. No, really. Don’t ask for ketchup. Photo: Forest Woodward
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Tip 5: It’s only okay to wear white pants for a surf check after Memorial Day. Otherwise the surf will be flat. Photo: Forest Woodward
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Tip 6: If the surf sucks, pretend you are getting barreled somewhere. Parking lots will do. Photo: Forest Woodward
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Tip 7: When the surf’s flat, find some other activity to preoccupy your time. Jonno likes to climb large sand dunes and then run down them as fast as possible. Aussies have a perverse sense of fun. Photo: Forest Woodward
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Tip 8: Local grinds equal good times. You are what you eat. Photo: Forest Woodward
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Tip 9: Respect the wildlife. And never try to pet a stranded seal. We saw this little guy on the beach. He looked pretty sick at the time. That was until one of us got a little too close. Photo: Forest Woodward
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Tip 10: Waiting is part of the game. Sometimes you just have to wait for the waves, or the boat, or the car to be repaired, or for your friend in a hospital, or at a police station. If you were wondering…We were just waiting for a boat. Photo: Forest Woodward
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Tip 10: When the surf’s flat, throw something around. We all suck at football. Some of us have no clue how to play. But there’s something gratifying about throwing a ball around. Photo: Forest Woodward
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Tip 11: Sometimes you just have to paddle out. After waiting, and driving, searching and hoping, at some point you just need to get your ass in the water no matter how crummy it looks. Shoots, sometimes you might even get surprised a get a few fun ones. Jeremy Dean, cracking it on a mushy left. Photo: Forest Woodward
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Tip 12: Always walk back with your mates after a surf. It’s the best time to exaggerate and talk smack about your surfing. Paul tried to tell us he got barreled. The only thing getting barreled were his toes. Photo: Forest Woodward
We drive down the road. We drive, drive, drive… The surf is looking flat, and Jeremy rolls down his window in the back. He knows what he did. Releasing noxious fumes. At least he admitted it.
We left New York a few hours prior to head north to Rhode Island. We had high hopes for surf, but our first spot check revealed micro-lines. When it’s that flat, I can’t help but think of micro-surfers drawing lines and surfing 6-inch waves as if it’s double overhead. One can dream, right? We are on a road trip. A chance to escape the daily grind. There’s not much time for us, but it’s enough. Two or three days, and we will be back in our apartments, our commutes, our jobs, and our routines. All you need is just a few days.
We keep driving. The waves don’t show. Waves are never guaranteed on a road trip, especially one coming from New York. So we had two choices: be bummed about the lack of surf, or make the most of our time away.
As I see it, a good time all depends on you and who you surround yourself with. The first and most important rule of a road trip, pick your crew. Pick them well. What follows are some tips for the urban surfer. I can’t guarantee these tips will help you find happiness, enlightenment, a sense of self worth, or even waves. But, if you follow some of these tips, you’re bound to have a good time.
All photos by Forest Woodward. Check him out on Facebook.
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