Longtime Southampton resident Margaret Donohoe sold her hardcore surf shop Sunrise to Sunset (36 Hill St., Southampton, 631-283-2929), a business she opened with her late husband back in 1978, to Flying Point Surf eight years ago. While she’s happy to be free from the responsibility of owning a brick-and-mortar in the Hamptons, Donohoe, who still runs the shop’s day-to-day operations, notes, “I’m old school. My store was always old school. I had my own clientele, and I said [to Flying Point], in order to keep them, we have to keep it this way. We can bring in stuff to dabble and try, which we do, but for the most part, it’s surf brands only.”
From myriad surf gear to wake, paddle and boogie boards, along with nearly every type of wetsuit, life jacket and beachgoing accessory imaginable, Sunrise to Sunset is a go-to for all your fun-on-the-water needs.
1. Channel Islands surfboard, starts at $699 Hand-shaped and manufactured in California since 1969, these boards come in a range of sizes. They’re available in several materials, too, like a traditional polyurethane foam core with a polyester resin coating, a fiber-based Spine-Tek (for optimal flex and performance) and the lighter, eco-friendly X-Lite Epoxy, developed in collaboration with Torq Epoxy.
(Photos by Doug Young)
2. O’Neill “Hyperfreak Series” wetsuit, starts at $299 Renowned for being exceptionally lightweight and flexible, these wetsuits use advanced neoprene (a synthetic rubber that’s far less sensitive to temperature changes) technology, and boast high-quality seam construction that ensures durability. “It’s so comfortable and stretchy,” Donohoe says.
3. Mr. Zog’s sex wax, $3.50
Used to create better grip between your feet and the deck of the board, this brand utilizes paraffin wax, which is biodegradable, nontoxic and almost as crucial to the sport as the surfboard itself.
4. Xcel hooded towel, starts at $69.99 Ditch the traditional beach towel and opt for this heavyweight 100% cotton looped terry, which offers comfortable coverage while helping to speed up the drying process.
(Photos by Doug Young)
5. Stearns life vest, starts at $39.99 The first company to manufacture high-quality, wearable outdoor gear that didn’t resemble a bulky orange block, these easy-fitting and United States Coast Guard-approved personal floatation devices from Stearns are available in a range of colors and sizes, “from infant up to double x,” Donohoe says.
6. Creatures of Leisure “Reliance” leash, starts at $29
A staple company for surfing hardware and accessories since the 1970s, these Creatures of Leisure leashes range from five to 12 feet long and are made from high-grade TPU cord that’s resistant to abrasion and tearing. Lightweight, durable and outfitted with molded Velcro, they feature a nonslip cuff, plus a surefire leash release for when you need to bail on your board.
