Surf Shops in New York City: From Subway to Surf

More and more people every year are catching a few waves in the surf off Long Island. You don't even need to leave the city subway system to find a bit of respite from the urban jungle. Just take the A train towards Far Rockaway and you'll even find a plethora of surf shops offering surfboards, wet suits, surf apparel, and surf gear for sale or rent. Some of the shops even provide lessons for novice surfers.

Rockaway Beach Surf Shop
177 Beach 116th St
Rockaway Park, NY 11694
(718) 474-9345
One of the oldest surf shops on the East Coast. Tom Sena opened this conveniently located surf shop almost forty years ago. They sell surfboards for surfers of all skill levels from beginner to expert. They also sell surf apparel, wet suits, surf accessories, and boogie boards.

FTW (F*** The World) Surf Shop
163 Beach 116th Street
Rockaway Park, NY 11694
(718) 945-1380‎
Owner Bobby Vaughn left the gangsta surfer culture of Santa Cruz and Venice Beach, CA, and opened this serious surf shop in Rockaway Park. Vaughn has surfed professionally, went to prison for shooting a friend in a drug-fueled brawl, and was one of the founders of the famous Von Dutch clothing line beloved by celebrities from Paris Hilton to Snoop Dogg. Vaughn is using his surf celebrity to try and create a California-style surf culture in New York City. He sells top-of-the-line surfboards and surf equipment and is busy turning his store into a community recreation center for young surfers. He is also creating a new clothing line called FTW.

Breezy Point Surf Shop
61 Point Breeze Ave.
Breezy Point, NY 11697
(718) 318-2381
www.breezysurfshop.com
Owner Donald Ritter opened his surf shop twenty years ago in Breezy Point, Queens. His store is packed with scads of merchandise for surfers and beach goers. He carries a dizzying array of flip flops, sandals, and slippers; but also carries surfboards, boogie boards, wet suits, and surfing accessories.

Boarders Surf Shop and Skate
192 Beach 92nd St
Rockaway Beach, NY 11693
(718) 318-7997
www.boarderssurfshop.com
Boarders Surf Shop accommodates all surfers, from novice to expert. They sell surfboards, surf accessories, and surf apparel; but also rent surf equipment and have lockers and showers for patrons (you can keep your surf equipment at the shop instead of lugging it back home on the train). They also offer lessons for beginning surfers and offer the quickest route to the water for any New Yorker looking to experience a bit of surf on the weekends.

Sources:

Corey Kilgannon, Transplanting the Legend of the Santa Cruz Surf, New York Times
Natasha Lennard, The Von Dutch Guy's Second Act, Queens Rules
Boarders Surf Shop & Skate
Breezy Point Surf Shop