How to Surf in New York

Who would guess that in New York City among the millions of people and mazes of skyscrapers and highways a surfing subculture exists. Thousands of New Yorkers have their beloved, delicate-as-eggshell multiple-colored surfboards propped up against a wall or hanging like a Jack Pierson chef d'oeuvre from the ceiling just pining for a hurricane.

Of course it isn't Sydney but our East Coast barrier reef islands a.k.a Coney, Long, and Fire Island as well as the Jersey "coastline" serve up some delightful waves. Last hurricane season my friend "scrubby" rode an 18 foot monster that would have made even Kelly Slater think twice. All over NYC surfshops are popping up to feed the need to surf.

Even Vogue's Jill Demling along with Karen Mulligan from Annie Leibovitz studio made a fashion entry into the world of Blue Crush bikini clads girls by founding Pret-a-Surf, a luxury swimwear line. Mollusk in Billyburg is where I bought my first cobalt blue Pavel board. Now Quiksilver is entering the fray offering a one million dollar purse this September at the very first Long Beach invitational. Surfing in NYC has morphed into a world class event.

Despite all the hype I find surfing a philosophic mix of physics, water, wind, sports and courage. When you find yourself on a wave and you can see Manhattan it changes everything! When I see surfers on the Rockaway or Long Beach line, my heart pangs to drop everything and head to the beach instead of battling with health insurances plans on behalf of my patients. My best surf moment was on a full moon night near the north coast of Haiti. The sun and moon just switched places all of the sudden. And there I was with my brother Mark riding a big wave on my Haitian made foam green board at 10PM. Those are moments surfers live for.

So one day it occurred to me somehow to bring all my wave rider friends together to do something good for our fair city. I called Paul Caccamo the CEO of Coach Across America. They are an NGO that offers coaching for inner-city kids. Paul hooked me up with Ms. Alex Gomes another surfer who works at Stoked. We boldly called Vogue's Jill Demling and asked Pret-a-Surf along with New York Dermatology Group to cosponsor an inner-city kids surf event as an intro to the Quiksilver event. Boarders Surfshop owner Frank Cullen offered us $3000 worth of rental equipment and young surf instructors. Then Karen Mulligan from the Annie Leibovitz studio chimed in with signed photo books from Ms. Leibovitz for the budding young female surfers. We decided to throw in a skin cancer talk since I am a dermatologist and finally an afternoon barbecue after we surfed. We want as many New York surfers as possible to show up on beach 67 in the Rockaways at 9 am on august 31. The train stops a block from the beach. Our goal is to raise enough funds to sponsor another coach for inner-city kids via Coach Across America . My friend Karma surfs and she will be at the event.

Click here to make a tax deductible donation. www.up2us.org.