From the classic Beach Boys song to the shores of North Carolina the beat continues today! Hang 10 Y‘all in NC.
With hundreds of miles of beautiful coastline, our state has no shortage of spots to surf — which explains the countless North Carolinians eager to spend their days at the beach, catching waves and riding barrels. For many folks, surfing is not only a thrilling pastime but also a lifestyle that lends itself to travel and exploration.
For decades, the Outer Banks has been the most hailed and well-documented of North Carolina’s surf regions. Sitting where three distinct water masses meet, Hatteras also gets a little help from weather stirred when coastal water from Virginia and North Carolina mixes with the cold Labrador Current and the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. Such stormy conditions made the Banks a popular hangout for pirates in the 18th century, including the infamous buccaneer Blackbeard.
Nowhere else on the East Coast is the yin and yang of the beach lifestyle more evident than the Outer Banks. In addition to being First in Flight, this isolated barrier island of North Cackalacka also is first in serving up the finest blend of soul, stoke and overall commitment to the ocean enigma.
From June through August, the sandy arteries of the Outer Banks get clogged with enough beach boy cholesterol to give Frankie and Annette heart attacks.
Surf hazards include, rednecks, heat stroke, skin cancer, jellyfish, sea lice, sharks, bluefish, cops, riptides, bar fights, speed limits, Bible Belters, jar heads, fat chicks in thongs, alcohol, dirtweed, horrible drivers, tourists, scalding sand, cactus, sand spurs, Jimmy Buffett, deep-fried seafood, mosquitoes, horseflies the size of Texas and perhaps the most annoying hazard… the OBX sticker.
Luckily, you don’t have to necessarily be an expert to paddle out. While there are some areas notoriously known for always having a series of exceptional, large waves, almost any beach can be a perfect practice ground for newcomers to the sport. Newbie surfers will find there are plenty of options available when it comes to surf lessons, with the types of lessons ranging from private tutorials to group sessions. Lessons are also available throughout the Outer Banks, from the Corolla beaches to Ocracoke Island, so no matter where a surfing vacationer lands, there are resources available right around the corner.
Expect to get a strong instruction in the basics, including paddling and standing-up, and with good waves and good luck, a new surfer may find themselves upright on a nice long ride on their very first lesson.
Surfing newbies who want to catch a ride in a hurry can also enlist in surf camps. Generally comprising of 2-5 full day seminars, these local surf camps aim to get a rider from standing on the beach to standing on a board in just a few days of intense surf lessons.
If you’re itchin to get a taste of the local surfing scene, head over to Hatteras Island Boardsports where they are ”hip to the trip” with surf lessons plain and simple! All lessons are 2 hours long and include the use of the surfboard for the duration of the lesson. If the water is a little chilly students will also be provided with a wetsuit for warmth. Kids are welcome…
Not into surfing? You can rent a kayak, or boogie and skim board.
When you come here Southern rules apply, which is generally a good thing, as hush puppies, sweet tea, and syrupy salutations pepper the fine home-cooking establishments along the coast. Don’t expect any Broadway glitz or radical fashion statements, unless you consider a trucker hat and overalls to be neo-vintage. People here like things the way they are —and always have been.
Edited By: Brittany Samuels SL News
Sources: Surfline, Outerbanks
