Outer Banks Surf Update 2.15.11

Posted on February 15, 2011

Matt Lusk - Hurricane Earl Outer Banks Surf

We’ve hit the tail end of February. Spring is right around the corner…possibly early if you believe that furry prognosticator Phil. The birds are starting to chirp and the OBX weather is starting to warm up. I hear it could be 70 degrees by the end of the week?!

For any of the hardcore Outer Banks surf enthusiasts that brave the frigid elements to surf through the winter, keep on keep’n on (Ah hem, I’ll include myself in this category this year…every year is different depending on one’s motivational level.). For all of those fair weather fans, time to start dusting off the board…and your wetsuit…the water will still be chilly for a while. To help with your level of motivation, here’s a quick update on the OBX surf scene.

1. ESPN ran a great segment titled “Characters of the Outer Banks” that does an amazing job touching on all of the aspects of the Outer Banks surf world…professional riders, free riders, filmmakers, photographers, shapers, living legends. The OBX has them all, and ESPN offers a great gallery of pictures and overviews of the characters that add so much character to OBX surfing.

2. Last year (2010) a relatively unknown kid from the OBX stormed into Hawaii and nailed a perfect 10 at the Volcom Pipeline Pro. And Brett Barley’s star was born. Brett returned to Pipe this year, but he, and his board, didn’t fare so well. But at the end of the day, he’s surfing in Hawaii while the OBX has 39 degree water temps, so we can’t really feel bad for him. Below is a quick video of Brett’s highlights and his explanation of his demolished board.

3. Let’s stay on the topic of Mr. Barley. Matt Lusk (fab local surf photog…also covered in the Outer Banks Characters link above) just reported on his blog that he and Brett scored the cover of the magazine Local Sessions for the Feb/March issue. Congrats on another cover Matt, and a huge thumbs up to Brett for his fist cover! How could this be Brett’s first cover?! Brett, get in front of that lens dude. The issue also includes a “Behind the Lens” interview with Matt.

Matt Lusk, Bett Barley - Local Sessions

4. To round out the Outer Banks Surf Update, let’s see what local surf pro Jesse Hines is up to. Ah, a road trip. In the biggest sense of the term road trip…half way around the world to New Zeland. Surfer Magazine recently uploaded a video titled “Restless Road 2” that highlights a recent surf trip Jesse took with Mike Losness and Peter Devries. The website doesn’t offer much intro to the video, but I can tell you it offers a surfers view of some amazing landscape and even better waves. Well worth the watch. You can find the video here.

4A. But traveling around the world isn’t enough for Mr. Hines. Somehow Jesse also finds time for a fledgling music career. The Wave, a newspaper out of Delaware, recently caught up with Jesse while he was on the road promoting his new CD ”In the Right Time.” You can find Jesse music on his MySpace page.

Great Photo Essay of Outer Banks Professional Surfer

Posted on July 21, 2010

Jesse Hines Surfer Cover

Jesse Hines is a professional surfer and Outer Banks local that grew up riding the OBX waves. He is a seasoned veteran of the surf and the camera. Jesse has graced the cover of surf mags and been in front of the lens modeling surf apparel for years.

A recent photo essay on GetInTheVan.com does an amazing job of depicting Jesse’s prowess on the waves, but the most appealing aspect of the essay is the connection the pictures and the captions create with the person, not merely the surfer. By all accounts, Jesse is not only a great surfer, but also a good companion to share tight quarters with on a surf, or life, excursion.

Enjoy the photo essay.

Outer Banks Surf Update – 6.10.10

Posted on June 10, 2010

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:

ESPN Surfing has a great gallery of photos of the action all along the East Coast.
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.
Surfline offers an overview of the storm and some quotes from the East Coast pros.
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.

Surfer Magazine Looks Into Off Road Vehicle Driving on the Outer Banks

Posted on April 16, 2010

Surfer Magazine

Surfer Magazine recently ran an article discussing the issue of off road vehicle (ORV) driving along the beaches on the Outer Banks. It’s a controversial issue with locals, business owners and tourists who believe beach driving is a way of life on the OBX and a large draw for tourists pitted against environmental groups attempting to save nesting birds.

As a general theme, surfers usually side with environmental groups; afterall, the beach and the ocean are treasures that surfers want to maintain and preserve. However, access to the same beaches and oceans they want to preserve is cruical…there isn’t much sense fighting to preserve a secluded break if you can’t get to it. So, this is one issue where it seems surfers and environmentalists are parting ways.

Surfer takes the opportunity to interview local OBX surf pro Jesse Hines to get his thoughts on the matter. Here’s a great quote from Jesse:

“To me, driving on the beach defines this place. It gives you a sense of freedom and adventure that only the Outer Banks can offer.”

Outer Banks Surf Update 3.9.10

Posted on March 9, 2010

Matt Lusk

The Outer Banks is a very unique surfing environment, especially during the winter months. The remote location of the OBX along the mid-Atlantic coast means that the beach breaks are generally empty during the winter, but mid-Atlantic waters are still plenty cold.

Days are short, water is cold, but the breaks are empty, and great surf doesn’t hibernate for the winter. So, while surfing in early March may not be on the “to do” list for most, there are hardcore surfers along the Outer Banks that see a great opportunity for beautiful surf with no competition for waves.

Last week, Matt Lusk traded his digital camera for a video camera to capture two local Outer Banks pro surfers enjoying thick, chocolate barrels all to themselves. It takes a strong commitment and a thick wetsuit, but the payoff is huge. The video highlights Jesse Hines, who is recently back to the lineup after broken leg last fall, and Brett Barley, who captivated the surfing world in January with his “Cinderella story” at the Pipeline Pro.

View the video here.

ESPN Interviews Outer Banks Professional Surfer Jesse Hines

Posted on December 6, 2009

Mickey “2M” McCarthy

Jesse Hines grew up on the Outer Banks and honed is surfing skills on all of the local OBX breaks. With some guidance from fellow Outer Banks local and fellow surf professional, Noah Snyder, Jesse has developed into a well-renowned professional surfer highly regarded for his ability to find his way into the cavernous space inside a wave, the barrel.

Jesse’s skills have been displayed in video, print, online, etc. Last year, Jesse made the cover of Surfer, was awarded “best barrel” by Billabong, and won “best barrel” at the WRV Battle of the Banks competition.

Unfortunately, the fall of 2009 brought Jesse some unlucky news, a broken leg, but nature tends to balance itself out; limiting one faculty generally leads to greater appreciation of other aspects of life. Jesse has been off his board for a month or two, but he has found a great opportunity to slow down and focus on his family and his interest in music.

ESPN surfing caught up with Jesse last week to see how his recovery is progressing.

Local Outer Banks Surfer (Jesse Hines) Makes the Cover of Surfer Magazine!

Posted on January 12, 2009

OBX local and professional surfer, Jesse Hines, graces the cover of the January 2009 edition of Surfer Magazine. This is a huge accomplishment for any surfer, and the dream of all “groms” (grom = young surfer) practicing the fine art of wave sliding.

Jesse grew up on the Outer Banks and fine-tuned his surfing prowess at the breaks in his backyard…yet another example of the world-class quality of the Outer Banks waves.

Jesse recently sat down with the Outer Banks Sentinel for a great interview.

In addition to the January edition of Surfer, Jesse Hines is also on the cover of the January 2009 issue of Eastern Surf Magazine (ESM).

Congratulations to Jesse for his great accomplishments.

Outer Banks Native Scores “Best Barrel” for Local Surf

Posted on October 22, 2008

Once again the Outer Banks is highlighted as a worldclass surf destination.

Outer Banks local Jesse Hines scored the summer’s “Best Barrel” in Billabong’s Freewave Challenge. Jesse took advantage of the great swell gifted to the Outer Banks by Hurricane Ike in early September. Jesse charged a thick tube and successfully escaped before the wave crashed. View the impressive video footage here: http://freewave.billabong.com/nominees/barrel_nominee/index.html.

Not only does Jesse get the benefit of an amazing ride and bragging rights, but he was also awarded $3,000 from Billabong for his feat.

Congratulations to Jesse.