Massachusetts: NAUSET LIGHT

Like a lot of spots, Nauset Light can be absolutely epic when it’s on. A punchy beach break that loves a nice Noreaster during the short window after the winds clean things up or a long period hurricane swell from the SE. The high dunes also provide a little protection when the southwest winds are howling and beating things down to the south. Finding that little pocket can make all the difference in the winter when a stiff offshore can drop the wind chill to well below zero. It’s always a gamble during the summer when it’s often black-balled out front until the guards go off duty, but on the better swells the lifeguards often allow surfing. The Light’s got all kinds of moods; more times than not it’s either flat or victory at sea, but when it’s big, groomed and bowly it can rival Hossegor or any other top-notch beachie, with shifting, spitting peaks up and down the beach.  photo: csmonitor.com