When most people think of New York, surfing and waves are usually the last thing that comes to mind. New York conjures up images of the Big Apple, Broadway, skyscapers and intense, money driven people. Likewise Long Island, the cities suburb, brings to mind white picket fences, 2.5 children, Joey Buttafuco and Gino the Ginny. Fire Island, that skinny strip of land just south of Long Island usually is associated with Gay pride, speedos and rich Manhattanites escaping for the weekend. Thankfully there is another story to be told about this place. One of complete freedom, connection to nature and some world-class surf too boot.
The history of Fire Island is long and filled with twists. To the Native Americans it was most likely a special place where all of natures bounty could be found at differnet times of the year. Most fisherman know of the fall striped bass migration along the ocean beaches of Fire Island, well imagine how spectacular the bass blitz's must have been back then. Wild plants and animals were plentiful. I can only imagine how these indigenous Long Islanders viewed this place but often when I'm alone on these beaches I can almost understand what they must have felt. A sacred place it is.
When the whites came to this area, they too knew how special Fire Island was. Most of the early alien whites were fisherman and/or made a living off of the water. Some did so honestly while others prefered to be decievers. Stories of pirates so ruthless that even the most notorious pirates of the day tried to avoid the area exist. The early whalers also lite fires to help the ships navigate and boil down whale blubber to oil. This is how the name Fire Island may have come from: Pirates lighting fires on the beach to draw lost ships close to shore so they could be ransacked and looted. Others believe the name is a play on the Dutch word "Fieve" or "Feir" which mean the numbers 5 and 4. Thase words were used by Dutch fisherman to describe the number of Islands around the inlet (which have since all but dissappeared except for 2). Another version is that the natives named it after the rashes they got from all the poison ivy they brushed up against there. Whatever the case Fire Island is unique. A place that is less than a hours drive from New York City, yet could not be further from it as far as lifestyle, culture and beauty. I hope to share this side of the story with you...
