Carolina In My Mind
Cruising With Tony Silvagni In Wrightsville, NC
by Zach Weisberg
Online Editor

Some places just feel like home.

For me, Wrightsville Beach, NC is one of those places. It doesn’t hurt that I grew up one state north, but there’s a charm and authenticity in Wrightsville that’s grounding and often hard to come by.

The sizzle, sizzle, pop of bacon on Mrs. Silvagni’s stove in the morning only bolstered my intuitions, and having the most hospitable, good-natured host this side of the Mississip’ (and the other side too) was icing on the cake.

So meet our host: Tony Silvagni.

Everyone loves him. Whether we’re grabbing 6” BLTs at Subway, checking the waves in Kure Beach, or ruling the barside pool tables in downtown Wrightsville, we came to expect strangers going out of their way to say nice things to Tony.

“How’s your dad’s business going?”

“You’re that surfer boy…huh? Congrats on all your success.”

“Tony Silvagni can’t surf…YEAH buddy! Let’s get a session in tomorrow!”

Then there are the girls passing by: “Heyyyy Tony!” Giggles.

When you’ve got a big blond afro, a smile stapled on your face, and a balance of humility, talent, and good intentions, things tend to circle back in your favor. It’s the world’s way.

In case you haven’t heard of him, Silvagni’s most notable surf achievement was finishing runner-up at the 2008 U.S. Open Longboarding Championships in Huntington Beach this past summer. While Silvagni’s achievements are many in the water, he thinks his best work has come through philanthropy.

“A few years back my older brother, Andrew, got diagnosed with Lyme disease. He was one of the best surfers on the whole East Coast and I've always really looked up to him. I even got more into longboarding than shortboarding because that was his thing. I wanted to do something that would bring awareness and charity for Lyme disease, so I started a contest. This past year we got 82 sponsors to support it and thousands of people came down to the beach. After three years it’s the second biggest contest in North Carolina.”

Silvagni also makes donations to the Heart Foundation and continues to learn as much as he can about Lyme. His brother Andrew helps him out, and still pushes him in the water and in the skatepark. A session at both First Cove Point and the local skatepark had Andrew tiptoeing along his board’s nose and lip-sliding across the copings. The guy doesn’t slow down.

Meanwhile Tony’s enjoying the fall weather.

“It’s awesome,” says Tony. “You can’t compare it with anywhere else. I like the warm weather in the summer, but it can get old. It’s so hot and miserable because of the humidity, you sweat nonstop.”

The weather’s not the only thing that heats up in Wrightsville. In fact, the area derives a lot of its character not only from the mellow beaches and waterways scattered throughout, but also Tony’s school: UNC Wilmington. Home to one of the East Coast’s most prosperous surf teams, solid academics, and a party scene to match, you can’t go wrong here. Plus, it bears nearly a six to one girl to guy ration.

“I love it here,” said Silvagni over a plate of Mexican food. “I love going to school at UNCW too, but there’s just one bad thing. I’m going to have to get neck surgery after I leave here.”

“Why’s that?” I asked.

“From looking at all these cute girls walking by.”

Next stop: The Outer Banks. Bring us barrels!

- Zach Weisberg
Online Editor

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