The Outer Banks is full of surprises, and the surf and weather conditions are an unpredictable breed. 

For surfers along the OBX, surf reports generally go hand in hand with morning staples like a bowl of Cap’n Crunch or a cup of “Joe,” but surf reports can’t always be trusted and there is no substitute for an eyes-on visual of the conditions.  And to add to the mysterious hunt that personifies the Outer Banks surf, the coast is winding and the sand bars are a moving target, so no spot offers identical conditions, and as the weather and swell conditions adjust, conditions on a spot by spot basis also adjust.  The hunt can be frustrating at times, but it is also part of the mystique that makes OBX surf so great…and unique.

This past weekend was a prime example, and ESPN Surfing captured some great OBX waves, albeit a bit unexpected.  As the reports were predicting small’ish swell and variable wind conditions, the actual conditions shaped up much better.  Chest high sets and winds straight off shore wound up sculpting some perfect Outer Banks barrels, and the Hurley East Coast surf team was there to reap the benefits. 

ESPN surfing has some great shots from the session.