Surf: General: A very consistent, very legit, very popular Delmarva beachbreak assisted by some bathymetry-stroking jetties, 8th Street can offer the same heaving, dumping, spitting lefthand tube riding experience as other Ocean City spots on NE swells — along with the same maddening currents, paddle-out denials, and boardwalk peanut galleries. And it’s becoming an increasingly popular destination for surgical strikes during hurricane season. That’s because Ocean City in general boasts a rather wide swell window — accommodating everything from NE to straight S energy — and 8th Street in particular can handle a bit more N wind than some nearby spots. It usually prefers lower tides, depending on what the sand’s doing. Tides: Low to mid tide Size: Head high-overhead+ Wind: West Swell: S, SE, NE Bottom: Sand Paddling: Not bad but can be some work on bigger south swells. Spot Rating: Shifty peaks -- when the sand is right it can get good. Access: Easy in off-season, pay during summer. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Can be pretty tight, especially in the summer with the surfing beaches. Local Vibe: Mellow. Environment: Not too bad. Hazards: Finding parking. Season: Storm dependent: tropical cyclones in the late summer and fall with frontal activity and nor'easters in the late fall and winter.