While people throughout much of the Northeast were shoveling out from Winter Storm Hernando—a massive bomb cyclone that kicked up powerful winds and dumped historic amounts of snow in many areas—some surfers took advantage of the storm to catch some of the best waves to hit the region in years.
After waking up to a 19-foot at 11-second buoy reading, New Jersey surfer Ben Gravy and friends hit the waves in the middle of the storm for some truly memorable rides.
“FOR THE DREAM!” exclaimed Gravy.
Meanwhile, as a news crew from Maine’s WMTW struggled with wind, snow, and technical difficulties while reporting on conditions at Reid State Park in Georgetown, they were surprised to find a surfer out in the waves taking advantage of the storm.
In New York, YouTuber Jason Belsky headed to Lido Beach to get in some surfing once the storm was over.
Overnight, the blizzard dumped roughly 15 to 25 inches across Nassau County.
Belsky said the Atlantic still churning from the overnight wind, the storm having carved up the sandbars and left behind clean, powerful swell.
“There’s something surreal about surfing the afternoon after a blizzard. Especially when the ocean delivers,” said Belsky. “Cold hands. Frozen tripod legs. Unreal session.”
