For some water buffs, the normal roll of surf is a happy
playground. Higher waves appeal to surfers, while brisk
breezes fan the interest of sailboarders.
Surfing
Montauk has Ditch Plains, where a jetty
creates longboard waves, and Turtle Cove,
next to Montauk State Park (Ditch Plains is free to town
residents; Turtle Cove has no public parking, foot path
only).
Popular Southampton spots are east and west of the
Shinnecock jetty, although the only designated area is
Little Plains, off Little Plains Road from
Main Street. Surfboard rentals and lessons are available at
Jettie's Surf, Skate and Snow, 109 Main St.,
Westhampton Beach, 631-288-0488; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.;
extended hours July-August.
Surfers can do their thing at Smith Point County Park,
east of the pavilion. Surfing is permitted at Fire Island
National Seashore, west of the park, and at Watch Hill and
Sailors Haven outside lifeguarded beaches. Robert
Moses State Park, west of protected bathing areas,
is open to surfing (parking: $6-$8 daily, or $59 seasonal
pass for state parks).
In Babylon, outside lifeguard areas, Gilgo
Beach and Cedar Beach are popular
(nonresident parking: $15 weekdays, $25 weekends at Gilgo,
$10 at Cedar; residents $25 for season).
Nassau's sites are at Oyster Bay's Tobay
Beach, where nonresidents can surf Mon.-Fri., except
holidays, and town residents can surf any day (residents $10
daily, $30 season; nonresidents $15 daily); Jones
Beach State Park, off West End Parking Field 2
($6-$8 or $59 seasonal pass); off Long
Beach, between Monroe and Lincoln boulevards, 9
a.m.-6 p.m. daily, and at 6 other beaches on a rotating
basis. (Call 516-431- 1000 ext. 296 or 516-431-1021 for
schedule; $6 daily or season pass $35 residents, $60
nonresidents.)
Sailboarding
In East Hampton, there's Lazy Point near
the town boat ramp (residents free). On the North Fork,
New Suffolk Beach permits sailboarding
(nonresident parking $12 daily, $100 seasonal; $6 residents
annual).
On the Sound, sailboarding is permitted in Smithtown off
Long Beach at the Cutout (town residents
only) and in Huntington at West Neck, Centerport, Hobart and
Asharoken beaches (residents $10 daily, $20 seasonal; $15
nonresidents).
Kiteboarding
Windsurfing Hamptons, 1686 North Highway, Southampton,
631-283-9463, www.w-surf.com; private and group
sail and kiteboarding lessons in East End bays.
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