Good morning. Here’s your Outer Banks beach report for 9.16.10.
This quick video was shot at Avalon Pier in Kill Devil Hills at about 9:00 AM. Gorgeous beach day. 85 and sunny. Beach is empty. Some fishermen surfcasting and on the pier. Fish are biting. Swell starting to show from Hurricane Igor.
Surf should build today and tomorrow. Best surf should be this afternoon and tomorrow morning…in the head high range. By Saturday it could be double overhead, but the winds are not forecasted to match up with the swell.
Way back in December 2009, we provided some details of a whacky (that’s a term of endearment) motorcycle race called the Cannonball Run that was starting on the Outer Banks. Well, today was the day.
The Cannonball Run took off from the OBX this morning.
No, not this Cannonball Run (although it would be great to see Burt’s ‘stache on the OBX!).
It’s not 1981, and there were no Burt Reynold’s mustache sightings this morning. The 2010 version of the Cannonball Run is a cross-country motorcycle race starting on the East Coast (Outer Banks) and culminating 3,300 miles later on the West Coast (Santa Monica, CA), and although the race may be modern, the motorcycles are anything but contemporary.
The race launches a pack of riders on vintage motorcycles on an historic ride across the U.S. Participants are required to ride classic pre-1916 motorcycles such as Pope, Sears, Flying Merkel, Excelsior, Henderson, Indian, Triumph, and the Harley-Davidson’s Silent Grey Fellows.
About 50 vintage motorcycles pre-dating 1916 headed out for the coast-to-coast Cannonball Run from the Wright Brothers National Memorial on Friday September 10, 2010. Kill Devil Hills Mayor Ray Sturza waved the green flag as hundreds of onlookers cheered the riders departing for the run’s first leg.
The run will be in 16 stages totaling more than 3,000 miles. Each leg ranges between about 200 and 300 miles, starting on the OBX and ending in Santa Monica, California on September 26.
Hurricane Earl has moved on, drifted out to sea, dissipated, and faded into our memories. Luckily, we have some amazing photo records of the off-the-chain surf that Earl was kind enough to send to the OBX.
Unfortunately, I can’t take credit for these shots (including the Matt Lusk photo in the top right), but here are some links for you to enjoy.
1. Surfline: This is a pictorial essay jam-packed with ridiculous surfing photos from last week. Most of the 26 photos are from an insane surf session that took place at Avalon Pier last Friday that attracted a few hundred spectators to watch some of the top OBX surfers.
2. Matt Lusk: Matt is seasoned OBX surf photographer that is making waves (pun intended) for his unique eye and amazing pictures (As a side note, look for Matt’s pictures in our upcoming 2011 Outer Banks Vacations brochure due out in early November.). Some of Matt’s pictures are featured in the Surfline link above, and he can also be found on his blog, SurferMag.com, and ESPN.
3. OBX Surf Info: Here’s a video of some of the OBX hijynx during Earl, but surf starts at about the 3:30 mark. Some great video of barrels at the Avalon Pier session. The site also has a few other posts with pictures of the action.
4. And last but not least, here’s our video of the surf leading up to Earl and the aftermath.
• LIVE MUSIC by CCHS Marching Knights Band
• FISH FRY LUNCH by Currituck BBQ Company
• ANTIQUE CARS by Cape Henry Model A Ford Club
• CAR DISPLAY by First Flight Cruisers
• RIBBON CUTTING for Maritime Museum
• LOCAL ARTS AND CRAFTS
• EDUCATIONAL TALKS by Barbara Snowden and Master Gardeners
kids’ activities:
• Balloon Art by Magic Mike The Clown
• Wild Spanish Mustang exhibit by the Corolla Wild Horse Fund
• Bow-Hunting Class by The Outer Banks Center For Wildlife Education
• Fire Truck Display by Corolla Fire & Rescue
• Face Painting, Corn Hole, Croquet & Other Fun Games
• Rock Wall Climbing
• Lighthouse Climbing – FREE for Currituck County Residents
Get your tie dye out of the closet! Fun surf contest tomorrow for a good cause.
The Tie Dye Nation will be holding a surf contest Sept. 11th at 8 a.m. at Martin Street in Kill Devil Hills, NC.
There will be 16 adults and 16 groms in the contest! Awards will be handed out to the top surfer in each division.
The entry fee for the contest is canned food items. All canned food collected will then be given to the outer banks food bank. For more information please visit their website at www.thetiedyenation.com
Eastern Surfing Association – Grand Finals
September 19-25
The Outer Banks is a world-class surf destination. Arguably the best surf on the East Coast, and on great days (like the Hurricane Earl surf), the OBX can compete with almost any other surf local. Hopefully the conditions line up for a great competition in late September.
Expect a week of great surfing at Cape Hatteras with the largest amateur surfing association in the world, the Eastern Surfing Association or ESA, with a current membership of over 7,000 surfers. Men, women, boys and girls of all ages. Competition headquarters will be at the Natural Art Surf Shop in Buxton, NC. The Easterns competition series is big news in the surfing world. surfesa.org
Get your “Aarrggghh!” on during 4 days of Pirate Madness!
Authentic Pirates will be pillaging local restaurants and businesses including Kellys, Pamlico Jacks, Mako Mikes, Big Al’s, Jolly Roger, Outer Banks Brewing Station, and Kitty Hawk Kites!
September 19th is National Talk Like A Pirate Day, so practice your best “Aarrgh!” and bring the kids to the Scalliwag School For Scoundrels at the Kitty Hawk Kites store in Nags Head on September 19.
Hurricane Earl cruised by the Outer Banks last week, and he gave the OBX quite a scare. Packing 145 mph winds at its peak and passing only 80 miles off the coast, Earl was very difficult to predict, and he forced a mandatory evacuation of the islands for all visitors.
Luckily, his bark was worse than his bite, and the Outer Banks only saw tropical storm force winds and heavy rains. Minor damage and some flooding followed, but it could have been much worse.
As the silver lining, surf was epic. The following day, the sun was shining and the surfers were out in full force. Both before and after the storm, Earl sent monster waves that were cleaned nicely by the west winds. Near perfect OBX surf.
And near perfect weather for Labor Day weekend. Fall on the Outer Banks is in full swing…arguably the best time to be on the OBX.
