Virginia Beach Surf Legend Pete Smith Dies at 86

Smith helped bring the East Coast Surfing Championships to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront and opened the city's first surf shop.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 10:08pm

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Pete Smith, a pioneer of the Virginia Beach surfing community who helped shape the sport along the East Coast, has died at the age of 86 after a battle with cancer and illness. Smith played a key role in bringing the East Coast Surfing Championships to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront in 1963 and opened the city's first surf shop that same year.

Why it matters

Smith's impact on the Virginia Beach surf culture stretched far beyond the waves, as he was recognized as a founding figure who helped establish the city as a hub for East Coast surfing. His surf shop also laid the foundation for the area's surf retail industry.

The details

Smith and a group of Virginia Beach surfers competed in the East Coast Surfing Championships in Long Island in 1962 and helped bring the competition to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront the following year, where it has remained. In 1963, Smith and fellow surfer Bob Holland opened Virginia Beach's first surf shop, Pete's Surf Shop, which became a staple in the community.

  • The East Coast Surfing Championships began in Long Island in 1962.
  • Smith and other Virginia Beach surfers helped bring the championships to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront in 1963.
  • Smith and Bob Holland opened Virginia Beach's first surf shop, Pete's Surf Shop, in 1963.

The players

Pete Smith

A pioneer of the Virginia Beach surf community who helped bring the East Coast Surfing Championships to the Oceanfront and opened the city's first surf shop.

Sarah Smith

Pete Smith's daughter, who said it was nearly impossible to go anywhere in Virginia Beach without someone recognizing her father.

Dee Nachnani

The owner of Coastal Edge, who said Smith was a mentor and that his energy was "infectious and contagious."

Bob Holland

A fellow surfer who co-founded Pete's Surf Shop with Pete Smith in 1963.

Wes Laine

A longtime friend of Pete Smith who said Smith was one of the first surf retailers not just in Virginia Beach, but on the East Coast.

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What they’re saying

“Growing up, there was nowhere in Virginia Beach we'd go without him going out of his way to say hey to somebody. A lot of times they'd respond with, 'Wow — it's THE Pete Smith.'”

— Sarah Smith, Pete Smith's daughter

“He was one of the forefathers of what we now know as our surf community.”

— Dee Nachnani, Owner of Coastal Edge

“Instant happiness. It was an energy level that was second to none, and it was infectious and contagious. We all felt it.”

— Dee Nachnani, Owner of Coastal Edge

“We owe him a huge debt of gratitude in showing us the way and paving the road for us.”

— Wes Laine, Longtime friend of Pete Smith

“Surfing tends to be a very selfish sport. Surfers want the best wave, the most perfect wave, for themselves. Pete was the kind of guy who would go out of his way to give you a wave.”

— Wes Laine, Longtime friend of Pete Smith

What’s next

Friends say they plan to honor Pete Smith with a memorial paddle-out on Memorial Day.

The takeaway

Pete Smith's legacy as a pioneer of the Virginia Beach surf community and his role in establishing the city as a hub for East Coast surfing will continue to inspire future generations of surfers and surf enthusiasts.