Monthly Archives: September 2009

The Other Side of the Outer Banks – The Sound

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Family visit, sunset - 6.7 - 6.8.08 049  Sunset 10.14.08
The Outer Banks is known best for the long stretch of gorgeous beaches overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.  Most OBX visitors come with a single focus of enjoying every possible minute at the beach, and this is understandable.  However, the Outer Banks has more to offer than the beach overlooking the ocean…

 Like a beach overlooking the Sound!  

 A Sound is defined as:

  1. a wide channel or strait linking two large bodies of water or separating an island from the mainland
  2. a long inlet or arm of the sea

The Outer Banks is a narrow band of barrier islands that has the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the Currituck, Albemarle, and Pamlico Sounds to the west.  The Sound offers a variety of activities and a different OBX vibe than the beach. 

The Sound tends to be a tranquil respite with calm, quiet waters, wild life, and few crowds.  It offers a great opportunity for boating, jet skiing, fishing, and crabbing, and the Sound is also perfect for small kids.  The ocean can be rough and loud, and many small children can be intimidate by the crashing waves; the Sound offers a calm alternative to enjoy a day at the beach.  A recent Outer Banks vacationer wrote a great story about how they fell in love with the Sound when the ocean was too rough due to Hurricane Bill passing by.

The Sound is also the best spot to catch an OBX sunset!  It is great to have the opportunity to see the sun rise and set over water in the same day.

Results for 2009 WRV/Hurley Outer Banks Pro Surf Contest

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Ben Bourgeois - SurfKDH, Kingsbury(Surf KDH/Kingsbury)

The WRV OBX Pro surf contest, sponsored by Hurley, took place this weekend in Nags Head, NC.  The weather was great, the water was warm, and there was decent swell, but the winds howling out of the Northeast most of the weekend didn’t make for ideal conditions.  However, it’s amazing what great surfers can do with merely adequate waves. 

Results (Curtsey of SurfKDH.com):

  • Ben Bourgeois from Wrightsville Beach took first place. 
  • Fellow Wrightsville Beach local Michael Powell took 2nd place.
  • The Florida duo of Asher Nolan and Jeremy Johnston took 3rd and 4th.

Here’s a bio of Ben Bourgeois from Reef.com:
Age: 28
From: Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
Stance: Regular
Local Spot: Wrightsville Beach, NC

At the age of 28, Benny B has circled the globe more times than most people would in 3 life times. Always on the go, this North Carolina native who now resides in Carlsbad California with Reef Team Manager Heath Walker made a huge impact on the WQS tour in 2005 but just missed out on making the 2006 WCT by the smallest margin. Regardless, Benny stuck to his game plan and three quarters of the way through the 2007 WQS season had clinched a position on the 2008 ASP World Tour. In the mean while he fills his time shooting photos for the mags and his sponsors, searching the globe for the best surf, and looking for the next Miss Reef.

Kiteboarding on the Outer Banks

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Barry Beach Week 2009 070Barry Beach Week 2009 069

Kiteboarding is becoming one of the fastest growing water sports, and The Outer Banks is an ideal spot for this sport; arguably one of the best spots worldwide.

Similar to the reasons the Wright Brothers chose the OBX over a hundred years ago as the birthplace of aviation.  The  barrier islands are situated with the Atlantic Ocean on the East and the vast Sound on the West creating ideal wind conditions for the sport almost daily.  There is also endless miles of shallow waters that create the perfect environment to learn this sport.  The Sounds provide 390 square miles of track that you can take off on.

There are a variety of kiteboarding schools on the Outer Banks that offer high quality instruction and equipment.  One of the premiere companies is Kitty Hawk Kites with multiple locations on the Outer Banks, and Real Kiteboarding is well known on Hatteras Island.

Come join the revolution.

4th Annual Outer Banks Pirate Festival

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pirate-skull-crossbonesKitty Hawk Kites is teaming up with Blackbeard’s Crew to host the 4th Annual Outer Banks Pirate Festival starting today.

The festival lasts four days, from September 16th through September 19th.

Captain Jack Sparrow and Blackbeard’s Crew plan to pillage, plunder and be pirates!  The Pirates will invade several different locations and businesses throughout the Outer Banks. Rumors are circulating about a plan to take over the ship owned by Roanoke Island Festival Park. These pirates also love to pillage at all Kitty Hawk Kites stores in the Outer Banks. Captain Jack Sparrow and Blackbeard’s Crew will visit numerous local establishments. The tentative schedule is as follows:

Wednesday 9/16:
- 3pm-5pm Nags Head KHK – Jockey’s Ridge Crossing
- 6pm-9pm Jolly Roger

Thursday 9/17:
- 11am-12pm – Duck Kitty Hawk Kites
- 1pm – 2pm – Corolla Kitty Hawk Kites – Monteray Plaza
- 4pm-6pm Outer Banks Brewing Station*
- 8pm-9pm Rodanthe KHK

Friday 9/18:
- 11am-1pm Big Al’s
- 2pm-4:30pm Roanoke Island Festival Park*
- 5pm-7pm Pamlico Jack’s*

Saturday 9/19:
- 9am-11am The Dunes Restaurant*
- 10am-4pm Nags Head KHK – Jockey’s Ridge Crossing – MP 12.5

*While at the sponsored restaurants, pirates will feast and interact with other guests of the restaurant or attraction.

On Saturday, September 19th, visit the Kitty Hawk Kites store in Nags Head, NC at Jockey’s Ridge Crossing from 10am-4pm for a pirate encampment. Several pirates will pitch their tents in front of Kitty Hawk Kites, offering a full day of pirate life. Tales and stories will circulate throughout the day as each pirate tries to tell his/her best tale of the sea. Some pirates will conduct the “Scalliwag School for Aspiring Pirates” while others help with the Treasure Hunt!

Blackbeard’s first mate will be in search of new recruitments. Children of all ages will be able to train with the pirates, learning how to sword fight and become a real pirate. In addition, live cannon fire will be shot throughout the day.

Be sure to look for Skull and Crossbones Pirate Flags over participating establishments!

Harley Poker Run to Support Outer Banks Wild Horses

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Mare with Two Foals - Carova Beach3rd Annual Wild and Free Pony Run 2009!

Sunday, September 20th
Poker Run Registration from 9am to 11am

Collectors Pin to first 75 Riders!

Food & Drink, Music
Tons of Door Prizes, Raffles, 50/50, Bike Games
BIG Cookout and Wild Ponies On-Site!

Support the Wild Horses of the Outer Banks and RIDE so they can RUN FREE!

Kitty Hawk Harley-Davidson
Harbinger, NC
252-491-2091

ESPN Gives More Props to Outer Banks Surf

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Matt Lusk Two Barrells

ESPN Surfing wrote an article about the great surf this past weekend, and noted that there was very little fanfare because the Nor’Easter wasn’t named and it fell after Labor Day, but the wave quality surpassed Hurricane Bill and Tropical Storm Danny in most spots on the East Coast…especially the Outer Banks.

The article also included some great surf photography from great OBX photographers.  The above picture is an aerial taken by Matt Lusk, and it captures two surfers in two separate barrels in the same shot!…unreal.  The below photo from Mickey “2M” McCarthy shows a perfect OBX barrel.   

Here’s what ESPN had to say:  “[R]eal helpings were served on the Outer Banks, where the solid lines roped down the beach better than anything from the much-talked about Hurricane Bill and Tropical Storm Danny.

The high profile spots were unloading and there were barrels to be found at those random stretches off Highway 12.

The boys down there are gearing up for the WRV Outer Banks Pro presented by Hurley this weekend and the Eastern Surfing Association’s Eastern Championships next week. Looks like more surf for the weekend, but some wind.”

Mickey 2M McCarthy Barrell

Jockey’s Ridge is an Outer Banks Treasure

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Barry Beach Week 2009 119 Barry Beach Week 2009 120

Every year, thousands of people visit Jockeys Ridge State Park to experience the largest “living” sand dune on the East Coast.  Many visit to take in the sheer beauty of this amazing landscape and the breathtaking views (arguably the best spot on the beach to watch the sunset over the Sound), but there is much more to Jockey’s Ridge than sand and views.

Jockeys Ridge is home to a wide array of wildlife and gorgeous scenery.  The park offers a variety of hiking trails with signs designating the wildlife and surrounding nature.

  • The Soundside Natural Trail is a self guided tour that is only about a mile long.  This trail features a glimpse of several different coastal ecosystems; including, wetlands, grassy dunes and maritime thickets.  While hiking on this trail, you will be able to learn about some of the wildlife that call this park home.
  • The Tracks in the Sand trail is another popular trail that runs a little longer than the Soundside Natural Trail.  This trail runs for a distance of approximately 1.5 miles,  and offers a glimpse at the parks different ecosystems with stations that will provide the hiker information.

The park also offers a full calendar of events and programs that are designed to be fun, educational, and hands-on…most of these are free to the public, but some may require prior registration.

Another unique feature of this incredible system of sand dunes is the ability to harness the amazing Outer Banks winds on just about any day of the year.  Jockey’s Ridge is a favorite for kite flyers on the OBX, and it is where many hang gliding enthusiasts got their start.

  • Kitty Hawk Kites has been teaching hang gliding at Jockey’s Ridge since 1974!  They are the largest hand gliding school in the world, teaching hundreds of thousands of students since 1974 (over 300,000)!
    • They have taught students aged 4-92, male and female, physically fit and physically challenged. In fact, they can accommodate paraplegics, blind, deaf and other persons physically challenged. All they require is a desire to learn how to fly. They provide beginner, intermediate and advanced instruction.

Park hours:

November-February, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

March and October, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

April, May, September, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

June-August, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

Closed Christmas Day

Park office hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily

Closed Christmas Day

Great Start to Fall Surf on the Outer Banks

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9.12.09 Surf Session 0339.12.09 Surf Session 0249.12.09 Surf Session 013

Fall doesn’t officially start until September 22, but we’re past Labor Day, so let’s consider the surf from the past weekend as the start to the Outer Banks fall surf season.

After two weeks of enduring the effects of a persistent low pressure system that sent gloomy weather and consistent North East winds, the Outer Banks felt the wind switch to the West on Friday and swell from the system started to clean into gorgeous lines with head high sets of great OBX waves.

The rough ocean began to clean on Friday afternoon, but the paddle out was still tough.  By Saturday morning, the west wind had cleaned the waves enough to make the paddle bearable and the reward of clean, head high waves well worth the effort.

The excitement of great surf that happens to land on a Saturday morning in early September was palpable.  The hunt for the right spot was on, and surfers were out in force.  Good breaks were filling up as early as 7:15 a.m.  It was more of a longboard wave that early, but as the tide came in around 9:00 a.m. spots up and down the beach were exploding with waves and surfers.

Tour Art Studios on the Outer Banks

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Dare Count Studio Tour
The Dare County Arts Council has organized it’s 3rd annual free studio tour.

Numerous Professional Artists’s Studios from Hatteras to Roanoke Island to Duck will be open to the public for the 3rd Annual THE Studio Tour.

This event is FREE to the public!

Make the rounds and meet the artists from our area.

Tour Dates

Saturday, September 19, 2009

North of Oregon Inlet

Saturday, September 26, 2009

South of Oregon Inlet

Dare County Arts Council Gallery is located at 104 Sir Walter Raleigh Street in beautiful downtown Manteo.   Join us for a lively First Friday Celebration featuring work from the artists participating in the tour.

For more information

please call 252.473.5558

Ship Wreck Found Off the Outer Banks

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Sunken BoatNOAA recently announced that a World War II Navy patrol boat (YP-389) was found at the beginning of August off the coast of Hatteras, NC.

The boat was sunk by a German sub in 1942 during the “Battle of the Atlantic” and has been untouched since.

YP-389 was involved in a 90 minute battle with a German U-boat that led to its demise.  The U-boat was sunk two weeks later about 10 miles north.

The “Battle of the Atlantic” refers to the early years of WWII when ships were regularly attacked by German submarines off the East Coast.  During this time, 137 allied, German, and merchant vessels were lost along North Carolina.  Of the 137 vessels lost, only 40 have been located!

The boat is 325 feet underwater, and it is believed that 5 men may be entombed.  The site is protected by federal laws that prohibit the touching or removing of artifacts.