Jordan's Favorite Discovered Wave

The other day I posted a story about Outer Banks Everyday Magic, and I mentioned that I’m in the lucky position to get to read every story that is submitted. As I’m going through the stories, I’m amazed by the passion people feel for the Outer Banks, and many times I get goose bumps just reading the story.

Well, today we’re going to take the goose bumps to another level. I’m going to share an amazing story of Outer Banks Everyday Magic with you, but first I want to offer a bit of a lead-in.

I’ll preface this post by saying that it is a bit lengthy, but the story is awesome. So, get comfy and be prepared for goosebumps…or even more spontaneous emotion.

Last week I came across the below video and posted it on our Facebook page, adding that it is one of the best Outer Banks surfing videos I’ve seen.

The description of the video is what grabbed my attention. So,I decided to reach out to the videographer, Jordan, to see if he wanted to share his story. Lucky for us, he was eager to share.

The description of the video grabbed my attention because it described someone that had overcome a tremendous amount of obstacles in life and credited a lot of his success to the ocean, surfing and the Outer Banks. That seems pretty magical.

Without much background, I was immediately reminded of an awesome surf film I saw a year or so ago – possibly my favorite surf movie based on the pure love of surfing that comes through in the movie. The movie is Just Add Water, and it is a documentary-style film that follows Clay Marzo, a professional surfer that also happens to have Aspergers Syndrome – a form of autism. Clay is an amazing surfer, but beyond his surfing skills, I was moved by his love and single-minded focus on the ocean and the waves. I can relate.

This love and focus on the ocean is something that all ocean/beach lovers (and OBX lovers) can relate to, but we all need to make it a stronger focus to keep us happy and healthy, and to take care of our environment.

I recently read an awesome article in Outside magazine that discusses a marine biologist using neuroscience to demonstrate that the ocean makes us happier and healthier. He refers to this ocean-minded focus as the “Blue Mind,” and he recommends that “we live like we love the ocean.” Pretty great advice.

After I contacted Jordan, and he agreed to share his story, I mentioned Just Add Water, and this was his response:

“Just Add Water” is my favorite dvd, I watch it over and over and over. Even though I can’t surf like Clay, when I watch him on that dvd, how he acts, etc. I feel like I am watching myself.  I feel like it’s another me.”

Jordan then went on to pull out my favorite quote from the movie: As Clay Marzo says “waves are toys from God.”

I don’t think it could be said any better than that.

Let’s get to Jordan’s story of his Outer Banks Everyday Magic. As Jordan mentions in his story, he is becoming quite an artist, and he has graciously shared some of his work. Over the next week or so, I’ll share more of Jordan’s photos, paintings, drawings, and poems. Stay tuned.

Jordan, thanks for having such a strong “blue mind,” being such a strong person, and sharing your amazing story. Keep hunting those toys from God.

My name is Jordan. I was born April 22, 1984 on Easter morning in Warren, OH. 27 years later, I’m living my dream on the Outer Banks. Here’s my story of Outer Banks magic.

I was born cross-eyed with double vision, no depth perception and asthma. Since then, I have been diagnosed with Epilepsy (seizure disorder), Crohns Disease, ADHD, Asthma, Arthritis, Autism, and possibly MS.

In school, I wasn’t a bad kid, just disruptive and could not pay attention to anything. I would only do something if I was told not to do it.  I was gifted and special ed. at the same time, so I had to learn everything on my own.

Growing up, I loved sports (especially basketball), exploring nature, and most of all THE OCEAN! I played sports, but my health problems caused accidents, surgery, and sickness to ruin my future in those. The ocean became my focus.

Every year I would record “Shark Week” on the Discovery Channel, and I would watch them over and over and over again, every single day.  My dream job was to be a marine biologist. I just always had a deep feeling of peace and home with the ocean.

Numerous summers we would go to Carolina Beach in Wilmington, but even though I loved the ocean there it is nothing compared to the Outer Banks to me.

The first time I saw the ocean all I can remember is running into it as fast as I could. Even as a young child I loved to play in the big waves. Seeing and being in those waves was so glorious to me. Every time we left the beach and went back to Ohio, I would become depressed and life would be sucked out of me until we returned to the ocean.  I just love water and especially waves.  As Clay Marzo says “waves are toys from God”

I graduated high school in 2003, and went on to college. I first attended Mount Vernon Nazarene University and played basketball.  After one year, I transferred to Youngstown State University majoring in Early Childhood Education.  I spent a lot of my school time in the hospital from my health problems and my immune system is weak, plus my health can’t withstand the cold weather conditions in Ohio.

I majored in Early Childhood Ed. because it was the only thing not boring to me. I am like a big kid, and I have a gift with children.

I was still in college when I moved to the Outer Banks. I would work on the OBX in the summer, go back to school in the fall, and return in the summer until I graduated in December of 2009. Then I moved to the Outer Banks permanently.

Before moving to the OBX, I was completely medicated for all my medical conditions, and the medications created deep depression because of the unbalanced chemicals in my brain.  Depression got so bad I planned suicide for years; one bullet in the clip.  Finally I took that step and shot myself. The bullet missed my pulmonary artery by splitting in half and going around it, saving me from instant death.

Although I shot myself, it’s not substantial considering I have almost died many times before and after that happened. Let’s just say being shot hurts a lot, and it is very scary when you’re laying there suffocating – all I could do was ask God to spare me, and He did.

One year later, in 2007, I moved to Avon to work and be where I love, on the ocean. I had never been to the Outer Banks until I came here in 2007. When I first came across the bridge it was exactly like a dream I used to have as a child going across that bridge. But I had never seen it before arriving in 2007.

I always told my parents I was going to live on an island one day. So when I was offered the chance to work for Ocean Atlantic Rentals, I took it. I chose Avon out of all the locations of OAR because it has the best waves.

I made the move to the Outer Banks on my own, without knowing anyone.  It was a very difficult move because change bothers the autistic man very much, but I was so happy to be free on the sea, and I never wanted to leave…and still don’t.

At one point early in my adventure, I was living in hammock in my friend’s back yard; my bedroom had become my friends yard.  In that hammock I was still happy. Even when my friends would come to wake me up during a rain to come sleep inside, I would be too out of it resting peacefully in the rain to even notice. My mom and dad will be the first to say that I can make any room a mess, and it’s funny how I could even make a yard messy. I’m happy to say I have my own apartment now.

After graduating, and moving to the Outer Banks permanently, I put my teacher certification to use and  worked with autistic children  at the elementary school,  but my health caused me to miss too many days; so now I just sub every now and then.

I love working with the kids though.  What I enjoy about teaching is being with innocent souls that are still fresh out of heaven and have no prejudices or judgments on you or others and do nothing but love and express themselves freely. Also, when they’re so young you have a chance to place something great and wonderful in the cornerstone of their being that can last their lifetime. This means you can make a difference to someone’s life by being a wonderful loving teacher to a child who may come from a rough background; it gives them belief and hope in life.  All my health conditions help me relate to all different children well. I have compassion and know how they feel and what they’re truly going through – it’s a gift and a curse.

I was engaged to a local Hatteras girl for a while, but I think I need to find a girl who is either autistic or loves the ocean…or both. When I say loves the ocean I mean REALLY loves the ocean.

These days, I substitute teach a little bit, but most of the time I spend exploring different lonely beaches and searching for good waves and surfing.

When I moved here I just fell in love with surfing. I paddle out when it’s flat or when it’s crazy….I just don’t care. I want to be within mother ocean’s waters.  She loosens up my joints, muscles, relieves my headaches, fixes my balance, and on goes the list.  Ever since I moved here I don’t spend time constantly in the hospital like I did in Ohio.  The hospital was my second home, much of my life has been there.  Now I surf.

I go to the beach everyday and even get in the water if there is no waves – it really is the only thing that physically, emotionally, spiritually, etc, makes me feel better. With my health now, walking and standing is very painful (which many don’t realize because I don’t complain), but in the water that pain drifts away like a fast moving front.  Feeling weightless just loosens up all my body, and I become one with the water. It is so amazing how healing mother ocean really is; her salty waters are a miracle, and my life is proof of this.

I feel so much better because I have a place where I can explore and constantly find new things every day.  The warm weather heals me – I almost died a few times in Ohio, I can’t withstand the environment there.  Also, the salt in the air and ocean are part of the healing.

I am stronger and in much better shape than when I was in Ohio. I am more active and soooo much happier.  I still struggle but compared to Ohio it’s night and day.

I am starting photography, finding out I can paint, writing poetry, and I really got into music when I moved here too – my favorite instrument to play is the harmonica.

My health has come to the point where I can’t work consistently, so now I’m in debt looking for a way I can be of use and support myself.  I am hoping someone will discover my art, poetry, and photography because I love doing those things, and they allow me a lot of time for my therapy – surfing!

I don’t know why I’m doing what I’m doing because I’m not making money, but I know there is some reason I have come as far as I have. Doing something with surfing is my dream job, but it’s not my dream job to make money for me. I want to be able to support myself and use all the rest to help others – mainly children.

There are people on the Outer Banks that I don’t even know that have helped me. My family has helped me but my family is not rich in money so it’s a constant worry, but God supports the birds and provides for them and they worry about nothing.  So I believe somehow, some way He will provide for me too.

All I can say is after all I have been through with my life it’s already been a long shot that I made it this far. I only made it this far because of my faith; people just don’t believe anymore and it’s what we all need to do.  All I’ve done is believe with all my heart and now here I am – enjoying toys from God.

Jordan, your stoke is infectious. I’m stoked just reading your story. Stay blue minded, and keep sending me your art so I can share it with the world.

I’d love to hear your story of Outer Banks Everyday Magic too. Please use the form below to share your story with me.

Outer Banks: 11.1.11 - Ocean Raging at Avalon Pier

Happy November! Hope you had a great Halloween. The Mrs. and I took the kiddos on an awesome hay ride to trick or treat around Kitty Hawk. So fun!

But where does the time go?! Can you believe it’s already time to think about Thanksgiving?! (side note: Have you ever been to the Outer Banks during the holiday season? Awesome time to be here. And we have some great deals on gorgeous houses!)

On to the business of the day: It’s overcast & windy to start today, but the sun is fighting its way out. We have a low pressure system hanging out with us for a few days, and it’s bringing cool temps and some wind…and some raging seas! Temps are in the 60′s today with a stiff northeast wind.

The low pressure system and the stiff wind is pushing in some big swell. The ocean is raging today.

The cooler temps and heavy wind are slowing down the fishing…Avalon Pier is empty this morning! But the bright side of this funky weather is that we have swell in the head high range.

There’s no surf out there today, but the forecast looks like it could be shaping up for fantastic surf on Thursday. The swell is going to stay in the head high range through the rest of the week, and it looks like the wind could drop significantly, and switch offshore, Thursday leaving head high clean surf for the taking. Fingers crossed that the conditions will line up.

The OBX surf forecast is looking awesome for Thursday, and possibly Friday! Here’s the Outer Banks surf forecast from SwellInfo.com:

Outer Banks Surf Forecast - 11.1.11

If surf conditions stay on this path, the word is that the Battle of the Banks could run on Thursday. The Battle is one of the best surf contests on the Outer Banks, if not the entire East Coast. A team from Outer Banks vs. a team from Virginia Beach hunting for the biggest, baddest surf and deepest barrels they can find with the motivation of bragging rights on the line. The last few years have been nothing short of amazing. I’ll be sure to get out there for some video again this year. Here’s the highlight reel from the 2010 Battle of the Banks:

Outer Banks: 2011 World Championships of Surf Kayaking

September went out, and October arrived, with a bang on the Outer Banks. Actually, it was more of a splash…a big splash; a worldwide splash.

Fall on the Outer Banks is awesome. Empty beaches, warm weather, warm water, and fantastic surf. The perfect time to bring a huge surf kayaking contest to the OBX!

For 10 days, from September 29th – October 9th, the 2011 World Championships of Surf Kayaking were held on the Outer Banks, specifically at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, NC.

This is a huge contest. It is  held every two years, and the last event was in Brazil; we are very happy that it found its way to the Outer Banks. 10 days worth of events, contestants from all over the world, a wide variety of event categories, and the Outer Banks provided some perfect conditions. The weather and waves varied a bit over the 10 day period, but there was plenty of sun, a lot of great waves, and some amazing kayaking.

I was able to make it to the event five of the ten days. It was great to see so much excitement and energy on the beach…and in the water. I couldn’t get there everyday, but I made sure to get there when all of the fickle surf ingredients lined up to throw some great waves our way. And there were plenty of gorgeous waves to go around.

I’ll let the official website of the event (http://www.worldchampionshipsofsurfkayaking.com/) offer the full recaps, including opening and closing ceremonies and list of  winners, but I do want to share some of great surf kayaking highlights…and amazing OBX waves.

Sit back, kick up your feet, enjoy the scenery; the waves and kayaking are mesmerizing…and don’t forget to turn up the speakers, I think you’ll enjoy the jam from Foster the People – “Pumped Up Kicks.”

Hope to see y’all kayakers back on the OBX soon!…thanks for the show.

Outer Banks: 10.3.11 - Sunrise

Good afternoon. Here’s the Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report for Monday, October 3, 2011.

This video was shot from 6:30 AM – 11:00 AM in Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, & Nags Head.

The report is out a bit late today because it’s been a busy morning! I was up bright and early to catch the sunrise, and then headed south to Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head to catch a sunrise surf session for myself, and some video of the 2011 World Championships of Surf Kayaking for the report. From there, I bounced north back to the office in Kitty Hawk checking some the waves at a few surf spots.

And I must say, the morning was a success. The sunrise was gorgeous, the waves at Jennette’s Pier were about as good as can be, so the surf session was a great way to start the day, and the Surf Kayaking contest is awesome.

So, here we are in October. Happy October! One of the best months on the OBX, and it’s getting off to a great start. It feels like fall…and that’s not a bad thing. Temps dropped from the low 80′s at the end of last week to the high 60′s this weekend. While that is a pretty steep drop, it’s felt great. The sun is shining, there’s a light offshore breeze, and the water is in the 70′!

Today, and the rest of the week, will continue with much of the same; sun, upper 60′s, warm water, and empty beaches. Gotta love fall on the OBX!

The surf picked up yesterday, and it was near perfect. Chest+ waves with an offshore breeze keeping the faces nice and clean. The swell dropped a bit this morning, but Jennette’s Pier has been one of the best OBX breaks recently, and it was still in the chest+ range this morning. Perfect conditions for the 2011 World Championships of Surf Kayaking going on there this week.

The swell will fade today, and pick up towards the end of the week, but the current forecast doesn’t have the wind matching up. Hopefully that will change and the wind will come offshore again. Fingers crossed. We’ll keep you posted.

As for fishing, fall fishing has arrived! OBX fishing is going strong. Offshore they are catching their limits of black and yellow fin tuna. The bridges, piers, surf, and Sound are all very active with a wide variety of fish – blue fish, Spanish mackerel, spot, croakers, pompano, black drum, and as of October 1, striper season is now open on the Outer Banks!

My favorite time to be on the OBX! Hope to see you soon. Have fun!

Outer Banks: 2011 World Championships of Surf Kayaking

Good morning. Here’s the Outer Banks Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report for Thursday, September 29, 2011.

This video was shot at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head at 7:30 AM.

I was up bright an early to head down to Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head to catch some surf and catch the opening day of the 2011 World Championships of Surf Kayaking. I had to hold off for a few minutes for a thunder storm to move out to sea, but it turned out to be a beautiful morning…and a beautiful day.

The sun is shining, air temps are in the 80′s and water temps at 74 degrees. This will stick with us for tomorrow, and then the weekend starts to feel like fall. Temps will drop to the high 60′s for the weekend, but plenty of sun, some good swell in the water, and temps will jump back to the upper 70′s early next week.

We have a nice offshore breeze cleaning up the waist high surf today, but the swell is fading today and tomorrow before it jumps over the weekend as Tropical Storm/Hurricane Ophelia moves through the Atlantic. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like the wind will cooperate with the swell this weekend.

But the big news in the water is that the 2011 World Championships of Surf Kayaking kicks off today at Jennette’s Pier. Today is a free surf, a setup day, and the opening ceremonies. The first round of the contest starts tomorrow morning at 8 AM sharp. Hopefully the surf cooperates, but the weather and water temps should be great, so it will be a fun competition at any rate.

This is a pretty significant event. The Championships are a worldwide event, so contests are on the OBX from around the world. It is held every two years, and the last event was in Portugal. We are very excited to have such a great event on the Outer Banks. Definitely worth a trip to Nags Head if you are in the area. Jennette’s Pier is gorgeous, and this kayakers can do some amazing things in the water.

OBX fishing is going strong. Definitely settling in to some great fall fishing. Offshore is catching their limits on yellow and black fin tuna. The piers, bridges, surf, and Sound are very consistent with a wide variety of fish – speckled trout, blue fish, pompano, croaker, sea mullet, Spanish mackerel, spot, black drum. A great time to be fishing on the OBX!

Hope to see you soon. Have fun!

Outer Banks Surf Contest: 2011 Throw Down North of Town

Some local OBX boys doing good and giving back to the community they love.

Three years ago, local Outer Banks’ers (is that a word?…probably not), and surf enthusiasts, Greg Sherman, Stephen Lamm, and Randy Jones decided that they wanted to do something for the OBX community they hold near and dear to their hearts. So, they figured they would stick to something they know well, surfing. And the Throw Down North of Town surf competition was born.

The contest was started with the mindset of developing  it into a yearly event where local surfers from the Outer Banks could come together, enjoy a day at the beach, compete, and most of all support a great cause.

The annual surf competition is open to everyone (although this year there will be a pro heat!), and the event is designed as a fund raiser for an Outer Banks charity. The charity changes year to year based on need.

In 2009, all proceeds went to support the Surfrider Foundation. The 2010 proceeds and donations were handed over to the Rainey family to help with some major medical expenses for a 13 year old suffering from a brain aneurysm.  The 2011 proceeds will be donated to the Outer Banks Cancer Research Center.

A huge boost for the event also comes from the help of local OBX pro surfer, Noah Snyder and Hurley, who will be on site enjoying the show and adding to the festivities.

It’s a great event with some awesome Outer Banks people, great OBX vibes, all for a fantastic cause. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for great weather, and even more important, some great surf.

Throw Down North of Town
Saturday, October 8th, 2011

• Chicahauk Beach Access
• Registration starts at 8 am
• Contest starts at 9am
• Trophies, Prizes and Give-Aways at the end!
• $15 Donation (Includes T-shirt) - Proceeds to benefit Outer Banks Cancer Research Center

Divisions

• Push’n Go: 10 and under
• Gidgets: All Ages
• Barneys: 11 and under
• Groms: 13-16
• Hot Doggers: 17-28
• Dudes: 29-39
• Kahunas: 40+
• Open Longboard: All Ages

Outer Banks: 2011 World Championships of Surf Kayaking

Fall on the Outer Banks is in full effect, and we have been enjoying some great weather, great fishing, and a lot of exciting events. This past week the OBX had the pleasure of hosting the 2011 ESA (Eastern Surf Association) finals and the 2011 Outer Banks Pro at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head…and the excitement is just getting started.

In less than a week, the 2011 World Championships of Surf Kayaking are set to kick of in Nags Head at Jennette’s Pier. This is quite an event, and the weather, and surf forecasts are looking good. If you have not had the opportunity to witness professional surf kayaking, I highly recommend a visit to the Nags Head beach to take in the sights and sounds…and definitely take a look at the video below. It is amazing what they can do in a kayak on those waves!…and highly entertaining.

The World Championships of Surf Kayaking is an event that occurs every two years.  The Eastern Surf Kayaking Association won the bid for the 2011 championships, and it will take place in Nags Head from Sept 29-Oct 8.

Competitors and spectators from all over the world! –  Australia, Japan, England, Spain, US West and East, Canada, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Portugal and elsewhere.

You can follow the progress of the event at http://www.worldchampionshipsofsurfkayaking.com/.

Outer Banks: Jennette's Pier - OBX Pro 2011

Good afternoon. Here’s the Outer Banks, Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report for Friday, September, 23, 2011.

This video was shot at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head at 11:00 AM.

Finn and I made our way to Jennette’s Pier this morning to catch not one, but two OBX surf contests taking place; the amerature ESA finals to the north of the pier, and the Outer Banks Pro to the south of the pier.

Luckily, the rain that has been in the forecast has held off, and we have a great day with sun, temps in the 80′s and water temps around 73 degrees. We should have rain on and off throughout the weekend, but hopefully the sun sticks around.

The swell has dropped a bit today, so the waves are on the small side; about waist high with some chest high sets coming through. The swell will be building back up as the day goes on, and tomorrow looks like great conditions for the contests with waves in the chest high range.

Even better, next Tuesday looks like it could be great with clean waves in the head high range…keep your fingers crossed.

OBX fishing is going strong. Tight lines all around. Offshore is catching black and yellow fin tuna, dolphin, and some bill fish. The piers, bridges, surf, and Sound are consistent with a wide variety of fish – blues, stripers, spot, croakers, pompano, black drum, some red drum, sheeps head, Spanish Mackerel.

Great time to on the beach…and catching fish…or waves!

Hope to see you soon. Have fun!

The kids are back at school, the days are warm while the nights are cool, the beaches are empty, but the water is warm, the fish are biting, and the surf is up! There’s a change in the air – OBX fall is here…and it’s a great thing!

The 2011 Outer Banks fall season is already living up to all of the hype that us locals give it. (Mother Nature’s way of repaying us for that nasty Irene that wreaked so much havoc?) The weather has been more than we could hope for – sunny, 80′s during the day, 70′s at night, light winds, water in the upper 70′s.  The fishing has been great; a plentiful bounty all around – offshore, near shore, piers, bridges, surf, & Sound. And the surf has been bumping.

Hurricane Katia stayed out to sea and sent some gnarly overhead barrels (here’s a great photo gallery from ESPN), and the swell has stuck with us ever since. We’ve been enjoying waist to chest, clean sets all week – did I mention it’s sunny, 80, and the water is as warm as the air?!…oh yeah, and plenty of space to find a wave all yourself! Classic OBX waves. Below is a quick video I shot on Wednesday morning before my sunrise surf session.

Tropical Storm Maria is currently rolling through the Atlantic and starting to send swell towards the OBX. The swell will jump to overhead through the weekend, but we’ll have a strong northeast wind blowing, so not much opportunity for surf. Hopefully we’ll continue our great streak of surf with some fun leftovers early next week. Finger crossed.

Outer Banks Surf Forecast - 9.15.11

In addition to all of this fun for us novice surfers, the fall is bringing in some awesome surf contests.

• ESA Finals: Transworld Surf is reporting that the ESA (Eastern Surf Association) finals are on for the Outer Banks. The ESA finals have been held in Hatteras for 30 + years. Awesome, right? Well, Hurricane Irene through a wrench in the planning for this year’s competition. With Hatteras inaccessible due to road damage, the call has been made to move the contest 50 miles north to Nags Head. Starting on September 18, one of the best (and longest running) surf contests on the East Coast will kick of at Jennette’s Pier. Awesome location, and with the potential for some great leftovers from Tropical Storm Maria, this could be a banging contest. I’ll get us some footage next week…you’re on the edge of your seat, I know. 

ESA Finals on at Jennette's Pier in Nags Head

• Volcom Cooterfish: Once again, Volcom is bringing their totally curstacious grom fest to the OBX, and it’s kicking of this Saturday. Based on the swell forecast, it could be a doozy. Definitely worth checking out. Free lunch, a bunch of prizes, custom trophies, cash prizes for competitors and plenty of divisions to choose from. Top 3 finishers will qualify for the 2012 VQS World Champs. Kicking off at 7 AM 9/17 at the 5th St. beach access…just behind the KMart.

2011 Volcom Cooterfish

• Outer Banks Pro: Last, but certainly not least, The Outer Banks Pro is kicking off at Jennette’s Pier from September 23 – 25. Always an awesome surfing display with pros from up and down the East coast. This year the Outer Banks Pro has a prize purse of $30,000, and it’s a trial for the Battle of the Banks (stay tune for more info on this totally rad show!). If you’re from VB or OB not only can you win your portion of the purse but if you’re one of the top finishers from your town you go on to the opening round of the Battle!!

2011 Outer Banks Pro

PS – Here’s a quick video of some highlights from last year’s Battle of the Banks…coming soon to an OBX near you:

Rip Curl Grom Search

The Rip Curl GromSearch is a global series for the best young surfers around the world to showcase their talent…and it’s coming to the Outer Banks August 20- 21, 2011.

In the US, the Rip Curl GromSearch brings the best surfers from across the nation to their local, regional competition with the hopes of making the Rip Curl National Final at the Rip Curl Pro Search Somewhere in San Francisco in the Fall.

The 2011 North American series is made up of 4 regional championship events and the winners of each event advances to the National Final to compete for the title of Rip Curl GromSearch National Champion.

The first-ever Rip Curl GromSearch was held at Jan Juc, Torquay, Australia in 1999. This led to the creation of a National series including Europe, the United States, Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia, and New Zealand.

Entry is easy. To log on to check out dates, locations and availability, click here

MID ATLANTIC
Stop 3:

Rip Curl GromSearch OBX, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina 2011

Start: Saturday, August 20, 2011 @ 8:00 AM
End: Sunday, August 21, 2011 @ 3:59 PM