Tony Caramanico | Montauk Surf Journals

A window into the life of a pioneering figure in the proliferation of East Coast surf culture since the 1960s

Tony Caramanico has lived many lives bound by a singular passion. A competitive surfer, TV producer, surf shop owner, astute traveler, apprentice and artist, few have experienced more phases of surfing’s development than Caramanico. Unlike more established sports, surfing’s pop cultural adoption began largely in the ’50s and ’60s; many of those who have played a key role in its cultural ascension, such as Caramanico, are still around to impart their wisdom.
This one-of-a-kind book chronicles Caramanico’s life in surf, presenting a considered selection from his thousands of journal entries. These entries provide an intimate purview into the day-to-day life of a traveling surfer in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, highlighting his work with the late photographer Peter Beard, from his experience living on Beard’s compound to the direct ties between their artistic practices. Punctuating Caramanico’s journal entries are photos of his highly lauded, 100-plus-piece surfboard collection, along with introductions and interviews conducted by LA-based editor Zack Raffin. Melding collage work, stream-of-consciousness writing and a plethora of surf/pop cultural references, Caramanico’s journals paint an intricate picture of freedom, joy and his undying passion for a surfing life.
Tony Caramanico (born 1950) caught his first wave in 1963 at his native Gilgo Beach, New York. Tony’s 60 years of surfing have spanned the breadth of the sport itself. Acutely aware of his exuberant existence, Tony began chronicling his daily life via his unique take on journaling in the early ’80s. After meeting renowned artist Peter Beard in Montauk, New York, Caramanico was invited to live and apprentice with Beard, using this time to guide his artistic process.