Outer Banks: 2011 World Championships of Surf Kayaking Highlights – Jennette’s Pier, Nags Head NC

Posted on October 15, 2011

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 Beach, Surf, & Fishing Report – 9.29.11 – 2011 World Championships of Surf Kayaking

Posted on September 29, 2011

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!

2011 World Championships of Surf Kayaking Headed to the Outer Banks!

Posted on September 25, 2011

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/.