Hurricane Lee bringing 'epic' surf to RI coast. Here's who is riding the waves.

Paul Edward Parker, Providence Journal
·3 min read

NARRAGANSETT — It was only Tuesday, and already anticipation was growing about the imminent arrival of Hurricane Lee this weekend.

But folks at Narragansett Pier weren't talking about boarding up their houses and heading inland.

No, at the Town Beach, they were eagerly anticipating riding their surfboards as the storm churns unusually big waves.

“It’s going to be pretty epic,” said Bee Dong of Westerly.

“The waves are pumping!” said Kenneth Kuy of Cranston.

More: Here's what you should do to prepare if a hurricane hits RI

As the sun sets on Tuesday, surfers head into the waves at Narragansett Town Beach, anticipating bigger surf later in the week as Hurricane Lee nears.
As the sun sets on Tuesday, surfers head into the waves at Narragansett Town Beach, anticipating bigger surf later in the week as Hurricane Lee nears.

Big storms bring big waves for surfers in Narragansett

“Often when you have a big storm come in, you’ll get a collection of bigger waves that roll through,” said Josh Bibbey of New Haven, Connecticut, who had camped the night before in Tiverton and stopped at the beach Tuesday evening on his way back to the Elm City.

“Hurricanes produce great winds and stronger waves than typically are here and it makes it a lot better conditions and way better swells,” said Eva Davet, a University of Rhode Island student from Cornwall on Hudson, New York.

“Tomorrow and Thursday, it’s going to be amazing, probably one of the better days than I’ve seen in a while," she said.

"Friday’s going to be huge. The conditions are going to be really good.”

But the surfers were not unaware that the same storm that brings epic waves can also mean flooding, downed trees and, potentially, serious injuries.

Carleigh Schlissel, a University of Rhode Island student and novice surfer, is cautious about how big the waves will become as Hurricane Lee approaches the Rhode Island coast.
Carleigh Schlissel, a University of Rhode Island student and novice surfer, is cautious about how big the waves will become as Hurricane Lee approaches the Rhode Island coast.

“I don’t enjoy the devastation they wreck, but I like enjoying the waves that they bring us,” said Mara Hagen of Narragansett.

Brian Bigda of Narragansett laughed when a reporter asked whether hurricanes are his friend.

“Some can be," he said. "If they’re out to sea, they are.”

Which is where he hopes Hurricane Lee stays.

More: Here's what you should do to prepare if a hurricane hits RI

“I plan on coming out hopefully all week, if it’s not too bad,” Bigda said.

That even includes when the storm is at its most ferocious — maybe.

“I depends on the surf," he said. "I’ll probably be here if the waves are good.”

Bee Dong said he'll be at the beach, even if Lee hits Rhode Island directly. “We rode that Hurricane Fiona last year, and it was pretty fun then, and I feel it’s going to be pretty fun again.”

It won't be monster waves that keep Kenneth Kuy away if things get epic this weekend.

Surfers on Tuesday get a preview of growing waves at Narragansett Town Beach as Hurricane Lee stirs up the Atlantic Ocean.
Surfers on Tuesday get a preview of growing waves at Narragansett Town Beach as Hurricane Lee stirs up the Atlantic Ocean.

“I have to work," he said, "so I can’t surf, sadly.”

As Carleigh Schlissel, a URI student from New York who started surfing about two weeks ago, surveyed the waves Tuesday, she remarked, “It’s rough out there, the waves are getting pretty big. They started out a little bit smaller, but they’re definitely picking up a little bit.”

So, it might be something other than work that keeps her off her board if monster surf comes in this weekend.

“I don’t know about that one," she said. "I’m a little afraid, but we’ll see.”

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: These Rhode Island surfers are out catching Hurricane Lee's waves