OBX Beach Life 2009 Header of the Year - FINAL ROUND!

We are at the FINAL ROUND of the 2009 OBX Beach Life Photo Header of the Year contest! Please vote for your top choice header of 2009!
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Poll for the FINAL ROUND closes midnight,Dec 29. The 2009 OBX Beach Life Header of the Year will be announced New Years Eve!

OBX Beach Life 2009 Header of the Year Contest - Heat THREE

Please vote for your top choice header in Heat THREE of the 2009 OBX Beach Life Photo Header of the Year contest! Note, there will be three heats with a final round for the top choice.
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Poll for Heat THREE closes midnight,Dec 17.

You Missed IT!!, Weekend Wavesailing Score at Coquina Beach AGAIN!!

Wow, this place simply is the best long line DTL wavesailing found in Hatteras right now! Who knows though, it could be gone tomorrow based upon our shifting sand conditions here on the islands. Though for now, it simply rocks at Coquina! The closest I could compare would be the north end of Ocracoke a few years ago just outside the mouth of the inlet where long large lines marched in providing excellent DTL wavesailing. However, that area only worked when it was relatively big and often was bumpy due to the currents funneling in/out of the inlet. I am not sure if it is even happening there now since I have not been out there in a while.

Whereas at Coquina, I guess it must simply be the land orientation and the combo of SE ocean swell and SSW or S wind direction, along with the awesome outer sand bars found there since mid-summer.

Today, it was ugly from the beach with spitting rain, a messy Lounge with a fair amount of white water, and moderate shorepound. However, once outside, the outer bar (well over 100+ yards offshore on the set wave takeoff) was pure magic! I sailed for three hours straight and it reminded me of the wave conveyor belt in Maui, minus the sunny skies and board trunks! The sets were solid head+ high lines which marched in with 3 to 5 count regularity. I always picked up number 3 or 4 and remained relatively high on the swell face for the upwind ride. Once at the takeoff, it was simply long, smooth, big wave faces, with crumbly sections for the hit! If you were conservative, you could ride the big ones effortlessly, with a minimum of 4 to 5 turns before the kickout on butter smooth faces. If you got a little more aggressive, you could go deep into the bottom turn, and approach the steep lip, but the giants were gentle, and re-entry was no problem. I did not go down on any of the big ones, but I could definitely feel some power under the 92 Tempo as I re-entered down the crumbly section after a hit, and dropped back out ahead of the section ready for another bottom turn. Simply awesome out there!!

Again, I was SOLO!! There were a few wave kiters who arrived when I did, but they were doing a downwinder, so by the time I launched, they were near the Nags Head southern town limits. The remainder of the session, I was solo, but kept looking for someone to arrive, as the report was out on the conditions. The kit today consisted of the 4.7m Legend and the 92 Tempo. The first half of the session was well powered on the 4.7m, and the second half lightened up, but I remained on the 4.7m and the light air wavesailing was great. Actually, the best wave riding was found once the wind calmed down, and I was marginally powered. However, on the wave, I had plenty of juice, and the surf was super clean, and long!! I actually did have to walk about a mile back to my truck on the beach, but it was due to all the 6+ turn rides I was getting. The waves were simply sooooo long, often I kept going even though I knew I should kick out to remain in position for upwind capability, but heck the surf was too good...

All in all, for the pure wavesailing aficionado Coquina Beach is the spot in Hatteras right now for SE ocean swell, and SSW/S wind combo. Seems this setup has been occurring frequently this year, so hopefully it continues. Definitely saves airfare to Maui!?! : )

Here are a few shots from today that do it no justice (definitely needed to be out there to experience it):

Coqunia Beach, South Nags Head SCORES Again!!

UPDATE: Photos added! Though, with the point and shoot, it does not really do it justice... I called Yana yesterday to see if she was available to come out and shoot the sesh, but received an email today that she is in Hawaii for the Eddie Aikau contest! Lucky girl!!

Wow, there is something about the set up at Coqunia Beach south of Nags Head which simply works for pure wavesailing. Today, the ingredients combined again to produce some of the best side-off DTL wavesailing conditions found on the OBX. The combination of a S swell and SSW wind complemented by the land/beach orientation and outer sandbars simply make this spot epic! The wave at Coqunia is the closest I have experienced on the OBX to a Maui or Punta San Carlos setup. At Coquina, a long line, crumbly, yet powerful wave breaking on an outer bar, with a takeoff over 100 yards offshore is hard to beat. The Lounge is so flat and wide, it is simply perfect. No micro chop or weird currents..., simply smooth inside the wave zone. The only difficulty at Coquina can be the shorepound and beach current, but if you make it past that immediate inside section, its simply wavesailing Nirvana in the wave zone.

Today, everything aligned to provide some of the best pure clean DTL wavesailing the OBX has to offer. Interestingly, Coquina is not on the main list of premier OBX wavesailing spots, but this year, I have discovered that it simply is one of the best, if not the best, on the islands. Those who experienced the perfection of the Hurricane Bill swell back in August at Coquina, along with experiences similar to what I had today, simply make this spot awesome! I was quite bummed that I was solo out there today because there were too many epic waves not ridden, though it was cool that Caleb did catch some pics with my point and shoot. Too bad though that is does not really capture the experience.

As for future reference, if SSW wind is on tap, complemented by a decent sized S swell, drop everything and head to Coqunia Beach. Andy, you definitely have to come up here to experience this! : )

Some pics from Coqunia Beach yesterday from my point and shoot:

OBX Beach Life 2009 Header of the Year Contest - Heat TWO

Please vote for your top choice header in Heat TWO of the 2009 OBX Beach Life Photo Header of the Year contest! Note, there will be three heats with a final round for the top choice.
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