Skudin on NY Surf Week

IN the run-up to New York Surf Week the state's resident big wave surfer Will Skudin provides us with a rundown of all things New York, it's a state, not just the city. With no Quiksilver Pro at Long Beach in 2012, a victim of undisclosed reasons, NY Surf Week becomes this year's defacto East Coast must attend event. Event director, Wil Skudin is a rare beast, an East Coast big wave surfer dedicated to the pursuit of red blobs but choosing to make the state of New York his home. Will, can you describe the average New York surfer? The average NY surfer? That's a funny question, there is no average NY surfer. There are some characters in this state. People who aren't scared to speak their mind and people that are proud of their homeland. When it comes to surfing I think we all get super-stoked on waves because we are starved from them from time to time. There are alot of great surfers from NY that have been or still are overlooked. The times are changing and the youth of NY will be strong. What is NY Surf Week and why is it important? The third annual NY Surf Week (NYSEA Open) is an event that has been great for the NY community. Dedicated to a NY surf ledged George "Geeza" Geiser. It is an event that gives back and includes local surfers/bands/artists/editors/skateboards/Non for profits/families and more. It showcases our New York talent but is open to all. There will be a skateboard contest on the beach with fireworks in the background, music playing, the whole nine. It has evolved into a small US Open kind of event. This year will be great. It is important because it is an event that focuses on shining some light on NY's world class Artist/surfers/musicians/skateboarders/DJs and more. If your community cant see you then no one will. © 2013 Mat Clark

Why choose to dedicate the event to George? George "Geeza" Geiser was a underground NY big wave surfer. He was six years older then I. So I really looked up to him in the big stuff. When I first started pushing myself in Hawaii he helped me alot with feeling more comfortable in heavy lineups. Out of the water, he was a larger then life kind of guy. He really lived life to the fullest in all he did. After he passed, I just felt like I had to get something going in his name ASAP. I felt like it is something he would have done for me. This winter in Hawaii I could really feel his presence and to all his friends and family thank you for helping this community carry on his legacy. Would you like it to become an ASP sanctioned East Coast Open of Surf? NYsea Open would be happy to make this a bigger and better event. We are just stoked right now on what's in front of us over the next week, then will see from there what our options are. © 2013 B&W Ian Parnell, party girls NYSEA

Was Quiksilver's in-and-out of benefit to NY surfers? Does the lack of it this year make NY Surf Week all the more important? Quiksilver's event was insane. Kelly Slater got a 10 in front of the NY crowd on one air. Come on now, how can that not benefit any surf community? Twenty-years-ago I was 7-years-old and my brothers were putting two wetsuits on me to surf in the winter. There were no good wetsuits. There were maybe 15 guys that even surfed year around. I think it really benefited the local surf talent because now when these guys are traveling and they tell people they are from NY and now people are like: "that place goes off! I saw the Quik contest." A couple of years ago most people right off the bat would think you're a kook that can't surf. It will help open more doors for NY surfing and surfers. Quiksilver is still around, I know they are doing something big this year with the Unsound Pro. I will let unsound releace that. Bottom line is the more surf events the better. The youth needs this. © 2013 NYSEA

Why do so many good surfers choose to live in New York? The most common mistake people make about NY surfers is that they think we are all from the city. There is an over hundred mile island here full of surf towns and decades of surf families. The city is that big it shadows the rest of this state. There are beautiful mountains, rural farm areas, woods, Niagara Falls, and yes one of the biggest and best cities in the world. Mostly we didn't choose to live here, rather our parents made NY their home. There are a lot of transplant surfers here even pros from other countries and states. They come to NY and take pictures with there boards in the city and send them to the magazines. I guess thats why the public thinks what they do of NY surfing. At the end of the day it doesn't matter where you're from, we all share the same passion in the ocean. On average how often can you get in the water in NY? You can surf two to three times a week, you just have to be smart about where you surf and when you surf there. You have to be on it. If you have a longboard you can surf almost every day. © 2013 NY Surf Week

How is it being a big wave surfer on the East Coast? Do you have a few bombies hidden away you can sneak off to during the peak of a hurricane swell? Hurricane season is always a breath of fresh air. No matter what size or shape it is, we chase it. We have a couple of spots we have been watching, and when or if it happens, you will be the first to know! No matter who you are there's no better thing then scoring at home. Being a Big wave Surfer from the East Coast is cool, there's not many of us and I am stoked to help carry the flag. I did the Peru event in 2004 and I have been trying to get into another event ever since. Last year, finally, after seven years got a shot again andI got 9th. Because of the slow year last year I have enough (Big Wave World Tour) points where I should be in or near the top of the alternate list in most of the BWWT events. My goal is to do really well supporting the East Coast on that tour. I will never stop chasing, it is what I fell in love with and it is why I am on this Earth. There are guys over 60 still paddling into bombs, so I am amped to know I have over 30 years to chase big waves. As long as God blesses me with life and health. Cheers! Keep up to date with NY Surf Week here. © 2013 Henrique Pinguim