SKUDIN
Will and Cliff Skudin are local legends. Will was the first East
Coaster to be nominated for a World Surf League Big Wave
Award for best performance. Plus, he is on record for having
ridden one of the biggest and most critical waves ever at Nazare,
a surfing community in Portugal. Meanwhile, Cliff is a formally
nationally ranked lifeguard who pulled three drowning teenage
boys to safety off Long Beach, Long Island, over Memorial
Day Weekend in 2012. According to reports, he paddled into the
water on his surfboard to grab one boy about 50 yards from shore
and then got the other two lads about 100 yards out. The Skudin
brothers provide a wide variety of lessons and run surf camps
in Rockaway, various Long Beach locations and Puerto Rico.
Check them out at Beach 67th Street and Beach Front Road and
www.skudinsurf.com.
CONATUS
In 17th century European philosophy, the word “conatus” (Kuhnah
tus) refers to the will to live and the power of mind, body
and spirit. Conatus Surf Club founder and lead instructor Dion
Mattison, a former pro surfer, was born on a sailboat. He started
surfing at age one. His philosophy is to teach students about the
ocean and the sand, not to push them into anything. In fact, his
initial classes focus on basics like paddling and maneuvering.
There’s a clubhouse/co-work facility on 68th Street on the
bayside and www.conatussurfclub.com.
36 QUEENS IN YOUR POCKET • www.its inqueens .com
Skudin
/www.skudinsurf.com
/www.conatussurfclub.com
/www.its
/www.skudinsurf.com
/www.conatussurfclub.com
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