Written By: Jason Belsky
After nearly eight months away, I found myself back at the American Dream Mall, stepping into familiar waters—literally. If you’ve never been, American Dream isn’t just a mall; it’s an experience. Located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, this massive complex is more than just shopping—it’s packed with attractions like Nickelodeon Universe Amusement Park, Big Snow an indoor ski slope, Angry Birds Mini Golf, and, of course, the DreamWorks Water Park, home to North America’s largest indoor wave pool.
Tucked inside this aquatic paradise is where Skudin Surf runs its indoor surf sessions, transforming the pool into a wave-riding playground. The space itself is surreal—towering glass ceilings, warm water, and perfectly generated waves rolling through the pool, all under the watchful eye of DreamWorks characters perched on water slides above. It’s the closest thing to an endless summer on the East Coast, no matter the season outside.
Walking in, the sound of waves crashing and the familiar energy of the place instantly reignited that surf stoke. But what made it even better was reuniting with Cliff Skudin. I hadn’t seen him since the end of summer, so catching up was long overdue.
Beyond Cliff, the lineup was stacked with some of Skudin’s advanced grom squad — Charlie Gallo, Lia Caracciolo, Fiona Sorensen, Mason Bera, Doyle Shaffer just to name a few. Watching their progression over the past few years is crazy —stronger turns, more confidence, and that fire in their eyes that only comes from chasing waves.
After soaking it all in — waves being caught, conversations flowing, and the indoor surf scene thriving—it was time to head home. But the stoke was definitely reignited. Eight months was too long… might have to make this a regular thing again.
Gear Used
Camera: Sony a9i
Seafrogs Dive Housing
Links for all of Jay’s commonly used photo gear!
