Monthly Archives: June 2010

Outer Banks Surf Update – 6.10.10

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OBX surf was cranking for a quick few days to end the month of May.  Head high, clean waves at just about all of the great spots, water warm enough to leave the wetsuit in the parking lot, and bright sunny days.  Unfortunately, June has not started in the same way.  Gorgeous weather, but no swell to report. 

Hopefully the doldrums won’t stay for long, but surfers understand Mother Nature is a fickle, and we’ll patiently wait for the next OBX surge.  For now, we’ll excitedly ponder the  close of the spring surf season and hope the 2010 summer shines upon us, especially with some great surf contests on the horizon. 

The head high days in May were covered by a variety of great surf sources: 

  1. ESPN Surfing has a great gallery of photos of the action all along the East Coast.
  2. Local OBX surf photographer Matt Lusk has a great story featured on ESPN Surfing that includes Led Zeppelin, a four hour drive with Jesse Hines, lots of coffee, jet skies, a secret OBX surf spot, and a whole bunch of world-class surfing.
  3. Surfline offers an overview of the storm and some quotes from the East Coast pros.
  4. East Coast Surf Magazine offers 25 pages of amazing surf photos from all along the Right Coast. 

 

Outer Banks Surf Contest Season Kicking Off

The water is warming up, and thousands of folks planning their summer trip to the OBX to hit the beach.  Summer is here, and that means that there will be a lot of surf contests in the cards for the next several months. The Outer Banks District of Eastern Surfing Association contests have already started to kick into full swing.

This year’s contest dates are June 26 or 27, July 17 or 18, Aug. 7 or 8, Sept. 11 or 12 and Oct. 16 or 17. They’ve also scheduled a potential make up contest on Nov. 6 or 7 with the end of year awards banquet planned for Dec. 12.

The top-ranked surfers go on to the regional competition the following spring, which is scheduled for May in Atlantic Beach. The top surfers in that event head to Hatteras in September for the Eastern Surfing Championships.

Outer Banks Named in AOL’s Top Ten “Secret Beaches”

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Outer Banks Sunrise

Outer Banks Sunrise

AOL Travel has named the Outer Banks one of the top ten “secret beaches,” or quieter locations for beach-goers looking to avoid the crowds of popular shore destinations.

The OBX, specifically Carova Beach, was selected for its unpaved roads, 4×4 driving, wild horses, wildlife preservation, and close proximity to all the great attractions of the Outer Banks as a whole.

Other secret beaches named were Ferry Beach, in Maine; Sunset Cliffs, San Diego, California; Guemes Island, Anacortes, Washington; Estral Beach, Monroe County, Michigan; Kaihalulu Beach, Maui, Hawaii; Enderts Beach, Redwoods National Park, California; Dry Tortugas, Florida; and Cumberland Island, Georgia.

Here’s what AOL Travel had to say about the Outer Banks & Carova Beach: 

Part of the country’s first designated National Seashore, this barrier island, caught between the Atlantic and Currituck Sound, remains blissfully undeveloped, with communities refusing to permit paved roads. Past “bustling” Carolla north to the Virginia border, the 11 miles of beaches are only accessible via four-wheel drive, with dirt tracks dancing in and out of scrub pine forest. Much of the area is protected wetlands and wildlife reserve, offering sensational bird, dolphin and sea turtle watching. Activities along the coast range from kayaking to kite boarding. Kitty Hawk, home to the Wright Brothers museum and the world’s largest hang-gliding school, is also close by. It’s one of the premier mid-Atlantic spots to glimpse wild horses, descendants of shipwrecked colonial Spanish mustangs, galloping amid the surf and dunes.

International Surfing Day on the Outer Banks

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2010 International Surfing Day

2010 International Surfing Day

2010 International Surfing Day

Location:

Worldwide

Date: June 20th

Get Involved: Grab your board and get in the water!

It’s time for ISD to start ripping. Six years ago, the Surfrider Foundation and SURFING Magazine felt the surf world was missing something. A day to encourage all surfers to do a few, simple things: paddle out, catch a wave, spread ocean awareness and clean their beaches. So as we approach the big day — which lands on Father’s Day this year — grab dad and the rest of your friends and family and kick off the summer in the water and on the sand so you can get the most out of the longest day of the year.

In the past six years, ISD has managed to influence some major players, clean tons of trash off the beach and score some amazing waves. There have been meetings with Governor Arnold Shwarzenegger. Massive benefit concerts in Japan and Florida. Thousands of pounds of trash removed from our beaches. Thousands of new Surfrider members and close to 100 participating chapters worldwide. And, on top of all this, many memorable sessions in classic conditions.

Wind Turbine Built at Jockey’s Ridge

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Wind Turbine

Wind Turbine

Wind is an everyday occurrence on the Outer Banks, and the winds can play a large role in daily activities.  Storms come and go, surf rises and falls, water temperature adjusts, all with the help of the wind, and these days energy bills can be affected as well. 

The OBX has recently been the focus of an effort to put large energy generating wind turbines in the Sound, and potentially in the Atlantic.  These efforts have not been approved yet, but smaller wind turbines are being erected.    

The Outer Banks Brewing Station has had a wind turbine for a few years, and just recently, a 60-foot-high wind turbine was built near the visitor center at Jockey’s Ridge State Park.  Construction of the turbine was completed in late May and park officials anticipate it will begin generating electricity in June.

The turbine will be connected to the power grid via Dominion North Carolina Power, and park officials anticipate its power generation will offset most of the cost of supplying the visitor center, which includes an exhibit hall, an auditorium and park offices.

Park staff conducted studies with a mobile lift to assess any negative visual impact the turbine might have, and the staff and biologists also conducted a year-long study to ensure the turbine would not have any negative impact on coastal or migratory birds. The monopole-style structure, which doesn’t require guy wires, was chosen to reduce effects on birds in flight.  The turbine also includes an outdoor exhibits that explains its operation to park visitors.

New Outer Banks Bridge? – Environmental Study Released, Public Meetings Next

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Bonner Bridge on the Outer Banks

Bonner Bridge on the Outer Banks

The Herbert C. Bonner Bridge over Oregon Inlet needs to be replaced, soon, but a project of this magnitude does not proceed at a rapid pace.  A new environmental study was just released, and the N.C. Department of Transportation wants to know what citizens think about adjustments.   NCDOT is inviting citizens to share their thoughts at a series of public hearings scheduled for July.

The Final Environmental Impact Statement was released in September, 2008, but further studies and changes were required.  The newest adjustments are put forth in the Environmental Assessment that NCDOT signed in May.

The adjustments to the plan include:

•    Revising the design options to reduce impacts to the Chicamacomico Life Saving Station and the Rodanthe Historic District.

•    Modifying the location where the new Oregon Inlet bridge will connect to Hatteras Island.

•    Eliminating the Pamlico Sound Bridge Corridor Alternative, which is commonly referred to as the “long bridge” alternative.

•    Recommending a different preferred alternative. In 2008, the FEIS recommended moving forward with the Parallel Bridge with Phased Approach/Rodanthe Bridge Alternative. It included building a new Oregon Inlet bridge west of the existing bridge during Phase I and later elevating Highway 12 onto a series of bridges during Phases II-IV.

The new preferred alternative is the Parallel Bridge Corridor with Highway 12 Transportation Management Plan Alternative. It calls for the new Oregon Inlet bridge to be built as soon as possible. Information generated by a coastal monitoring program would determine what to build in future phases and when that work would occur.

Public Meetings:

•    Tuesday, July 6
o    A pre-hearing open house will be held at the Dare County Administration Building, which is located at 954 Marshall Collins Drive in Manteo, from 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

o    A formal public hearing will take place in the county commissioners’ room at 7 p.m.

•    Wednesday, July 7
o    A pre-hearing open house will be held at the Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo Community Center, which is located at 23186 Myrna Peters Road in Rodanthe, from 3 p.m.-7 p.m.

•    Thursday, July 8
o    A pre-hearing open house will be held at Cape Hatteras Elementary School, which is located at 47500 Middle Ridge Trail in Buxton, from 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

o    A formal public hearing will take place in the school’s cafeteria at 7 p.m.

Citizens are invited to drop in at any time during the pre-hearing open houses. NCDOT staff members will be available to discuss the proposed project and accept written comments.

Top 10 Spots for Dad on the Outer Banks

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Top 10 Spots for Dad on the Outer Banks

Top 10 Spots for Dad on the Outer Banks

Summertime is always a fun time for dads (and the rest of the family) to get outdoors. The weather is nice and it’s a great time of year to hit the road for that long-awaited Outer Banks vacation. Most importantly, though, it is a great time of year to get away from it all and reconnect with your family – creating memories for years to come.

With that in mind, and in honor of dads everywhere, here is our list of the Top 10 Dad Spots on the Outer Banks:

1. The beautiful beaches of the Outer Banks.

For the dad that likes to relax.  Which, after all, is any dad, right?

  
2. Reeling in the “big” one.

From the ocean to the sound, fishing piers to offshore charters, dads will find an unparalleled array of catch when it comes to Outer Banks fishing. The Outer Banks is often called “The Billfish Capital of the World”…and the International Game Fish Association lists 92 world records for fish caught on the Outer Banks

  
3. A board meeting – Outer Banks-style.

As a Seaside Vacations guest, dads get to experience the local culture with Club Seaside events – like surfing and paddle boarding.

  
4. High atop the dunes of Jockey’s Ridge.

For the truly outdoors-y type, head on over to Jockey’s Ridge State Park.  This 426-acre park has the largest natural living sand dune on the East Coast and is home to hang gliding, kite flying, hiking, a visitor’s center, museum and picnic facilities.

  
5. Catching a glimpse of Corolla’s Wild Horses

From guided jeep tours to do-it-yourself excursions, dad (and everyone else!) is sure to love breathtaking views of the beautiful Spanish mustangs that can still be seen roaming the beaches of Carova.

  
6. Climbing the steps of any of our Outer Banks lighthouses.

Even dads will love these giant nightlights. Our beautiful string of renowned lighthouses stretch from Corolla (northern end) all the way to Ocracoke Island (southern end).

  
7. Exploring nature at Pea Island.

Grab a kayak and check out this 6,000-acre refuge that is a haven for more than 360 species of birds. From spring to autumn, a large variety of wading, shore and upland birds can be seen at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge.

  
8. Partaking in seafaring tales at The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum.

For dads that like tales of ghost ships and angry seas, take dad to check out this unique maritime museum dedicated to preserving and interpreting the rich maritime history of the Outer Banks and the more than 1,500 known ships wrecks off this coast.

  
9. At the top of his game at Kilmarlic Golf Club.

In addition to the special guest rates, Seaside Vacations guests also have the opportunity to enjoy a complimentary golf clinic with a member of Kilmarlic Golf Club’s instructional staff. Consistently rated one of the top courses on the Outer Banks, let dad play his way through canopies of giant oak, pine and dogwood that exemplify the natural beauty of North Carolina’s Outer Banks.

  
10. Hanging with the family in a Seaside Vacations home.

From cozy condominiums to large private homes, dad can choose from nearly 300 Outer Banks vacation rentals – each with their own special features. Whether he prefers luxurious living or simple seaside comfort, Seaside Vacations has the perfect Outer Banks vacation to show dad he’s the best.

  
These are just a sampling of many activities that dads are sure to love on the Outer Banks.  Check out the full list of Outer Banks activities and attractions and get out and explore!

OBX Pic O’ the Day: Big Catch

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From the ocean to the sound, fishing piers to offshore charters, you’ll find an unparalleled array of catch on the Outer Banks.

Anglers say there’s no better way to relax than fishing. We say there’s no better place to fish than the Outer Banks.

Check out some of the fishing action last weekend on the sound. Nothing beats the smile you get after your first croaker!

Visit our website for more information on great Outer Banks fishing.

Outer Banks Big Catch

Outer Banks Big Catch

Go Skateboarding Day on the Outer Banks

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Go Skateboarding - OBBC

Go Skateboarding - OBBC

 Go Skateboarding Day on the Outer Banks with www.GoSkateboarding.com and Outer Banks Boarding Company.

The longboard rally will be meeting at Outer Banks Boarding Company at 4pm.  And then head over to the Kill Devil Hills Aviation Skatepark park at 5pm for free hot dogs and drinks!…plus a whole bunch of skating. 

If you don’t longboard just come straight to the park and skate.

The Beauty of Science on the Outer Banks

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Outer Banks Wide Open Spaces

Outer Banks Wide Open Spaces

The Charlotte Observer recently ran an article that highlights the beauty, and science, of the Outer Banks.  

The Outer Banks is a chain of barrier islands that stretches for miles down the coast of North Carolina.  The beauty of the OBX is clear as soon as you set foot in the natural habitat, but the science behind the beauty is not always as evident.

Barrier Islands are found all over the world, but they are most noticeable down the East Coast of the US.  Scientists are not quite sure how these islands were formed, but experts have made the the educated guess that some of these islands were formed about 18,000 yers ago at the end of the last Ice Age as a result of rises in sea levels.

Scientists classify three different habitats for barrier islands, and the OBX has beautiful examples of all three:  

The Beach:
Consists of plant life like algae and bacteria that gets lodged in between grains of sand. Animal life consists of creatures known as burrowing animals. Examples of these creatures are moles crabs and clams. Many shorebirds occupy this habitat as well.

The Dunes:
Much like the beach habitat, the dunes have little freshwater to support many organisms. Plantlife such sea oats make the dunes a more stable habitat. The root systems of the sea oats keep the sand held together. Sea gulls often call the dunes home

Salt Marshes:
These areas are also referred to as barrier flats and are found behind dunes. Wildlife is abundandt in this area.