Seaside Vacations

Virginia Beach is a short 1-2 hour ride from the Outer Banks; that close proximity tends to breed a fierce rivalry between the surf cultures.

The Outer Banks tends to get the notoriety as a world-class surf zone/culture (Surfer even named Kill Devil Hills in the Top 10 Surf Towns), but VB has its share of waves and great surfers, and the VB surfers definitely hit the waves with something to prove.

One of the best East Coast surf competitions is taking place this week, and it pits these fierce rivals against each other.  The WRV Battle of the Banks is taking place this Saturday on Pea Island.  The official site will be determined by the contest directors based on the best possible conditions.

The Battle of the Banks captures the soul of Right Coast surf, gorgeous fall weather on the Outer Banks, water cooling off as autumn drags on, potential for strong off shore winds, fast, heaving barrels that only the Outer Banks sandbars can produce, and fierce rivals.

It is a grudge match with bragging rights on the line.  VB vs. OBX.  David vs. Goliath as far as overall East Coast surf is perceived.  But don’t count David out.  VB is the reigning champ and aims to hold their crown.

This is only the second year of the contest, but 2008 was epic.  Some of the best East Coast surfers navigating some of the gnarliest 8 foot barrels of the year.  Here is a great video from Surfline that highlights last year’s Battle of the Banks.

Since everyone is relatively local to the Outer Banks, the contest is setup with a wide window of opportunity to take advantage of the best possible OBX conditions, and it seems this weekend is going to provide those conditions.  If it is anything like last year, we are in for one heck of a battle.

A new format to the contest was added late this week due to the change in the number of surfers from originally 20 down to only a team of 15 surfers from each county(VB and OBX). Contest directors have decided to have an additional qualifier or “surf off” for the remaining 3 spots on the team. The 8 qualifiers and alternates from the Outer Banks Pro Contest will surf a heat in the morning and the 3 highest placers in that heat are added to the 12 invitees for the team of 15 in the “Main Event”.