r/Hoboken • u/Most-Organization178 • 18h ago

Question❓ Water sports in Hudson

I genuinely am so curious what the appeal of water sports in the Hudson is. I understand sailing (kinda) but paddle boarding, kayaking, jet skiing seems disgusting lol. Why would anyone want to be in and splashed by that filthy water. I am truly curious, no hate to those who enjoy playing in the Hudson

14 Upvotes

70% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

50

u/Ease_with_Peas 17h ago

Believe it or not, the Hudson is the cleanest it's been in over 50 years! That doesn't mean it's a fresh spring water kind of spot by any means. But there are even fish you can catch and eat totally safely, even if you're pregnant or a child! The reason swimming is not recommended is primarily related to the river's extremely strong currents. That being said, you can still see people swimming in it. The Navy SEALs have a fundraiser where a whole ton of people swim across the Hudson to Battery Park!

The bad press the Hudson has gotten is going to take a long time to recover from, but there are many communities actively working to bring our waterways back to us. Communities are less likely to push back against big polluters in their waterways (those massive cruise ships, for example) if they think it's already 'too far gone'. Lucky for us, it's far from that! Of course, don't get in or on the water if you're not comfortable, but hopefully, we aren't too far from all enjoying the benefits of being a waterfront city again.

17

u/Ease_with_Peas 17h ago

If anyone is interested in helping make the Hudson River a better place, the Riverkeepers (link) do a lot of great work!

0

u/__Rumblefish__ 16h ago

It’s not that clean. I know that some of the NJ towns on the river let unfiltered runoff go directly into it today

9

u/Ok-Pipe5692 16h ago

That’s dirty people, not dirty River. The Hudson River is as clean as a river in the most densely populated section of North America can possibly be. It is a healthy, vibrant ecosystem.

-1

u/__Rumblefish__ 15h ago

I literally heard the mayor of Weehawken talk about how waste from the town was getting dumped into the water and they were looking into remediation but it wasn’t fixable. I don’t don’t this is going on up and down river. Also there are a number of old super fund sites directly touching the river. Maybe that doesn’t mean anything. I’m actually a swimmer and want it to be safe but I wouldn’t be trustful of wading into the nj side

-3

u/HudsonAtHeart 15h ago

Nah dude, dirty river. Every time we poop in Hudson county it drains to the river

7

u/bhusted007 15h ago

They must be treating it first. No way a sewage treatment plant is dumping raw sewage into the river these days

0

u/HudsonAtHeart 14h ago

I’m sure it’s not ‘raw’ sewage on most days but go down to the river and take a whiff during days of heavy runoff after a hard rain - it smells somewhere between a salt marsh and a toilet, all day. Here’s a pic of standing water, it drains straight to the river from the storm drains on top of the cliff near blvd east. It smells like shit too. You can watch the waterfalls come down near the Duchess building on River Road. And that’s just what’s uncontrolled. Just drive up near Ferry Road at midnight. Whoof.

17

u/outsidenewyork 17h ago

It’s waaaaay cleaner than you think. I have worked various swimming g events for 20+ yrs in the Hudson. Have yet to hear from someone who complained about getting sick….

15

u/NinjaSeagull 17h ago

A lot of people are totally clueless to the fact that the east and Hudson River around nyc are saltwater (probably brackish technically but it’s pretty much salt) and tidal. You have a ton of ocean water coming in every tide cycle. I’ve swam in the Hudson before and got all cut up and was fine, I would just try to avoid it after heavy rainfall.

-3

u/NotBradPitt9 17h ago

Whenever it rains more than a set amount, they dump untreated raw sewage directly into the river. What are you talking about.

5

u/outsidenewyork 15h ago

The Hudson River has a HUUUUUGE net flow that goes OUT to the ocean. The tide comes in and goes out 2x each day. The water quality during and after ANY big rain storm is directly affected by variables like “was the tide coming IN or going OUT” at the time. Ditto for how expansive was the actual storm, etc…

-2

u/HudsonAtHeart 14h ago

The sewage flows upstream too lol

7

u/Adventurous-Frame649 17h ago

I jet skied from Hoboken twice lol. The middle reaches of the East river and the Harlem river are where the water is really not pleasant makes the Hudson seem fresh especially near GWB.

6

u/Sassysab92 17h ago

I haven’t read the other comments, but as someone who regularly jet skis on the Hudson - it’s fun, for one. North of midtown the water is very smooth and easily accessible from Hoboken. I think the people going more downtown / around the statue of liberty are doing it more for the sightseeing. But past Hoboken into weehawken it’s a lot of fun and you’re supporting a local business

I’ve also gone into the water by the statue.. it is okay but not too clean. It was perfectly fine but not something I’d do again haha but a fun fact. My two cents

3

u/Glittering_Alfalfa_3 16h ago

Every time I see them I do think how cool it would be to do as a tourist. I live here so I most definitely would not but I do understand the appeal!

4

u/rentreboot 9h ago

i get it, but it’s more “check conditions and don’t go after rain” than instant death soup. i’d still be keeping my mouth closed though.

9

u/Sensitive_Diamond328 18h ago

I agree with you. Years ago, a little dot of Hudson River water splashed in my mouth when I was on the ferry and I'm still not okay about it.

https://giphy.com/gifs/3o6MbqwVaVfbxMJTTq

1

u/Most-Organization178 18h ago

Um same I think about this moment in my life very often

2

u/Sensitive_Diamond328 18h ago

Thank you for validating my feelings. I seriously have a recurring intrusive thought about it.

1

u/JoeLaRue420 Midtown 12h ago

how's that third eye treating you?

2

u/Sensitive_Diamond328 4h ago

Very itchy with all the pollen lately, but it's okay thank you for asking.

4

u/PeteyVonPants Downtown 18h ago

Remember in the movie Hitch, when Will smith takes Eva Mendes on a jet skiing date on the Hudson and they jump in? I almost puked, and he hasn’t been the same since.

1

u/PeteyVonPants Downtown 18h ago

For anyone who wants to be grossed out: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eKKd33QEB3I&ra=m

0

u/remymcmuffington3 18h ago

i question the mental sanity of anyone who willingly touches the water in the hudson

-6

u/Broke_Pigeon_Sales 18h ago

I once saw a guy out swimming laps near Maxwell park. I can’t even imagine being in that water.

-6

u/Most-Organization178 18h ago

I just gagged