AA's "Fat Flier" Got Whole Row
Ashley Dupre On Tiger Woods' Babes: "At Least I Kept My Mouth Shut"
Same-Sex Marriage Blame Game Aims at Paterson, Addabbo
Wife Tries To Abort And Poison Husband's Lovechild
Rihanna's Random Airport Search
Hurricane Bill washed out one of the last weekends of the summer for most beachgoers after state parks officials closed down most beaches due to the dangerous conditions brought on by effects of the storm. But when surfers got wind of the fact that sea was foaming like a bottle of beer, they simply told the State Parks Department, "The waves are comin', but we ain't got no fear." Officials said that 2,000 surfers, some from as far as California, showed up at Montauk—the most ever counted out there. And one Long Beach manager told Newsday, "You're supposed to have a pass. The surfers refuse to come out of the water when they're waved in to check their beach passes."
The surfers all got by unscathed despite the dangerous conditions, but the not all swimmers could handle the tides on their own. The Post talks to a lifeguard in the Hamptons who had to go into the water to help pull out illusionist David Blaine and some of his friends. The lifeguard said, "They were warned not to go in because of the hurricane surf conditions,. It looked like they needed help. It looked like they got sucked out and one of them was panicking." Blaine and his friends were apparently joking that the lifeguards certainly "earned their pay" today once they were safe on the sand, likely scoffing at the rescuers that he once lived inside a bubble for an entire week—arguably his entire life.
And in Coney Island, cops had to grab a 72-year-old man who dared to head in the water and then began struggling. One of the rescuing officers told the News, "We could see the waves crashing behind him. They were the strongest I've ever seen. They knocked me down. He was disoriented and bleeding from his leg. All I was thinking was, 'I have to save him.' It was a little scary."
Officials said that Jones Beach suffered the worst flooding since Hurricane Gloria in 1985 and may keep the golf course out there closed for the rest of the season. City beaches remain closed as Bill continues to pass.
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
people underestimate the power of water.
Considering the amount of warning everyone got, anyone who went into the water intentionally should have been left to their own devices. Why should lifeguards et al risk their lives for flagrant dumbasses?
It's all about the male macho. Did any women try to go into the water? Seems like the people only mention males thinking they're all macho and strong.
There were a couple of female surfers out on Sunday.
I bet the lifeguard has second thoughts about saving blaine.
I know we sure do.
I was in Fire Island, went in the water Friday and Saturday. I've spent the past 3 summers out there, but only this summer am I finally in good shape for the first time in a few years. I would not have gone in had I felt physically unprepared, and it was quite the adventure that has left me craving more battles with the sea.
The one thing I did notice is that despite the rip tide being ridiculously strong, the waves were stronger and everyone just kept getting washed back up on the beach due to getting thrown by the waves. Again, I'm neither an expert nor daredevil, but they were physically grueling episodes in which one needed to be prepared for a serious beating/workout.
Unfortunately the sand dunes did not fare so well, hope the beach doesn't suffer too much in the long run.
As a surfer and open water swimmer I gotta say there were points this weekend when I stayed out. Didn't even get my toes wet.
But Sunday! It was amazing, and yes dangerous. I was at a beach with no lifeguards. But I would have never expected one to come after me. No one could have saved us, not with out a jet ski.
Never go in alone and dont' expect anyone to save you but Mr Commonsense. As soon as you think you might be tired, get out.
I am a man, so as for macho, I can only speak for myself. I love the ocean because is scares me, makes me feel small and weak and inferior. I love that it is unforgiving and powerful beyond imagination. Not very macho. Also plenty of woman surf and better than me.
Should have left Blaine in the water. If he's half as good as he claims, he could have escaped by himself and added to his reputation.
Female. Went into the ocean at Fire Island with my female friend (to swim, not surf) on Friday. Only stayed out for 10 minutes or so, because the second I got past the break I knew it was going to be an effort to get back in. Spent the whole time I was out there keeping above the waves.
Went in up to my knees (which sometimes rose up to my chin) on Saturday - played "stand upright despite the undertow" for an hour. Would have attempted going in on Sunday, but it seemed a poor idea since I was out late Saturday night.
It was crazy - I'll probably never do that in waters so rough again ... but it was fun.