Cold fall and winter months bring us the best sports weather of the year here on the east coast. The tail end of hurricane season always brings exceptional surfing and fishing to beaches in the Northeast.
The best part? It usually seems like a well-kept secret, with empty beaches as far as the eye can see.
This year, however, the Jersey Shore is under the national spotlight, and not for the best of reasons.
Just last week, the best waves of the year came through as a result of Hurricane Ida, but the storm didn't just send over a couple of swells. Ida also caused more damage to property and dunes in coastal New Jersey than any storm in decades.
Depending on the size of the town or city, most municipalities on the Jersey Shore are reporting between $5 and 30 million damage. In some communities, the damage was primarily to privately-owned homes on the beach, but towns like Seaside Heights saw damage to dunes and access ramps.
On this section of the Seaside Heights boardwalk, so much sand blew up onto the walkway that a metal handrail collapsed.
Beaches that allow public access will receive federal funding from FEMA to repair their shorelines, but the towns who allow private homeowners to restrict beach access around their houses may be out to dry if they don't shape up and provide proper access to their beaches.
If a compromise isn't made, the future of towns like Long Beach Island could be totally washed out.
Some towns by the shore have reported more damage from Ida than any other storm in history!
Storm damage isn't the only threat to seaside living as we know it. MTV is premiering a reality TV show called Jersey Shore this week (Dec. 3) that some locals fear could be just as damaging.
The show is touted by its creators to feature some of the "craziest guidos" imaginable, but the nationwide Italian-American organization UNICO has asked MTV to call the whole thing off.
The show is touted by its creators to feature some of the "craziest guidos" imaginable, but the nationwide Italian-American organization UNICO has asked MTV to call the whole thing off.
"Jersey Shore" Trailer
Locals worry that the show will attract the nation's least desirable tourists, those who have no respect for the wildlife, the beaches or the local laws.
Joseph Del Rasso, president of the National Italian American Foundation, also spoke against the show, saying "We find this program alarming in that it attempts to make a direct connection between 'guido culture' and Italian-American identity".
Joseph Del Rasso, president of the National Italian American Foundation, also spoke against the show, saying "We find this program alarming in that it attempts to make a direct connection between 'guido culture' and Italian-American identity".
For many young people there is heated debate over the relationship between the 'Guido' sub-culture which has exploded in recent years and the much older Italian-American community. To some, the term is a racial epithet, and to others, a word which simply refers to popular fashions and lifestyles.
Will this bar fill up with young people imitating the stars of MTV's 'Jersey Shore' reality show come summertime?
Either way, it's tough to deny that Jersey Shore highlights the absolute worst elements to be found both in its Italian-American stars and the shore towns that they visit. Of course, that only matters if there are still beaches to visit this summer, right?
Clearwater Foundation and Surfrider Foundation both organize activist projects aimed at preserving safety, cleanliness, access, and beauty in the New York/New Jersey area, which is extra important this season. Eroded beaches are less safe to swim around because they drop off steeply and create unpredicatable currents.
So check those links out, and see how you can get involved (aside from watching Jersey Shore on MTV and NOT acting like the people you onscreen).
