On a bright sunny day at Gilgo Beach in 1963, a 13 year old Tony Caramonico remembers paddling out and catching the white water as the wave broke behind him. The unparalleled sensation of riding his first wave ushered in a sense of purpose and destiny. Surfing would be his North Star. A lot of people were surfers at the time and life got in the way for many of them. Tony was damn hell sure  life would not get in his way.  What would follow is a life filled with enough adventure and incredible waves to fill 10 lifetimes. 

Surfing has been his singular obsession for over 60 years. Tony is a legend among legends. An East Coast Hall of Famer, a 2x Greg Noll Da bull invitational champion, and became a pro surfer when others his age were giving up surfing.

Beyond his surfing, Tony kept journals with collages, stories, and scraps for every day for decades. These creations have become a kaleidoscopic chronicle of his search for the perfect wave, from Montauk to Hawaii, South Africa to the Caribbean, and Indonesia to Japan. Eventually Tony transitioned to a respected artist with numerous shows and prints of his work. 

His latest book by Damiani, 'Montauk Surf Journals' presents a stunning selection of Tony’s art representing his 60 years in and around surfing. The book takes readers on Tony’s journey through surfing as the world progresses through four decades of immense change. From his first wave in 1963, to living and working with Peter Beard at his home in Montauk, and endless days of perfect waves, Tony's unique, colorful visions shine through on the page.
We are incredibly stoked to have Tony on as our guest for this episode of the Swell Season Surf Podcast. 

To Purchase Tony's Book, Montauk Surf Journals, go to: www.damianibooks.com
You can Follow Tony Caramanico on Instagram @TCMontauk


The Swell Season Surf Podcast is recorded by The NewsStand Studio at Rockefeller Center in the heart of Manhattan and is distributed by The Swell Season Surf Radio Network. 
For more information, you can follow @swellseasonsurfradio on Instagram or go to our website: www.swellseasonsurf.com 

Music: 
Song: Almost Cut My Hair
Artist: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Album: Deja Vu