What to Expect Summer 2026
The summer of 2026 will be our sixth summer teaching surf lessons in the Hamptons as Legend Surf Co, and we couldn’t be more psyched. If you are one of the legends who continues to return summer after summer, welcome back. If you are just discovering us, keep reading to plant the seed for the dream that you could live with us this upcoming summer, and hopefully, for many after that.
Where We Operate
We run surf lessons at any beach, from Wainscott in the west, to Montauk Point in the east, and everywhere in between. With that said, there are a few particular spots in each zone where we encourage our students to surf, as these locations consistently deliver the best conditions.
Surf Lessons in East Hampton
Whether you live in East Hampton and want to surf close to home, or are traveling from Bridgehampton, Southampton, or Amagansett and would like to ride better waves, the jetties around Georgica Beach and Wainscott (Town Line Beach is the most accessible option from the Wainscott side) are most likely the best option for you. The Georgica jetties provide the most consistent and dependable waves, for both beginners and advanced surfers alike, of any location between Montauk and Long Beach (Nassau County). The jetties—rocky outcroppings that were built to protect against beach erosion—interrupt the natural sand flow of the long straight beaches of the Hamptons. This leads to the buildup of sand on one side of the jetty or the other (depending on which direction the swell is predominantly coming from), which creates a contrast in depth of the ocean floor. That contrast, just as is for any other good surf break around the world, is what leads to perfect waves.
When the waves are small, the Georgica jetties provide a mellow left or right that is perfect for learning how to surf; long waves that break over nothing but sand and don’t pull in the crowd that Ditch Plains often does (this has less to do with wave quality, and more to do with the commercialized hype that Ditch Plains receives as a “surf Mecca”—when Georgica is good, it’s as good, if not better, than Ditch). When the waves get bigger, the sandbank turns into a high-quality performance wave, offering fast walls, along with arguably the best barrel in eastern Long Island. This is good for advanced surfers looking to get barreled or work on their turns, as well as intermediates who want to simply refine their skills in holding a rail and generating down-the-line speed. If you are located anywhere in Suffolk County, the jetties between Georgica and Wainscott are well worth the drive.
Surf Lessons in Amagansett
Amagansett does not get the same recognition, locally or abroad, as Montauk, or even East Hampton, do as surf destinations. That said, the sandbanks in Amagansett—particularly on the Napeague stretch—have a knack for being more durable than those of the rest of the Hamptons. While less obvious than Georgica or Ditch, there can be really fun waves to ride almost all summer—particularly when the swell is smaller (which during summer is often the case).
The spread-out nature of the sandbars in Amagansett make crowds virtually nonexistent—which means the perfect setting for surf lessons if you are a beginner, or want to take group surf lessons. If you live in Amagansett and don’t want to drive more than 20 minutes to the east or west, we will teach you right in your home zone, with the stretch of sand in front of the White Sands Hotel often being our beach of choice for surf lessons.
Surf Lessons in Montauk
Montauk is widely known as one of the best surf destinations on the east coast of the United States. And there is good reason why. At the far east end of Long Island, the nature of the coastline changes from straight sandy beach to cobblestone coves. This creates contrasts on the ocean floor (once again—contrasts!) that lead to great pointbreaks (a specific type of surf break where a wave breaks directly following the curvature of the coastline, allowing for longer rides)—a relative rarity on the east coast.
There is a reason why Ditch Plains has become a surf lesson Mecca—there are rideable waves almost every day of the year at Ditch, thanks to the gently sloping cobblestone bottom. The waves at Ditch are almost always soft, and almost always long. This caters perfectly to beginner surf lessons, as well as surfers who are looking to refine their longboarding skills. Even when the swell gets bigger, there is almost always a wave to ride at Ditch Plains for even the newest of surfers.
For more advanced surfers, Montauk is the best place to surf when the swell gets truly big (usually 2–5 days throughout the summer). During a large southeast groundswell, when the waves are too big for the rest of Long Island, we love to coach advanced surfers in the coves of Camp Hero and Montauk Point State Parks. These coves provide the curvature for large waves to break in clean lines, while also allowing for a channel that makes them accessible.
If you would like to take surf lessons in Montauk on a big day and push your limits, we will give you an unforgettable experience in world-class pointbreaks, right in the shadow of the idyllic Montauk Lighthouse.
Whether you are looking for group or private lessons, beginner or advanced, at Legend Surf Co we will show you the best waves that Long Island has to offer, and bring a customized and unforgettable experience.
Let’s go surf!
