Surfing Waves

i just got back from bali a week ago and i must say it totally rocks! went there to primarily learn how to surf since my area has zero waves... i'm not kidding. After wishing and hoping and anticipating for so long, i must say surfing is as bloody fun as it looks. Well, sadly, i only managed to learn the super basics like standing up and riding the white water in. and turning a lil and taking off at an angle. All on those beginner/learner boards. I'll be heading to nyc for college this fall and would love to continue surfing and learning more, moving on to riding on unbroken waves on a short (er) board or whatever. Any tips on how to do all this in new york city when you're a broke first-year college student without any friends, gear or a ride?

There is a pretty active NYC surf community. When you get to school check Craigslist NYC under "activity partners" also check out local surf shops - you can via the Long Island RR get to the Hamptons, Fire Island and decent learning breaks. Also check out the local chapter of Surfrider Foundation. All of these should hook you up with other people who are looking for buddies...

Good luck with school!!
(oh get a wetsuit. it's cold up here.... )

You learnt to surf in Bali? Could you tell me more?

Which season, which beach, which school?

I'm in NY at the moment (coincidentally) but will be leaving soon and thinking about going to Bali for a week.

Come down to jersey...not for the summer though..it sucks and filled with tourists. Not that good with waves...every month we get 1-2 nice swells yesterday at times it was over 7ft! pretty damn good for july...winter is amazing almost everyday..i usually just surf when its really clean...i hate fighting through currents and chop in my thick wetsuit and freezing water

Fall is off the charts. A little rough...we get the wrath of those awesome hurricanes....with super warm water..and at that point light blue water. Spring is awesome..freezing water is a little rough but its worth it..3-4ft on average..late spring anywhere from flat -5.

Surfing in NYC? I got two words for you: Rockaway Beach. Not great, but it's the closest thing and it's decent. After mid-July it's warm enough for no wet-suit. And if you go in the early morning, there will be a nice-sized group of people, so you won't be friendless for long. Other than that, you can take the train or bus out to Long Island for Ditch Plains (Montauk), Tiara Beach (Westhampton), or Davis Park (Fire Island) or go south to Jersey.