Summer Sessions

When they hear the churning Atlantic surf lapping at the edge of the store, located directly across the beach in Rye, just outside the metro area, the trained staffers at Summer Sessions don't just hear the ocean—they hear the call to adventure. To that end, they equip customers with wave-taming equipment ranging from surf- and skimboards to standup paddleboards. They purchase new boards from Rusty, Riviera, and Costa Rican Customs and wetsuits from Rip Curl and O'Neill each season, ensuring that customers can learn using their own gear. In addition to housing a coffee shop and convenience store, Summer Sessions also maintains a stable of rental boards and, on special demo nights, lets visitors test out its stock of boards to find a fit from varied lengths and styles.

The team members' commitment doesn't end with gear. They also help new beach-goers ride their first waves, guiding students of all skill levels into the water to teach basic surfing or paddling mechanics. Coaches also lead camps for children and adults and always maintain a ratio of one teacher to every five students to allow proper individual instruction.