Surfing Waves

Hey guys, long time no see. I'll be applying for an Emergency Medicine Residency in a little over a year, and want to get an idea of my options in case I can't get a spot in CA (no EM residencies in HI unfortunately).

So what can you tell me about surfing in other parts of the US? I've never surfed the East coast, and to be honest always laughed a little when hearing about the east coast getting "swell". But hey, small surf is better than no surf right?

How's the surf in spots like Oregon? I imagine it gets a lot of the same swell as CA but it's probably cold as hell right?

damn, I hope I can get a spot in San Diego.

I heard that east is usually small, but when a hurricane comes up, iits pretty big and quite fun.
San diego is a very nice place to surf, but the crowd is sometimes the issue.

In the eastern US, I'd only consider FL. I'd look to live and surf at Cocoa Beach. It's not big, but pretty consistent and very pleasant. The problem with the ocean around NJ and NY is that is polluted. Has been since I was a little kid there and, while improved, is not some place I will go in the water. Everything in between is too small.

From some classic surf movies there are two unusual places that look interesting.

1. Sheboygan, WI
related links: http://www.visitsheboygan.com/dairyland/contactus.htm
http://www.superiorsurfclub.com/index.html
There are actullay a bunch of places around the Great Lakes. It's all smallish, but it doesn't pretend to be anything else and it is fresh water.

2. TX gulf, but surfing the waves made by tankers. The rides are reportedly long (miles), but I bet after 12 times it becomes boring

With all that goes on in CA, I'd be surprised if you can't find a residency somewhere in this state.

Hi. Just found this FL information at http://www.wannasurf.com/spot/North_America/USA/California/index.html
comment by Anonymous, 2007-09-02 03:44:11

east coastwest coast
I love surfing east coast central florida because the water is clear, and so warm always waves in north central florida but also sharks too!!lots of marine life!
I would love to check out the west coast california santa cruz but fridgid waters cold ass waters...


comment by EAST VS. WEST DEBATE, 2007-07-13 18:07:29

Cali vs east coast
Pick a place on the east coast the size of california and then compare. I grew up on the east coast but moved to Cali 4 years ago. Southern Cali has way more consistant swell then southern east coast. However, east coast has more ridable days of surf. East coasters get gale winds for days at a time and surf big wind swell that cali guys wouldnt even bother paddling out in. As for the sharks, you have to be joking if you think that cali has more sharks then the east coast. NOAA Government and the GEP state that Florida has the most shark attacks out of any other spot in the world. (not the most fatal attacks, but the most attacks). ....ohhh yeah, bull kelp does suck.

As an east coaster ill be the first to say, it sucks.

Hurricane and northeaster swells are nice sometimes, but stormy. We usually get a good day of left overs or two from each big storm.

Summer sucks, spring usually is pretty terrible, fall is good, and winter seemed like it used to be good but not now. We haven't had any waves I've wanted to surf in a couple months.

Go west dude. Oregon and Washington state have similar swell to cali but they are definately cold.

Check wannasurf.com, they have local descriptions of breaks, etc.

Thanks guys. I'm definitely going to gun for the Best Coast *offers his first born to the gods for a slot in San Diego* but if not, I guess the Least Coast is better than no coast.

I think I've gotten spoiled really. I used to surf this wind blown slosh and have a blast. But now I've spent too much time in Indo and Central America... Once you get barreled in Indo, nothing really stacks up any more.

Wait a second - surfing on a LAKE?? That's just something that's difficult to get your head around!!

Sounds like it's one of those 'must do' experiences - like surfing a bore

Guess you didn't know that Chicken Joe from Sheboygan won the 10th Annual Big Z surf off at Pen Gu Island.

what about puerto rico.. thats technically the US.