A swell time: Why this Rhode Island surf scene more than rivals the West Coast

Think Cali holds nan monopoly connected surfing successful nan continental US? Kook, please.

“California surfing is garbage,” says Peter Panagiotis, pointing to nan Golden State’s hyper-crowded waters and beaches pinch their overly rude surfer dude ‘tudes.

His aka is Peter Pan — a sobriquet very apt for nan young-at-heart 75-year-old, who started astatine 13, and is still shredding nan breakers of Narragansett, RI, conscionable 30 miles owed southbound of Providence, for illustration a wave-wizarding wunderkind.

He has akin shivving shares connected Hawaii, Huntington Beach, Florida, moreover France, having been astir a tad. He besides believes making surfing an Olympic athletics was nan incorrect move. “It seems little cool, aforesaid pinch snowboarding and skateboarding.”

Pan useful astatine nan formation town’s storied Narragansett Surf and Skate shop which has collaborated pinch likes of Bic Sports (yes, they of nan pen and lighters!) among others, existing successful various forms, names and places astir nan authorities since 1962. It’s besides wherever he operates his Peter Pan Surfing and SUP Academy.

Though calved astatine Manhattan Women’s Hospital successful NYC, he and his fam moved to Providence aft conscionable six months.

The now-septuagenarian was a good arts awesome astatine nan University of Rhode Island, became an creation head astatine respective mags successful NYC including Travel + Leisure, Car and Driver, Scholastic Magazine and Warner Communications successful Manhattan during nan “Mad Men” era earlier becoming Narragansett’s famed surf sensei “where this 1½-mile agelong is nan champion spot to study connected nan full East Coast.” (With 2nd spot seemingly going to Long Beach, NY, and nan Rockaways).

But Pan and his chap surfing gurus, including his likewise talented girl Tricia (there’s 1 coach for each 5 studious groms who, seldom local, are from New York, Connecticut and beyond) are not for nan faint of heart: “Surfing is simply a title for a–holes; reliable guys and gals. Out present it’s great, it’s truthful empty, I often get to beryllium nan only a–hole. It’s a greedy and selfish athletics … and I springiness reliable emotion connected Day One.”

But it’s besides fantastically nosy and worthy nan intelligence and beingness thrashing.

If you’re present looking for Ankle-slop City, you’ve floated into nan incorrect place. These waves, though beginner-friendly, mean business, ranging from 2 to 3 feet and h2o temps dipping to 38 degrees successful nan wintertime (so going now, pending hurricanes, is advised).

But champion of all, you won’t meet-n-greet pinch immoderate manhunting, dentally blessed sharks for illustration successful Stinson Beach, Calif., aliases those swarming Cape Cod “who emotion nan sensation of nan Mass-holes who surf up there,” Pan ribs.

So, zip up your heavy-duty, Pan-approved O’Neill afloat wetsuit — you’ll request it, it’s nippy successful that portion — and double your pleasure, double your consonants successful our favourite surf city: Narragansett.

Ten hangouts for hanging 10

• Board of education

Warm Winds

This aquatic academy for surf-aspirants offers group and backstage lessons for each accomplishment levels, including rentals, and it’s conveniently located correct by Narragansett Town. Need to tick your do-gooder container this summer? They person an ecological bent by conserving resources and preventing contamination and discarded successful their regular business ops.

Rhody Surf

This astir oxymoronically named oversea seminary successful adjacent Newport specializes successful beginner lessons, kids’ camps and surf and yoga retreats for woo-woo thalassophiles. They connection backstage surf and SUP lessons and committee rentals.

Water Brothers

In bid to wipeout pinch class, you person to look nan part. Start pinch nan board. This fraternally named WB company, besides successful Newport, doesn’t make “Bugs Bunny” cartoons. Established successful 1971 by wavester-n-skatester Sid Abbruzzi, it’s a legendary surf shop pinch a attraction connected “shape-your-own” committee experiences by assignment only.

Narragansett Surf and Skate

Become chairperson of nan committee aft browsing each of nan world’s champion (it’s nan longest-running Hobie trader connected nan East Coast) astatine this over-half-a-century-old forementioned outpost, schoolhouse and one-time squad sponsor of champions.

But, arsenic Pan advises, skip utilizing Mr. Zog’s Sex Wax, nary matter really rizz its name, and spell for Wax Mat alternatively for moreover little slippage. Its lessons are besides winter-friendly.

• Chow-a-bunga

Coast Guard House

This fine-dining constitution specializing successful section seafood is group wrong a real, historical seashore defender location built successful 1940 which hasn’t aged a spot (spiritually, anyway). With its stellar views of nan Pier Districts’ historical Narragansett Bay, we genuinely convey it for its service.

Matunuck Oyster Bar

This surfer fave successful next-door South Kingston burned down earlier this twelvemonth (no, not by nan Providence mob . . . we think), but you tin now eat location again al fresco nether a elephantine shelter astatine nan Matunuck Marina — and its bivalve-heavy, pond-to-table paper is fittingly fire.

Crazy Burger Café

Featured connected “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” this eclectic surfer associated is celebrated for its $16 Whassupy Burger (beef coated pinch sesame-fennel, wasabi rub, topped pinch brie and bulb rings, each connected an ancient atom bun pinch a broadside of wasabi-chipotle mayo). Money capable for Guy Fieri? Then it’s money capable for us.

George’s of Galilee

This locally owned resto-bar sits adjacent to 1 of nan main ports wherever ferries vessel locals and visiting aliens alike betwixt nan mainland and Block Island. The proprietor is besides a surf cat, arsenic are galore of his patrons.

• Gnarly grinders

Cool Beans Café

The sanction is simply a small 2000-and-late, but this beachside staple for meal burritos, açaí bowls (TikTok it) and acold brew, cleanable for pre- aliases post-surf fuel, ne'er goes retired of style.

Fuel Coffee Bar

When it comes to gulping down foam, nan water is simply a no-no — but from here, it’s a yes-yes acknowledgment to java from Rhody Roasters.