Of the hundreds of surfers in Rhode Island, as few as a dozen may brave the icy waters this week, Panagiotis said. If the waves are big, many more may test themselves. Nor'easters tend to generate huge surf for several days after storms move out to sea. In Newport, waves grew between 5 feet and 6 feet high Monday, crashing one after the other along the famed Cliff Walk. This is the kind of thing they wait for.
Surfers don full-body wet suits with hoods, boots and gloves before heading out.
Some slather petroleum jelly on their faces for extra protection. Others skip work. Authorities threw cold water on the surfers' plans. But Panagiotis, a winter surfer since 1964 and district director of the Eastern Surfing Association, said he relishes the solitude of hitting the beach when it's extremely off season. Surfing is like a soul sport.