I have lived in Stamford CT my whole life. I drive to nearby Rhode Island all the time for the surf, and the Clam Cakes. I have heard from a few folks that they have had great days of surfing in Connecticut. I even talked to a woman who claimed that she had surfed barrels in CT. I was wondering if anyone has ever expereinced these mythical CT waves firstahand and what type of conditions it takes for waves to make thier way into Long Island Sound. Are these just old wives tales that I have been hearing or could there be any truth behind these stories? I am asking because being able to surf a legitimate wave in my homestate of CT would be an amazing experience. Thanks!
The conditions needed to surf CT are so rare, you could wait five years or more to experience it. This woman who claims surfing “barrels”…does she ride a funshape or an SUP?
Yes, it is possible to surf in CT. You need a HUGE hurricane swell. The thing is, if it’s big enough for CT to be breaking it’s probably a whole lot better in RI. The only upside I could foresee is lack of crowds. But go ahead. Get yourself a valid nautical chart of the CT coast and figure out where it might actually be rideable. You might get a chance to explore the possibilities this week, thanks to Joaquin.
I’m probably heading to Point Judith on Monday to score this hurricane. But I looked at a map and I suppose a really solid SE/ESE swell could get into some spots in eastern CT. However Misquamicut State Beach in far western RI sticks out and blocks a lot of the swell for CT. And Fishers Island (part of NY) blocks even more.
I have also heard about people actually surfing in CT; no tuberiding has ever been mentioned. However, If I’m rdiving all the way from Philly to surf, I’m not stopping in CT.
The lefts at PJ are OK on NE winds; Matunuck is better. Beavertail Point works in NE winds, but is a pain in the ass to get to and has a really narrow swell window. Ruggles will be a washing machine.
Hoping for a wind shift and reduction. Projected in the 30+ knot range right now.
How about the K’s. The K’s might handle the NE wind pretty well and PJ might even block some of the gusts. I am so interested in the possibility of surfing CT because sometimes I can not make the ride up to RI when it is really pumping because of work or other obligations. Sammy A, the woman I talked to rode a funboard and talked about mentioned Rocky Neck Park in Niantic as the site of the barrels. I wonder if any swell could make it down to the Stamford area. I have heard stories! I like that map Gunkie!
I grew up on the long Island sound and have surf several times overhead waves directly across from Bridgeport on the new York side. Granted just after a passing hurricane and several noreasters. It can happen but you got to be on it cause its over as soon as the winds shift.
Check out this wind map animation. If you go to the main page http://earth.nullschool.net you can choose where you want to view. Spin the globe via click n drag, then zoom in.
Here’s what things look like in the NW Atlantic. Joaquin off Florida and that damn persistent cold front off the Northeast US that is burying any swell that might be making its way up from Joaquin
Looking like Tuesday for RI. N-NW winds and a decent ESE swell. I don’t think I’ll be making it into work that day. I might miss Wednesday, too, because NJ is looking good.
There is a novelty wave like the Conneticut wave not far from my house that got good yesterday for the first time in a few years yesterday. This wave is a mile and a half inside the Great Egg Harbor Bay. At high tide on a massive swell waves will sneak through the inlet and line up across this sand bar on the opposite side.
There is another spot inside Absecon Inlet that is an amazing left on large SE swells. For all intents and purposes, it’s a long sandbar point with hollow sections. Crazy currents between peak tides. Kind of have to run up the sandbar, paddle out and hope you timed the set correctly to be able to paddle into a wave. Otherwise you’re beging swept into Little Absecon Bay or out of the inlet. Very very difficult to maintain your spot.
I Iearned to surf there in 1963. Family had a house on Maple Ave. The pic I posted is from a friend I’ve known since then. He lives right in front of the break.
Grew up in the same area across from Bridgeport. Lots of protected coves that if you time right may do something but as was mentioned you need to be on top of it.
Scored Matunck after getting my ass kicked on the south side of Pt. Judith.
So I check out the south side of PJ at 7:30 this morning and no one is out and it looks meaty and clean. The east side has a half dozen and that number is growing. So I wax up and struggle into my 4/3 consideing it’s 47 degrees out. I’m thinking that I havre really let myself go over the past 6 months? The thing is super tight everywhere. I get down to the paddle out cove and start to stroke out. I can hardly breath from the wetsuit being so freaking tight. I try to paddle around to set myself up in the right spot but the only way for me to really breath is to sit up. So I get out between two peaks just to get some air and a big set begins to loom on the horizon. I start stroking for the horizon when the first wave lays down right in front of me. I get worked with a little bit of stale air in my lungs. The second wave is bigger and separates me from my board (thankgoodness for leashes). The third wave ends my quick, sufferfest session. I sulk back to my car and take off the wetsuit. Then I realize it is my daughter’s 4/3! She is in school at UCSD and doesn’t need the 4/3. I just grabbed a 4/3 from the wetsuit bin thinking it was mine!
But I went to Matunuck put on my 3/2 and had a lot of fun on a short board, getting caught inside and catching a few waves between beatings.
Hey guys those are some awesome pictures. I made it up to Rhode Island this past weekend and scored some fun waves at Matunuck and Weekapaug. I checked a few spots along the CT coast on my way home and nothing was going on. I did see one guy who was riding a 10’6 at Rocky Neck st park. he said the waves were decent when the tide was lower but by the time I arrived it was too high. Hoping for some really big storms soon so I can keep checking out potential CT surf spots. Thanks for all the advice!
This resembles very much to the northsea I’m mostly surfing.
I like the fact that you need to be at the right place at the right time. This filters out the less motivated surfers and thins the crowds.
Luckily we seem to have more days of surf than CT.
However, my favorite spot only works with heavy storms, which happens rarely. But since the waves there are so much better when it works, and the crowds don’t know to time well, I’m always having memorable sessions there with only some friends around me.
So I wouldn’t say to not try to surf CT at the right time, you’ll probably have some memorable sessions there!
