Pro Surfer Karina Petroni on the Bahamas’s Best Surf Breaks, Cafés, and Skate Locations Inline
Photo: Nico Guilis1/7“That’s the island of Eleuthera. It’s actually derived from the Greek word meaning “freedom.” It’s probably my favorite island in all of the Bahamas. That’s a little secret beach we came across and found some fun waves. The island is so diverse. It’s rolling country and has so much history. Combining that with the beaches is a match made in heaven.”
Photo: Nico Guilis2/7“That’s my husband and my plane. She’s pretty much his new wife. I can take the yoke, but I’m not a pilot yet. I’m planning to get my license soon. I can keep her cruising, but getting her down is another thing.”
Photo: Nico Guilis3/7“That’s down in the Exumas. The swimming pigs are pretty world famous. They live on this island. People say that when the British were down there in the 1700s, they had their livestock. When they up and left, the pigs and some of the livestock stayed. They ended up living on this island and beach. When yachts anchor in the bay . . . they just want to eat your food.”
Photo: Nico Guilis4/7“Cruising the streets of Harbour Island. It’s a dreamy place—from the colors of the homes to the foliage and the pink-sand beach. It’s chic and not overdone, not tacky.”
Photo: Nico Guilis5/7“This is Runaway Hill—I’ve forgotten how much I love skateboarding. I used to skate more than I surfed. Talk about letting it go and channeling your inner Dogtown skater girl.”
Photo: Nico Guilis6/7“I’ve been so blessed to see a lot of this planet at a young age—I’m so thankful for that, really—but flying over the Bahamas is like nothing you’ve ever seen before. Thousands of shades of blue and green. When you look out of a plane, that sense of silence comes over you—how small you are looking down at everything. There’s nothing else you can think about.”
Photo: Nico Guilis7/7“Back in Eleuthera—in another amazing town that’s filled with history and incredible old architecture. You land right there in the bay, throw the anchor, and wade in and eat lunch. We went to Da Perk. It’s the cutest café run by an Australian-Bahamian couple. Awesome local produce, fresh fish, and healthy food. It’s a special spot. It looks right over the harbor.”
