NEW YORK
The New Image of Summer
By Affandy Yacoob
ong Beach has a unique characteristic when compared to other beaches around the world. Although it is a hidden gem in the midst of American suburbia, it is frequented by both city and suburban folks across New York. It is a destination that has been, in recent years, noticed for its appreciation for the culture of surfing on the East Coast. For this reason, this haven has become the center stage for New York Surf Week, an annual contest organized by NYSEA, a New York production company focused on local surfing that was established in 2005, to celebrate the spirit of surfing, skateboarding and the arts. On July 21, I visited the Long Island shores of Long Beach for the 4th Annual NYSEA event. Upon my arrival, I heard a distant voice through the soothing sounds of the crashing waves. “I can’t believe it. Oh, look at that quick slide to the left from the new kid Dane, he almost has the lead. 13-year-old Dane Depasquale, a young surfer who is making a name for himself,” Will, the emcee, announced with much enthusiasm to the large crowd of families and surfers, as the last waves were waning. Although I had not attended a surfing contest prior to that day, I was surprisingly drawn to what I observed. Depasquale was crouching on his surf board in the midst of fierce waves while attempting to retain his balance. As the waves became stronger, he kept his composure and stood stead-fast riding the low waves. Suddenly, the crowd became anxious as a swallowing wave made its way in and scattered the surfers. Struggling to keep up with this wave, Depasquale used the open cracks to avoid being swept away. Gazing out into the midst of this whirlwind, I witnessed Depasquale’s strategic exit. With every effort, as he pushed toward the finish line, the crowd grew wild. Prior to his triumphant outing in which he nabbed second place, Depasquale summed it up in a few words: “It’s a very welcoming experience to be here,” he said. “Surfing is a means of coming together as a community, and sharing the experience of surfing with others.”
SOUL SURFING
“The ocean is my church and surfing is naturally spiritual to me. it calms my soul when I am chasing a wave...”
—Kealii Mamala
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Photos by René Nova & Morgan Wellinger
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