Narragansett Beach best for year 'round surfing

April 15, 2011 - PRLog -- Narragansett Beach is the beach for all seasons. As South County wakens from winter’s frozen grip, the daily walkers reappear, much like crocuses herald the coming of spring.
The warmer months of April and May bring people out for longer periods of time and the hardiest of swimmers.
Summer, of course, finds the white sands covered with beach towels, the air redolent of sunscreen and cocoa butter. Come fall, vacationers hand off their sandy real estate to the dog walkers and locals who revel in the more temperate autumn climate.
A constant at Narragansett Beach, no matter the weather, is the surfers.
On the nastiest of days, when the weather predictions are dire, the surfers come to Narragansett Beach in droves searching for the waves. The weather report predicts a Nor’easter with wind gusts up to 50 mph? Manna from heaven.
“Snowstorms, rainstorms – as long as the waves are breaking, the surfers are out there,” said Lee Wyman of Warm Winds, a Narragansett surf shop. “Narragansett is nice, the whole scene: the seawall, the Towers and the waves break consistently all year. Just the way the beach is, it pulls in all the little swells in the water. There’s not just one little take off spot, there are good waves all along the beach. It’s not the most perfect, but a consistent go-to spot and a great beginner spot.”
In an area lined with over 100 miles of coastline, Narragansett Beach is an iconic South County beach, noted the South County Tourism Council. It is a gorgeous mile-long span bordered by the Sea Wall at the south end, the mouth of the Narrow River at the north.
Rosemary Felicetti of Richmond, RI, is an avid year-round surfer. “The best part is you can surf any time of day even in the summer. And walk to the picnic basket for lunch!”
Even non-surfers are aware of Narragansett’s reputation. “I’m not a surfer myself,” said Kelly Francoeur, also of Richmond, RI. “But a friend who does told us just the other day that the only ‘good’ surf in Rhode Island is in Narragansett.”
Because of the consistency of the waves, Narragansett is a natural for beginning surfers. Warm Winds offers lessons and rents boards right on the beach.
“The 2-3 foot waves are a lot of fun, and it can get up to 4-6 foot,” Wyman said.
Bob Hardman of Narragansett has surfed at the beach for years, and is known in certain circles as “The Surfing Judge.”
“Proximity!” he explained as his main reason for surfing at Narragansett Beach. He then proceeded to add that it is simply a great beach to surf and that his son surfs there as well.
Because Narragansett is a popular beach with everyone, swimmers are a real hazard during the summer months. “Getting hit by a board is a possibility in the overcrowded breaks in Rhode Island,” noted Surfline.com.
Typical of New England, there’s a sunken barge in the surf zone in the center of Narragansett Town Beach, added Surfline.com. The barge is totally submerged except on the lowest tides.
While most beach-goers are partial to sunny summer days at the beach, Wyman prefers the fall, especially when a hurricane is kicking up the winds and waves.
“Fall is the nicest time of the year,” Wyman explained. “The hurricane swells are real nice. After Labor Day it becomes a different town, so the surfers really like it – lot of waves and not too many people.”

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South County Tourism Council is a non-profit organization promoting Charlestown, Coventry, East Greenwich, Exeter, Hopkinton, Narragansett, North Kingstown, Richmond, South Kingstown, West Greenwich, and Westerly as a leisure travel destination.