From Belly Board to Big Waves
William “Bill” Bonzulak was raised in Bay Head and started his love of surfing on a belly board when he was 8-years old.
“The board had a styrofoam core with fiberglass cloth wrap,” said Bill. “It predated the Morey Boggie Boards.”
He remembers being in the fourth grade when his belly board broke.
“The lifeguards used that moment to convince my dad to get me on a real surfboard,” said Bill. “I was a little bit scared because the surfboard was heavy, and had a sharp fin and now I had to “surf” at the surfing beach with all the big guys!”
Chasing Swells: From Jersey to Central America
Besides surfing at his favorite place, Monmouth County, Bill enjoys surfing on the Pacific Ocean side of Central America including El Salvador and Mexico.
“The Pacific has great surf in the summer when New Jersey waves are usually our smallest so it’s a great time to travel,” said Bill. “Nicaragua is my current “ go to” country since Costa Rica become too popular.”
This May, Bill surfed in Nicaragua for the sixth time.
When the calendar turns to Fall, it’s the Jersey Shore waves that beckon him.
“There is nothing better than a great south swell in October/ November in New Jersey,” said Bill. “Usually, conditions can be great, water is still “warm” and hopefully I can find a jetty in Belmar or Spring Lake with just a few other surfers.”
Fifty Years of Waves—And the Biggest Were Right Here
While Bill rides the waves globally, the largest waves he has ever surfed in his 50 years of surfing were found in New Jersey.
“Tropical storms and hurricanes can often generate some great surf conditions with waves in the 10-15’ range (sometimes a touch bigger),” said Bill “I’ve been fortunate enough to have caught a few of these in the 15’ range (well over ceiling high).
“You must start/learn on a longer board,” said Bill. “It is well worth it to also ask a friend that knows how to surf to join you for tips and assistance.”
He said there are dozens of other factors to be aware of in the ocean besides the main goal of just standing up on a board.
Bill says It is paramount to know the best and safest spots on the beach to paddle out; be aware of any rocks, jetties, and rip tides. The winds and tides are also major contributing factors to the swell conditions.
“Surfing can be the most extremely frustrating and complicated sport if you don’t go into it knowing some of the basic fundamentals that a friend can share with you in advance,” said Bill. “With all of that said, if you are fortunate enough to catch wave and surf it , there is no other feeling quite like it in the world. Safe to say you may become addicted to surfing.”
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