If someone had never been to Rockaway Beach, how would you tell them to spend a day?

Rockaway is a super friendly place. It’s in New York, and it feels like that same essence as the city. It’s alive and hustling. I’d grab a coffee and rent a surfboard from Phase in the morning. After surfing, I’d spend the day on the beach with friends listening to music and hanging out. You can either beach uptown, which is a bit more tourist-friendly, or downtown, which is more family-oriented. I’d grab tacos and a fresh watermelon juice at Tacoway Beach for lunch. It’s the perfect beach day. 

How would you describe the overall vibe of Rockaway Beach?

It’s funny because after I travel, I always come back and think to myself - there will never be any place like New York. Rockaway has an incredible culture. It’s diverse and people move there from all over the world, especially people who want to be in New York City but continue surfing. There are also a lot of people who come out to get better at surfing. You see a lot of women and different nationalities in the water, which is really cool. When there’s good waves, nothing can go wrong.

What would be on your music playlist for a beach day in Rockaway Beach?

Some mix of R&B, hip hop, rap – it’s so important to the vibe. Every summer, my friends set up multiple tents on the beach and we play music all day. It’s such a good vibe. Everyone is trying to connect and meet people.

What books would you be reading on a trip to Rockaway Beach?

Barbarian Days – he lived such an insane life. It was really cool to read about someone living that way. Also Surf Is Where You Find It and Brown Girls Dreaming. 

What is your favorite memory of Rockaway Beach?

The first summer in Rockaway that I really started to connect with people was when I met the Laru Beya Collective team. It was still pretty small and intimate at that time and we were literally just beach bums from sunrise to sunset. 

Can you tell me about Laru Beya Collective?

The first year was just me and four other girls. Aidan, the founder, started the collective because his daughter wanted to surf but he couldn’t find any affordable surf schools. He started a surf camp and staffed it from sunrise to sunset. He’d make sure we were hydrated and well-fed throughout the summer. We’d meet new people from different backgrounds every day. It was really cool. At first, it was just kids and instructions getting into the water but it got bigger every summer and eventually adults wanted to be part of it too. Last summer, we serviced over 150 kids and 100 adults. It’s amazing to see how much it has grown. This year, we’re trying to find more kids from within the Rockaway community but we have people coming from as far as Staten Island to take lessons. I’m a senior surf instruction and partnership associate – I love it so much. 

How did you first find out about Rockaway Beach and/or start going? 

I’ve been living here since pre-school. I was actually born in Harlem but then my family went back home to Senegal to raise me. When we moved back, we came here and I’ve been living in the same 10 block radius ever since. Laru Beya helped me fall in love with the community. One summer, I was interning at RISE and decided to take a surf lesson with Locals. I met the Laru Beya team the very next day and have been with them ever since.

How is your capsule inspired by Rockaway Beach?

Everything in Rockaway is colorful. I’ve always thought that the houses look like they’re straight out of a Dr. Seuss book, so I wanted that to come through in the collection. I also wanted to play with texture and patterns. The beautiful orange color we chose reminds me of a perfect summer night sunset. 

What sources of inspiration did you look to when designing your capsule for Rockaway Beach?

In designing my collection, I wanted to make sure there was 1 surf-friendly option and 1 for lounging. Everytime I surf, no matter how cute the suit is, it has to be supportive. Something that doesn’t fit you properly isn’t a good look – not to mention it takes away from the whole session. 

Anything else you want people to know about Rockaway Beach?

Fall in Rockaway is actually one of the best times to visit. We call September “locals summers” because the tourists don’t come out and that’s what the real waves come in. It’s still warm out and with less people, it really feels like you get the area to yourself. It’s great. 

Rockaway Beach Guide

Lunch: 
Super Burrito 
Tacoway Beach 

Coffee: 
Phase 
Claudette’s 
Locals 

Drinks: 
Rockaway Beach Surf Club

Things to do: 
90th St. Beach 
60th St. Beach 
Phase Surf Shop
Breakwater 
Rockaway Beach Skatepark 
Roller Skating
Rockaway Beach Amphitheater