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Surfing began at Long Sands Beach in York, Maine in the early 1960s, with the establishment of the York Beach Surf Club in 1963 by L.F. “Sonny” Perkins. Sonny founded the York Beach Surf Club to connect local surfers and compete in contests along the East Coast. Perkins was one of the first in Maine to use a fiberglass surfboard and was instrumental in introducing surf culture to the area during that time.
Long Sands Beach became one of the first major surfing destinations on the East Coast. From 1964 to 1970, the sport saw significant growth in the region, and Long Sands became a well-known surf spot
Surfing continues to this day, bolstered by surf shops and surfing lessons in York and surfers can be seen on every day of the year, in all manner of weather, wearing wetsuits and braving the elements.
