DEAR SURFERS – WINTER 2025

Dear Surfers,

“I heard there are no waves in New Jersey.”  For too long, this was a common retort traveling NJ natives heard around the globe when disclosing their hometown origin.  Widespread digital media put that misconception to rest decades ago, yet those 9 words still sting the insides of every NJ surfer.  They say every good joke contains a bit of truth, and the hard truth about surfing in New Jersey is that the inconsistency of great waves prevent it from being taken seriously as an expert’s surf destination. But when the sun is setting on a classic day of Jersey surf, locals are the ones laughing as they trade perfect barrels amongst themselves in their beautiful, sandbottom home.

Sadly, as of late, there hasn’t been much to laugh about at all.  It has been over 400 days since NJ surfers have enjoyed a full day of world-class surf.  No summer hurricane harvests, no fall feasts, and sadly, no winter wonderlands since January 2024. While there have been moments of fun, the special days where everything comes together and rewards the Jersey surfers have been absent for so long, it’s beginning to feel like those bullies of yesteryear were correct.

This everlasting dry spell has felt like an attack on our way of life, or at least on our personal enjoyment. If you are like most Jersey folk, you don’t take attacks lightly, and might even fight back when pushed too far.  Well friends, if Mother Nature is going to treat us this cruelly, then it’s only fair to do what we native New Jersians do best, diversify.

With the coldest winter in NJ since anyone can remember, I have seen more NJ surfers “surfing” through life in ways that don’t require fiberglass and neoprene.  Ice skating, wind foiling, mountain biking, bass fishing, boat rowing, and of course, surfing’s cousins skateboarding, skiing and snowboarding all have been worthy replacements for the lack of surf-stoke this past year.

Don’t forget that NJ practically wrote the book on diversity, and with so many other options right in our collective backyard, the question remains, can you still have any fun?

Stay Stoked! 

Shaun McGrath, Founder