The New York City Chapter scored a huge victory with the help of Rockaway Beach locals when the NY City Parks Department dedicated a second legal surfing beach in Rockaway on Friday.

NYC Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe and Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer were on hand to officially designate the new beach for surfing. Chapter activists Erik Johnson, Chris Wade, Kui Nakamura, and Alexi Remnek and others organized a beach clean up before the press conference, and then they taught the Parks Commissioner how to surf!

Yes, this is the NYC Parks Commissioner getting instruction and getting up on his first wave!

Special thanks to Boarders Surf Shop, NYNJSurf.com, and everyone in the community who helped work with the decision makers to establish this second surfing beach. The first designated surfing beach in New York City was established over two years ago.