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Hang Ten with Skudin Surf

May 30, 2013 Denise Romano

Photo courtesy of Rich Bolton

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For three generations, Skudin Surf has been spreading their love of surfing with fellow New Yorkers.

Back in the 1960s, my grandparents taught surfing to locals, it wasnt popular back then, explained Cliff Skudin who currently operates the business with his brother, Will. From then, as it got more popular, my parents grew up surfing. When we got older, my mom started doing free lessons and camps for a lot of people.

Skudin Surf has two locations, in Long Beach, Long Island and at Beach 67^th Street in the Rockaways, where they run an official surfing school for all ages and levels of experience.

The Skudin brothers are also professional big wave surfers. Will ranks 16^th in the world and Cliff ranks 40^th on the Big World Wave Tour.

Being from New York and representing the sport on an international level is something special, Skudin said, adding that he competes around the world during the winter months, has a masters degree in physical education and is a certified New York State teacher.

Coming back to our hometown and being around the kids, talking to them about real life things that we learn from all over the world [is a great experience], he said. Being able to give back to our community is very rewarding.

During the summer, Skudin and his three brothers run surfing camps and teach lessons to aspiring surfers. He said that having links to the professional surfing world has its perks.

Myself and my brother being on tour actually allowed us to get big names in surfing to teach at our schools, Skudin said. A few professional surfing coaches from Australia come here and share their knowledge. In Australia, surfing is more advanced than here. To have real experienced people teaching the youth and adultsits something special.

Skudin also does charity work. The family raised $100,000 for Sandy relief efforts and donated wetsuits and surfboards to kids in Long Beach; they also run the Surf For All charity that teaches disabled kids the sport.

Skudin Surf is located at Long Beach Boulevard and Shore Road in Long Beach, N.Y. and can be reached at 516-318-3993. They are also located at Beach 67^th Street and Beach Front Road in Rockaway, N.Y., and can be reached at 855-433-3350. For more information, send an email to [email protected] or visit www.skudinsurf.com.