Bill's OBX Beach Life

Goodbye 2011, Welcome 2012!

2012-01-03T11:13:00.000-05:00

2011 is a wrap and with the end of the year we now can both look back on what we experienced "last year" and also look forward to expectations for the new year. 2011 was likely my "least" active windsurfing year, and I basically come to this conclusion per a single factor (or make that two) "little dudes!"

As a relatively new dad, once we expanded the family to two children, those half day treks to Hatteras wave spots became much less frequent. This due to a combination of both family commitment to remain home along with sheer afternoon exhaustion due to extremely early wake up calls (often 5:30am) and trying to maintain the "pre-children" late evening bedtimes. All in all, there were quite a few windy afternoons when I simply was too tired to go (one fond memory this Fall was actually going south for a wave sesh, but as the wind diminished and the waves slacked, I actually fell asleep for a "board bag" nap on the beach next to my truck! One of the best "beach naps" I ever had!).

Along with a "busy" childhood rearing year, my windsurfing experience was also cut by the impact of H Irene to Hatteras Island. The timing of the storm's impact and the shut down of Hatteras throughout the prime wave month of Sept/early Oct left those locked north of Oregon Inlet on the "sidelines" especially during some of the strong NE days we had where the south side is the call. Though fortunately, we did experience a few sessions at Coquina Beach following Irene with Labor Day likely my best wave sesh of the year. Though I was primarily solo for the session (the local (Nags Head) kite crew did join me but no other windsurfers were there), I had the best wave rides of the year powered on the new Quatro Twin 92, and 5.3m MS Legend. Sunshine, perfect air and water temps, and a perfect long period wave summed that day.

As for other days, 2011 was marked by spending a ton of time light air wave riding on the AHD Sealion. Actually, I spent more time on the SeaLion in 2011 enjoying light air wave days then any other past year (really did not have a light air option in the past!). The SeaLion also worked well for catching sessions close to home in the ocean directly off Nags Head town proper. The sand bars were quite nice this year due to "beach nourishment" and I caught many fun sessions riding waves in light wind on the Lion. The SeaLion was my "saving grace" for 2011 since if I did not have the board, I would have experienced much less time with a sail in hand.

Likely, the biggest let down for 2011 was cancellation of Hatteras Wave Jam, Stop 4 for the 2011 American Windsurfing Tour. High hopes and expectations were there for the Hatteras Tour visit, and we were quite excited to host many of the world's best wavesailors. Unfortunately, Irene spoiled the party in 2011; however, with 2012 the stage is reset for the Jam to return.

For 2012, the American Windsurfing Tour is ON, and Hatteras is again Stop 4 for the Tour. September 12 - 15, 2012 are the dates for Hatteras Wave Jam 2012. For 2012, the Tour will be even bigger, offer more for participants and spectators, and really spotlight high action adrenaline pumping windsurfing in US coastal surf/wind conditions. Prize money, live web casts, killer gatherings/parties, and elite world class participation will all be here that week coming up in Sept! I definitely plan to bump up my 2012 windsurfing game in preparation for the Tour stop, and hopefully with a wishful "finger cross" will be able to perhaps make an additional Tour stop..., Baja?!

Onward 2012 and looking forward to see you on the water catching a killer wave here on the OBX!

Been a Long Time...

2011-12-14T08:20:00.001-05:00

I am still here, alive and well! :)

My previous post was dated mid October, and it has been a long time. Basically, there really has not been too much memorable action on my part over the past month and a half to report on. Additionally, with our new little dude in the family, the pre-dawn wake up calls definitely wear on and affect those afternoon possible runs south for a few waves and wind. Often the little guy is asleep under my desk during the afternoons as I work on coding algorithms. Interesting a fellow dad recently mentioned to me: "One little one is an adjustment, two is a game changer!" Well, two at this age definitely has an impact..., I am just glad that the beach is only about a mile away even if it is not a prime wavesailing spot (prime wavesailing is about 15 min away! :) )

All in all though, OBX Fall 2011 has actually been relatively good (as seen on reports posted on the OBX Beach Life Forum from the crew down in Avon, and Wind-NC's Facebook page) when we had cooler NE opportunities; however, the warm south wind ops have been lacking, at least for wind velocity. The sessions I have make it out for have been all SeaLion rides which has been quite fun, but the dry Quatro Wave Twin is hungry for some water time.

Favorable forecasts continue with cool/cold NE stars on WindGuru and a day or two of "teaser" S wind days as we end the year. Hopefully, I will add a Dec warm sesh to the calendar, though an upcoming cold spell simply means loading the full suit, hood, and booties. Though, the 4runner remains topless and I should get that back on before the next "cold" sesh!

Return of Warm SW and the First Trek to HI Since Reopening of Rt 12!

2011-10-17T09:25:00.000-05:00

Late last week and throughout the weekend we experienced a return of warm south westerly winds and perfect beach weather on the OBX! I made my first trek south to Hatteras Island, since Irene's impact, to catch Hatteras wavesailing at both Ramp 34 just north of Avon and Lifeguard Beach near the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in Buxton.

The first sesh was at Rmp 34 and I joined Keith and Rick for some fleeting surf in near offshore conditions as the winds clocked WSW. I was there a little late for the party as Keith reported better conditions earlier in the morning while the wind remained more southerly and the surf was a little bigger. I launched with a 2 mil top and trunks and the water felt great hovering just over 70 degrees! With the near offshore setup, we were running near parallel to the beach and I did get into a few small waves, but nothing to write home about. As the winds dropped by mid-afternoon, we packed it up and I decided to head down to Buxton to check the Point area.

Winds seemed to return and I launched at Lifeguard Beach and experienced an awesome sesh! The surf was breaking outside and though size only ranged waist high, the lineup was really nice and the swell definition was well set. Additionally the water was near perfection with a deep blue/hint of green Caribbean color and clear as glass. I could see tons of cannon ball jellies swimming below as I sailed out and porpoise jumping and frolicking in the surf zone. Clear sunny late day sky and warm air and water made for a magical Hatteras wavesailing experience where the moment was simply being out there. I was solo for the session which lasted about an hour as I caught wave after wave in the surf zone just offshore of the turtle nesting restricted zone on the beach. Nice thing about that area is that there is a nice sand bar there and no fishing lines since no one can be on the beach in that area.

All in all, its great to have Rt 12 reopened with now the ability to catch those surf sessions "down south." I really did not know how much I was missing until I was "cut off," though now its great to be able to run down there again when the wind and waves are ripe! PS: the 25mph zone where the new bridge spans is quite short and really is no impact on the time frame to make it down there.
In case you missed it, here is the Bambuser report from my post Lifeguard sesh where I reported the moment:
A few snaps from my point and shoot:

Rt 12 Open and the Missed Lighthouse Action!

2011-10-14T08:52:00.000-05:00

The number one OBX news story this week is the reopening of Rt 12 to Hatteras Island. The road has been repaired and the new "temporary" bridge is complete allowing a return to the cherished US east coast wavesailing mecca! Hopefully, we will soon see a return of conditions similar to last week when the local HI crew, along with some visitors who trekked the southern ferry routes, enjoyed classic Fall wavesailing at Old Cape Hatteras Lighthouse beach. Keith sent in these two shots from one of the daily sessions that week. I missed the entire lot due to the road remaining closed during the wind/wave window, but hopefully the next HI sesh will be coming up soon before it gets "too cold?!" For me, I feel like I am coming off winter and heading into Spring as the wavesailing has been dry being locked north of Pea Island. Normally I am well tuned for the Fall wave season with plenty of action throughout summer and early Fall; however, with the Irene shut down, many sessions have been missed and the typical late winter "green" is in place. Definitely looking forward to getting back into the mix, even if I have to now suit up for the remainder of the 2011 season.

Here are a few pics of Keith at the Lighthouse last week!
photographer: Andy McKinney, Wind-NC
(See the complete album for the Oct 6 action at Wind-NC Facebook)

NC 12 to Hatteras Island to Reopen By Tuesday, Oct 11!

2011-10-06T06:51:00.000-05:00

Awesome news to salvage the remaining 2011 windsurfing season for Hatteras Island. After the devastation to the roadway along Pea Island, the NC DOT has again done a stellar performance in restoring access following a natural disaster. I'm sure most on HI will be quite happy to finally see a "return to normal" down there, especially with visitors back on the island to enjoy the experience south of Oregon Inlet Bridge. Great news, and I too look forward to my first trek down there with the windsurfing gear loaded and a solid NE wind on tap!

See coverage:
Outer Banks Voice
Island Free Press
NC DOT

Ophelia Weekend Surf Visit on the OBX!

2011-10-03T12:09:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, fun TS Ophelia long period swell rolled in complemented by cool WNW winds to provide perfectly clean standard surfing conditions! The north side of Nags Head Fishing Pier saw a nice outer sandbar setup and shallow inside courtesy of the summer beach nourishment sand which has begun the migration back to the ocean. Many surfers were in the water donning full suits to protect against not the water, but rather the cool air as temps remained in the 60s for the day. In the water though, balmy 70+ degree ocean water made it quite comfortable to sit waiting for the next set.

Here are a few snaps from my phone camera from Sunday late afternoon at the NH Pier!

Riphood to Fatherhood by Mike Fischer

2011-09-26T09:39:00.002-05:00

Mike Fischer (Fish's Windsurfing Journal) composed an excellent feature noting the experience of fatherhood and its tie in to windsurfing. The piece comprises interviews from windsurfing personalities across the spectrum and is an entertaining and insightful look into the experience. I was fortunate to be one of the interviewees and contributor to the story. Thx Mike! Below is the complete piece.
(NOTE: may take a few moments to load depending upon internet connection speed; right click on article frame to view options including zoom control)

RIP Charles Jackson (Wave Kiter Lost at Cape Point)

2011-09-21T08:19:00.003-05:00

UPDATE (9/23/2011): Charles Jackson's body has been recovered on Portsmouth Island south west of Ocracoke. See Island Free Press for more details.

Tragedy struck the Hatteras local kitesurfing and general ocean watermen's community this past weekend when Charles Jackson was lost during a sesh Sunday at Cape Point.

The Outer Banks Voice and Island Free Press broke the story earlier this week and a massive search was underway to find him. His gear was recovered; however, the location of Charles remains unknown.Conditions Sunday were pretty intense especially for the east facing beaches. We had swell generated by TS Maria hitting the beach along with close short period wind swell from the weekend nor-easter formed offshore. Basically a recipe for extreme caution if venturing into the ocean on the east facing beaches. Couple the ocean rage with heavy south flowing current, and a launch at or near Cape Point in those conditions is a very risky proposition. It would not take much to be swept out to Diamond Shoals and onward into open ocean.

This is the first time I have heard of an ocean side loss on the Outer Banks of a "experienced" ocean rider, whether kitesurfing, windsurfing, or surfing. I have been here nearly 20 years and in that time there has been tragedy on the sound side numerous times; however, this is the first I have heard of in the ocean. Interestingly, the Outer Banks has some of the most wicked surf anywhere when it ramps up and rages. Though luckily riders can find calmer/cleaner seas simply road surfing around Cape Point (east facing on SW wind, south facing on NE wind) to where conditions are side-off shore.

However, to take on raging onshore conditions with minimal let up in the white water walls is not fun but more "survival sailing." Coupled with river like current, especially running out to a "Cape Point of no return" adds to the danger factor.

All in all, I envy places such as the north shore of Maui where even though conditions can get radically huge, there remains a level of control. Predictable reef breaks, clearing channels, and constant jet ski lifeguards and helicopters in the air provide for a relatively safe environment, even if its huge out there.

However, here in Hatteras, as with most wavesailing spots around the world, those who venture out are on their own, and at the mercy of the sea. If you run into trouble, odds are you may be lost especially in wicked "survival sailing" conditions.

For a glimpse of conditions that particular day, Keith M sent me this pics he shot at the Old Cape Hatteras Lighthouse location where "Toe-Side" Tom is on a ride followed by the wave consuming him in the rough stuff. Note, Old Lifeguard is about 3 miles north of Cape Point where Charles was lost. Definitely an intense day for anyone out there.

Lost Gem from Hatteras WaveFest 2008!

2011-09-20T07:25:00.001-05:00

Sept is the best month for wavesailing on Hatteras. The contests we have held over the past few years have scored and though we had a great run since 2008, only this year in 2011 did we experience a bust with the aftermath from Irene and cancellation of the AWT Hatteras Wave Jam.

Keith M recently sent in this "memory lane gem" from our first "Hatteras Wave Fest 2008!" The image was captured at our expression session held at the North End, Ocracoke on Sept 19, 2008. It was a great session as I remember blasting 4.2m wind, fun surf and beautiful sunny skies. Everyone who participated had an awesome time, and the experience really set the bar for the following years of Hatteras Wave Jam.

photographer: Charlie Myers (Ride Hatteras)

AWT Hatteras Wave Jam, What Could Have Been (follow up)

2011-09-19T09:46:00.000-05:00

This is a follow up post to the previous which noted an excellent forecast lining up for what would have been, Day Three of the AWT Hatteras Wave Jam. Looks like there was a score down there; perhaps not "epic," though reported as "challenging, yet fun" with a light inside and solid swell rolling in from TS Maria. Keith M and Wind-NC Andy caught it while Ken K snapped the pics. Keith forwarded this two pics but there are many more, and the top shots have been submitted for print. Look for them perhaps in upcoming issues of the print zines which may publish as "hot shots" from what the "AWT Hatteras Wave Jam would have been."

Note weather-wise, the Wave Jam event window supported solid swell, but nasty rainy cool conditions which prevailed though the second half of the period. Not the best for running a contest (especially Sat which poured rain all day); however, of each day that was scheduled for the event, Friday would have been the key day and likely the spot would have been Rmp 55 near where Keith and Andy caught it at Izzys. Wed and Thursday would have provided warm beautiful weather and fun surf for both SUP and light air wave kits.

All in all, a 2011 Hatteras Wave Jam would have been a step down from the 2010 event as far as weather (no rain in 2010), however surf wise, it would have been on par. Again, a real bummer that H Irene still has Hatteras Island basically shut down, but hopefully as we roll towards Oct and prime Fall visitor windsurfing season, HI will be back in full biz?! I know that as soon as Rt 12 reopens, I will be heading down there!
Here are a few snaps from the Izzy's Friday Sept 16 sesh:photographer: Ken Kellar

What Could Have Been....An Epic AWT Hatteras Event!

2011-09-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

Wow, what a forecast coming up and aligning perfectly with what would have been the second half of AWT Hatteras Wave Jam event window. SE tropical swell from TS Maria complemented by a strong NE wind forecast is primed to set up likely the best southside wavesailing conditions of the year! Smack dab in what would have been the AWT Hatteras Wave Jam event window. Imagine, the largest contingent of professional caliber wavesailors ever to visit the US East Coast, "all eyes" media coverage, and epic surf and side-off wind conditions....! Simply would have been awesome!! Additionally, to fall on the weekend as well would have opened the floodgates for regional participants and spectators to make a long weekend run to Hatteras to witness the action and enjoy the show!

The forecast calls for NE wind in the upper 20s/low 30s mph range and 8 ft to 10 ft SE swell; the pros would have been on fire and really set Hatteras wavesailing on the international stage!

Oh well, its definitely an "imagine" moment, though there is some good news to end this post. The Ocracoke Ferry is open to visitors, thus those who can come up from points south of the OBX are in luck! You will be able to catch epic wavesailing from Oracoke Island to Frisco! Additionally, the local Hatteras Island crew will be game to catch it too! Hopefully someone epically scores down there and catches the moments as the AWT Wave Jam which could have been....

Labor Day and Arrival of Hurricane Katia Swell

2011-09-06T07:02:00.001-05:00

Labor Day saw the arrival of long period SE swell from Hurricane Katia. Building surf though the afternoon provided FUN conditions with the perfect setup at Coquina Beach (just south of Nags Head) of SSW wind and long period (14 sec) swell in the 6 ft range. In the wave zone, the surf was very nice with meaty peaks and soft rights as the sets rolled in. In between the sets, the ocean sat down flat as the sound waters for dry hair on the way out while slogging though the surf zone. Shorebreak was nil as Coquina has a really nice slope to the bar which keeps the energy there rather than dumping on the beach. There was a little bit of current but no flowing river effect. I was the solo wavesailor on the water; however, a number of the local kite crew were out enjoying the conditions. Winds ranged in the upper teens/low 20s, therefore, I was nicely powered on the 2011 Quatro Twin 92 (Tempo) and a 5.3m! Fully powered on the outside, and on the swell provided for perfect power on the wave ride!

All in all, there were memories of the epic Hurricane Bill Coquina sesh in my mind; however, the swell was a little smaller thus those outside gentle mountains as was found during Bill back in 2009 were a little more like rolling hills for Katia. Great sesh though yesterday, and likely the best wave riding for me yet this year! Only drawback was that as the session progressed, the wind switched more SW thus near straight offshore which made it a little more difficult. No worries though, with the bright sunshine, warm water, and perfect conditions, it was a definite FUN time!

Too bad no other wavesailors were there to join in! Perhaps today though, may be a repeat with even bigger swell! Get on it!

One pic from my point and shoot shot by Sherry Waller (nice timing on the trigger Sherry!). Yana had to work a double yesterday so she could not make it out with her big telephoto and tripod!

AWT Hatteras Wave Jam 2011 CANCELLED

2011-09-01T16:43:00.000-05:00

Press release from the American Windsurfing Tour:

We at the AWT are sorry to announce that this year's Hatteras Wave Jam has been cancelled. With the massive amounts of damage sustained to the local area, we decided it would be best to call off the contest. Washed out roads and flood damage have made it next to impossible for us to run an event.

We are extremely disappointed to announce this decision, but when considering the amount of damage, we feel it is the right thing to do.The AWT wants to thank everyone for their support, and interest in this event.

For all those that have registered and paid their entrance fee to compete, we will contact you about compensation.

Thanks and Aloha,

The AWT

Its a real bummer we had to cancel this event as it was primed to be the greatest concentration of top level wavesailing talent ever to hit the US East Coast. Ironically (for better or for worse), the tropical forecast looks quite active during the event window, and though no one wants to see another storm out there, if this was a different year (no Irene experience/aftermath), we would be quite excited about epic conditions which may be in store.

Well, perhaps we will see the AWT here next year?!

Continous LIVE Online Radio Coverage of Hurricane Irene Recovery

2011-08-30T15:55:00.006-05:00

For those interested in LIVE information regarding the OBX recovery from Hurricane Irene (click logo to open radio feed), 99.1 The Sound is broadcasting online with continuous recovery coverage.

Highly recommend tuning in to find out the latest information, and hear from callers ranging from impacted residents to local, state, and federal officials.

Hurricane Irene, The Experience and Aftermath

2011-08-29T06:50:00.016-05:00

Hurricane Irene hit with full force Saturday featuring a double punch of opposite gale force wind direction as the eye of the storm passed nearly over the OBX. I am lucky to live on a high dune area near Jockey's Ridge State Park, thus flooding was not an issue for me. However, for many on the OBX (especially the local community) the west side took the brunt of the storm with major historic soundside flooding as the tail end of Irene's westerly winds brought the raging water onto land and into people's homes/businesses. Roanoke Island, Hatteras Island, Collington, Duck, and other parts of the islands were simply inundated by the Albermarle and Pamlico Sounds. Facebook is alive with images of the aftermath as people captured the experience and posted online. Note, power is out in most of the flooded areas though people were still able to post scenes captured in photography and video. Quite devastating in many areas of the Outer Banks. Amazing that Nags Head fared well considering its neighboring communities. I must admit as an original skeptic of beach nourishment, this project, I believe, saved many parts of the town as we had minimal east side impact with no flooding or ocean overwash. The new beach took the brunt of the storm's easterly rage and held it at bay.

However, on other parts of the island, mainly Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, and Mirlo Beach, the easterly rage broke through and opened new inlets between the ocean and sound along with utter destruction of Rt 12 in vulnerable areas such as Mirlo. Hatteras Island is cut off with no power or communications, and only "supply based" ferry service running between Stumpy Point and Rodanthe is operational. For those down there, fair well and good luck.

Interestingly, on Thursday before my Irene wave sesh (see previous post), I was at a gas station near Whalebone Junction in south Nags Head. An older gentleman who must have been well over 80 yrs old, noted that he was going to ride out the storm in Rodanthe. He was in pretty rough/aged shape and was barely able to give the correct cash to the cashier due to poor eyesight and/or other old age conditions. Bottom line though is that he was in no shape to experience what happened down there and its ensuing aftermath. Hope he is all right, but who knows. It has been reported that 4 fatalities were directly attributed to the storm however, not sure who/where.

All in all, though my family and I weathered the storm with really nothing of concern other than a few power blips, many, many others on the OBX have been drastically impacted by this relatively minor grade storm. The key in this case is the wind directions, length of time it blew, and its impact on the sound waters.

To wrap, we did experience some really FUN surf yesterday as the swell remnants from Irene provided excellent surfing conditions in Nags Head. After cleaning up yard debris, I cut out for an hour session just north of the Nags Head Fishing Pier. A number of guys were out and we all had an excellent time catching wave after wave under beautiful OBX summer sunshine and warm water. Amazing difference from only a day before.

Lets hope for a quick recovery of Hatteras Island and access to that playground south of Oregon Inlet. There is a lot of work to complete; however, as in the past, it will not take long before the south is back in biz!

In Depth Irene Aftermath Local News Coverage:

A few images captured from Facebook (sources: Scott Leggat, Outer Beaches Realty; George Brixhe, 12 Kite; Charles Hardy; Lauren Nassetta)

US Coast Guard Aerial Recon of the Hatteras Island Aftermath

Hurricane Irene, Catching Some Surf on the SeaLion!

2011-08-26T07:46:00.013-05:00

Called it for Thursday afternoon at Coquina Beach, just north of Oregon Inlet, and yep, the swell from Hurricane Irene rolled in and provided some FUN wave rides! The wind was a little light, but the direction was right and with the AHD SeaLion I was able to easily get out and catch it! Conditions were building through the sesh with solid waist to chest/head high set peaks that were super clean and breaking right in extremely long lines. The critical sections were top to bottom and hollow, and would have been better suited for the Tempo 92 (regular wave kit); however, the SeaLion held up nicely and I even caught my first wave aerial on the Lion, though took a soup rinse on landing (unfortunately not captured in the images). I was solo for the sesh..., too bad others did not make up to join me, though it was a SeaLion or other aggressive wave oriented SUP feast!

UPDATE: WindAlert has launched a Hurricane Irene tracking application that ties into their network of LIVE weather stations monitoring wind velocity around the forecast impact areas. Very nice tool!

All in all, one of my top pure wave riding sessions for the year, though not the perfection of Hurricane Bill in 2009.

Here are some images Yana shot of the sesh from Coquina yesterday!
photographer: Yana Bagdasaryan (click any image to open gallery)

Hurricane Irene, An Eye Wall View?!

2011-08-24T09:37:00.003-05:00

As Hurricane Irene motors toward the OBX, the current forecast track appears to take the eye of the storm nearly directly over the islands! With a possible day time impact on Saturday we will see conditions deteriorate quickly as wind speed increases and rain/nasty weather fill in. An interesting element will be the eye wall and whether we will see the eye pass over head. Clearing skies and sunshine breaking in from the middle of the storm would be a surreal experience. Not that I am looking forward to experiencing the northern eyewall, but as a natural event directly impacting this area, it will be both frightening and exhilarating. Though likely best to leave the scenes of impact to the news media who will have personalities dramatically reporting "live" from a wind/rain blasted hotel balcony.

Time to fuel up the cars, stock up on some supplies, clear the decks of all small/loose stuff, and ensure we have a clean space to minimize flying debris.

Local Dare County Emergency Management H Irene Bulletin Board

PS: hopefully, the storm forecast track takes it further east and away from the islands!

PPS: Killer wavesailing possibly on tap for Thursday, hopefully at Coquina Beach!?!

Lake Atlantic, The End is Near?!

2011-08-22T09:07:00.001-05:00

Tropical season appears to be kicking into gear here on the OBX! All the surf forecasts for this coming week model solid SE swell building throughout the period with peak hitting over the coming weekend. Long swell periods averaging 11 to 12 seconds should provide some some fun surf conditions! Granted the weekend looks like perhaps an impact or close brush by with TS force winds and nasty weather. Its a gamble at this point; however the lead up and follow through should provide for some hopefully excellent surf! Thursday is the day I am eying with solid swell and SE low to mid teen wind..., perfect for the Sealion! Of course the weekend is a gamble but the regular wave gear will likely get a workout, perhaps at the Cove, or a Coquina?!

We are definitely all "greeen" here on the OBX with "Lake Atlantic" basically all summer, but now the page will hopefully turn as we approach peak Tropical season!?! The AWT Hatteras Wave Jam is only a 3 weeks away, and wave training thus far has been minimal. Its time to gear up and dial in!!

AWT San Carlos Cactus Cup Success!!

2011-08-09T09:00:00.003-05:00

Check out the new AWT San Carlos Cactus Cup Tour stop video! Simply awesome, and better yet, the next stop on the Tour is HATTERAS!!

Be here the week of Sept 14 - 17, for the 2011 AWT Hatteras Wave Jam!

Weekend Wind and Surf at the Stump!

2011-08-08T10:00:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, intermittent swell from the remnants of TD Emily arrived on the OBX and provided some fun waist+ surf at "The Stump" located about one mile north of Ramp 34 near Avon. Keith, Jim, and I caught it during the afternoon riding powered 5.3m SW conditions and surf breaking on the mid/outer bar. Lots of fun hits and a few summer sizable swells along with 80 degree water and bright sunny skies make for a very fun August wave sesh! Not bad for an AWT Hatteras Wave Jam warm up! Hopefully more similar sessions will follow as we head towards peak tropical season!?! The AWT San Carlos Cactus Cup has ended, and AWT Hatteras Wave Jam is next, only a little over a month away!

Keith shot a bunch of video both tailgate cam, and hand held. Will post if he has a little vid put together to highlight.

Here is the Bambuser report shot live yesterday at The Stump!

Windy SW in Hatteras but FLAT Atlantic!

2011-07-25T09:55:00.008-05:00

Well not completely flat, at least down at Cape Point; however, overall the Atlantic has been far too tame this summer. Though, I guess its great for visitors/swimmers; not withstanding the icy cold upwelling for beaches north of Oregon Inlet, where the Atlantic has been tranquil and has rarely seen breaking surf on the outer sandbars. For the summer 2011 Hatteras surf scene, its been too quiet with not much bigger than waist high found throughout the islands. Surfline consistently reports "Poor/Extremely Poor" near daily, and OBX Surf Info has a similar story covering the northern OBX beaches. Even our recent tropical storm Brett, did nothing for incoming swell/surf. All in all, for those looking for waves, they have not been found on the OBX...., yet?!

In the wind department however, SW has been on fire! Classic Bermuda High conditions, and with the recent record heat wave, the magic spot between north Avon and Salvo as been cranking with sub 5.0m wind velocities! Afternoon daily wind speed averages mid to upper 20 mph with consistent gusts into the 30s! Great conditions for the small B&J kits soundside and ocenside!

I had a number of fun sessions over the past weekend ranging from Cape Point in Buxton to Ramp 23, Salvo. Caught some fun small waves on the SeaLion, and looped like a madman on the new 2011 Quatro Twin 92! All well worth it for summer time Atlantic side windsurfing, but if only we had that little extra ingredient of moderately sized outer bar surf!?! Oh well, I guess the surf can only get better as we march onward towards Fall.

Bambuser Report from Cape Point (7/22/2011):

Photos from the Flats, aka Hatteras Atlantic this summer...
(Thx Luc Belanger for the photo submissions, shot at Rmp 34, late June)

Wave Xperience, FREE Wave Clinic and Lead In to Hatteras Wave Jam 2010

2011-07-19T08:49:00.002-05:00

PRESS RELEASE:

MAKANI FINS – Fall Wave CLINICS HATTERAS ’11 with Casey Hauser, Ingrid Larouche and Andy McKinney

Make sure not to miss the MAKANI fins FREE wave clinics (Sept 11-13) and the AMERICAN WINDSURFING TOUR Hatteras Wave Jam (Sept 14-17). You always dreamed of going in the ocean and rip the waves well this is the perfect occasion. Ingrid, Casey and Andy will teach you all the tricks you need to get out there and enjoy the surf. Plus you will have a chance to ride with the best in the World and see them competing at the HATTERAS WAVE JAM AWT event!!! Everyone can also get a chance to win a TABOU DA CURVE 85 with 3 MAKANI wave fins. Raffle tickets go for $10 and available online at makanifins.com and at Wind NC in Avon.

The Official AWT Hatteras Wave Jam Poster!

2011-07-18T07:07:00.006-05:00

The official American Windsurfing Tour, Stop 4 Hatteras Wave Jam poster is here! Thanks to Keith McCulloch for the killer 2011 design!!

Download high resolution printable version in PDF format.

In windsurfing news...well take a look what's in store this week!?! Finally, our first tropical visitor and the forecast track looks perfect to bring some solid SE swell!!! Stay tuned!!

July 4th Weekend of Beach Fun and WIND!

2011-07-05T07:59:00.004-05:00

The long July 4th weekend is the highlight of summer action on the OBX. The beach is packed with visitors and the traffic is heavy with nearly every license plate showcasing an out of state tag. What a weekend for those who were/are here!!

Perfect beach weather was the highlight of the weekend. Of course the inland fires did blanket parts of the islands in smoke depending upon wind direction; however, most places found sunny skies and warm water (except yesterday north of O Inlet!).

The surf size was "fun" for swimmers and general vacationers. One highlight this weekend was hitting the beach at the new Jennette's Pier. I must say, I am a critic of Nags Head's beach nourishment project; however, I must admit, the beach that has been "nourished" is quite nice! The sand is near perfect quality and the width of the new beach is very nice along with the set up in the water. Basically, the tidal zone has a very nice gradual slope making for perfect swimming and a fun boogie boarding/body surfing wave. Its simply perfect for vacationers who enjoy swimming in the ocean and frolicking in wave pool like surf! I highly recommend checking out the beach just south of the new Pier. Though as with a new beach chair, it feels great the first time on the sand, but after a year of use, the begins to fall apart. Similar with the beach nourishment project, the new sand and beach setup is simply awesome right now; but following our upcoming tropical and more damaging Fall nor'easter and winter storm seasons, hopefully that fine beach will not "rust out and fall apart."

Definitely enjoy it now as it is really nice out there!

In windsurfing news, the July 4th long weekend simply fired!! 30+ mph late afternoon SW winds blew across the magic spot of Waves/Rodanthe while Avon also experienced strong conditions! I caught sessions both Sunday and Monday. Sunday found small surf and fun wind at Ramp 23 just south of Salvo. I was solo out there and caught time on both the SeaLion and the Tempo. Sail size, 5.3m.

Monday, was the day and Ramp 34 just north of Avon, was the call. Stronger SW wind, and a fun waist + wave was found! Occasional chest high sets rolled in and I did see one "set of the day" which offered head + peaks! Luckily, Jim M, Caleb J, and Randy, visiting from DC, all caught a wave in that set! 5.0m wind and regular wavesailing was the flavor of the day, and we had a nice crowd out there with both the local crew and a few visiting sailors. There were photos shot and if I receive some, I will post!

To wrap up the July 4th weekend, Nags Head showcased a spectacular fireworks display at the Nags Head Fishing Pier. Great show, and nice to have the fireworks display back after last year's hiatus.

Until the next sesh!

And Now the Surf is Gone, Though SW Wind Is Up!

2011-06-27T08:49:00.003-05:00

The short stint of surf last week departed the area nearly as fast as it arrived. We had one great day of chest + decent period swell last Monday, with lingering/fading though Tues and Wed of last week. By Thursday, the surf was all but gone; however with the vacating waves, the SW winds ramped up. 30+ mph SW winds blanketed the magic spot around Salvo throughout Friday afternoon/evening. I caught a fun session down at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse on a sandbar just south of the lifeguard stand. Wind was lighter in Buxton as compared spots further north, but it was fun riding the 92 Tempo and the 5.3m Legend catching the occasional chest high peak!
Saturday, moderate SSW winds remained in the cards, and I caught a SeaLion session with Randy, visiting from the DC area, at Rmp 23 near Salvo. Waves were small and inconsistent, but there were a few that lined up to make for another fun session. Plus of course, 70+ degree water, sunny skies and perfect rustic Hatteras beach makes it all worth while!
Looks like the SW wind remains intact for the first part of the work week. Though, in the surf dept, there is not much out there to get excited about. All in all, until the next sesh!

A few shots:

OBX Surf Has Returned!

2011-06-22T06:03:00.001-05:00

Following a relatively flat month of June in the surf dept, yesterday a solid ENE swell arrived and provided some excellent surf conditions across the east facing beaches. Minimal wind kept the surf butter smooth, and for the surfing community, they could finally enjoy some fun conditions in warm 70+ degree H2O! Of course, my interest is with the Sealion, and as forecast late afternoon SSE seabreezes kicked in to around 10 to 15 mph, it was time to head out to catch some of those waves with a sail rig in hand and a strapless Lion under my feet!

I hit it again at Conch St in Nags Head. An excellent outer sand bar set up at to the north and south of Conch provided the playground. Surf ranged in the waist to chest + on the sets and were breaking with crumbly consistency on the outside. The shorepound was heavy, but with the right spot (shorepound in one small stretch of beach can be completely different just a few yards away!), and a little timing, I was out without getting my t-shirt or hair wet. Traversing the inside was a piece of cake on the Sealion. The board simply floats over whitewater with minimal wind in the sail. A few times I was bobbing out though an incoming set ranging chest + in size and I had no worries as the board simply leaps over whitewater. Even breaking waves just in front of me were not a problem as the board raced over the whitewater with minimal wind in the sail.

I caught wave after wave, lip after lip with a smile on my face the entire time! Definitely a perfect way to end the day as I started my sesh around 5:30pm after finishing up the work day.

My truck is currently offline as I await a few parts to be delivered, thus I had my wife's car to haul my kit over to the beach! Look at that, you can even fit the SeaLion inside a Mini-Cooper!

Fun times!!

More Summer Time SeaLion FUN!

2011-06-08T08:57:00.007-05:00

Last night Keith came up to Nags Head and we had TWO SeaLions out at Conch St! An ENE swell was in place providing fun waist + size surf on the outer bars. Light SSE winds in the 5 to 10knt range provided just enough juice to remain at the takeoff for some fun wave rides! We hit the water around 6:00pm and I remained out until after 7:00pm. What a way to end the day after the daily "work grind!"

Basically, riding the SeaLion is like surfing with the bonus of not having to paddle out and being able to pick up every good swell. Water conditions last night were slightly textured with side to side-off light wind. Before acquiring the SeaLion, I would have paddled out on my 8'3" surfboard in similar conditions, and sat in the surf zone working to position myself for an ideal takeoff on a good set wave, often times not catching it. However, now with the SeaLion, I can simply wavesail catching nearly every good wave, when previously I would have not had the chance! Performance on the SeaLion also allows for full mobility on the wave with speed, sweet bottom turns, and lip action/re-entry which is a TON of FUN!! The only aspect of surfing likely not part of the SeaLion ride is tucking into a hollow barrel.

All in all, for East Coast summer time light air performance wavesailing, again this board is simply a "must have!"

No photos from last night, but hopefully if I can find a photographer for a shoot at Conch, we can get some good stuff posted!

Oh yea, forgot to mention that with 70 degree ocean water temp, it was trunks only out there!!

Robby Naish Interview for the AWT!

2011-06-07T09:37:00.001-05:00

Windsurfing's most renowned Icon, Robby Naish is the latest stoke video interviewee for the American Windsurfing Tour. Robby notes his participation on the Tour and even gives Hatteras a killer plug!

Hatteras is Tour Stop 4, Sept 14 - 17!

Light Air Wavesailing 101 Series This Summer

2011-06-01T09:36:00.005-05:00

This summer, I will be presenting a number of OBX Beach Life blog posts highlighting all aspects of "light air" wavesailing specific to riding the AHD SeaLion. The Series posts will individually focus on key aspects of the discipline ranging from sail sizing and rig configuration to bottom turn and hitting the lip. All points in between will be featured. An initial list of topics include:

Rig Size, and What Do I Need Out There?
Conditions, What to Look For
Carrying the Kit to the Water
Shorebreak, How to Deal With It
Heading Out and Traversing Whitewater
Handling, Including the Snap Jibe and Tack
Picking Up a Swell
Riding the Wave and Positioning
Bottom Turn and Hitting the Lip

Visitor comments will be valuable including questions and/or answers/suggestions/recommendations, etc per each 101 Series topic. Hopefully, as we roll though Summer on the US East Coast and Hatteras specifically, this 101 Series will help familiarize you with the light air wave sailing discipline and give you some valuable knowledge to be successful in the surf!

Memorial Weekend and the SeaLion Scores Again!!

2011-05-31T09:12:00.009-05:00

OBX summer kicked off with perfect weather for the traditional honor to our vets with Memorial Day weekend. Hot sunny skies, SSE sea breezes, and a fun 10 to 11 second E swell produced fun small/moderate surf for longboarders, SUPs, and the SeaLion! The water was cool hovering in the low 60s north of Oregon Inlet; however, riding the SeaLion, I only needed trunks and a 1 mil top.

Every day of the long weekend provided very fun conditions for riding the SeaLion. I caught sessions both Saturday and Sunday with light SSE (side shore) sea breezes around 10 mph in Nags Head south of the Nags Head Fishing Pier (launched at the beach access across from BrewThru Jr near Jockeys Ridge state park.). Actually, with the new LIVE Cam feed in the left sidebar of this blog, you may have seen me sailing out there when the camera shows the south view of the beach from the pier. The ocean swell was a TON of FUN, and though small, the long period provided solid surf which broke nicely on the outer sandbars, averaging waist with a rare chest high+ set wave. Luckily, with the SeaLion, if a larger set was coming in, I could pick it up for a ride with ease!

The SeaLion is simply a "must have" for Hatteras summer light air wavesailing! Its perfect for catching waves in side to side off light air conditions. Plus the bonus being that it can get to the lip with no problem and is very maneuverable on the wave. I had a smile with every wave I caught out there over the weekend!

All I can say, is that if you are interested in getting into the ocean to catch waves during the summer (beginner or expert), this is a very attractive option to join in on the FUN! Check out the top left sidebar SeaLion box for details to arrange a demo, rental, or purchase!

Here are a few pics from the weekend!

SW Two Sesh at Ramp 30 and Lifeguard Beach Plus More SeaLion Stoke!!

2011-05-25T07:20:00.025-05:00

Update! See Keith McCulloch's stoker report (bottom of this post) about riding the SeaLion last night at the Lighthouse! This board is going to ROCK this summer in Hatteras!!

SW winds were up yesterday along with a fun wave found both at Ramp 30 (actually the bar is about 1/2 mile south of the ramp) and near Cape Point. I caught two back to back sessions at both spots with 4.5m juiced one/two hit wonders at Rmp 30, and a later mellow (Maui sesh) between Lifeguard and Cape Point.

The Rmp 30 sesh included a fun outer bar wave that, if you were in the right spot at the right time, lined up a fun hit! Lots of loops too with gusty inside wind which occasionally blasted you skyward on the incoming steep swells. Keith and Rick joined me at Ramp 30, and the only downside to the sesh was a shadowed/squirrely inside due to the high dune line along the beach. Once outside though, full power 4.5m wind prevailed! View the Bambuser pre-sesh report!

The second sesh was had at Lifeguard Beach in Buxton. I am always amazed by the water quality at that spot near Cape Point. It was simply like sailing in waters off Maui. Warm, tropical blue, sea turtles swimming, and smooth outer and inner surf conditions. Often I simply just laid out there in the water and thought, "Damn this is beautiful!" The wind was lighter there (as is usually the case), so I rigged 5.3m. For both sessions, I rode the Tempo 92, but I really wished I packed the SeaLion for the Lifeguard Beach session. The surf and wind conditions were perfect for the Sealion, and I should have known better. I packed my 75 Quatro Quad, expecting perhaps winds to increase throughout the day, but I should have went with the Sealion since a drop is usually more likely this time of year. Hopefully Keith got out there on the SeaLion for an evening sesh?!

All in all, two sessions under warm sunny skies, trunks only, and beautiful water. Ahhh, I love this time of year for Hatteras wavesailing!

Here is a pic from Lifeguard Beach in Buxton. The NPS has Cape Point closed off to vehicle and foot traffic, but once on the water, you can sail anywhere along the area to hit the surf zones. Just do not come into the beach!

UPDATE: Keith's take on riding the SeaLion last night!

Bill,
Hello. yes I got a great and i mean great session at the light house.. head high, CLEAN peeling waves... must have caught 30 waves in a hour.. i was there from 5-7 absolutely fantastic.
i'm getting better on the lion. i'm amazed that no one didn't build a board like this sooner. this really opens up summertime wave riding. i still can't bottom turn the thing worth a damn but i'm getting much better at all other aspects of the ride. ...you'll have to try the LH (Lighthouse) out on the SW with wrap in swell. super fun. the waves were almost glassy..that's how clean it was.. felt like i was surfing more than windsurfing..

Wanna ride the SeaLion, or better yet have one for the upcoming summer season...?! Contact me for more info regarding demo, rental, and/or purchasing!)

Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad Coming to Kellys!

2011-05-18T07:07:00.001-05:00

Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad is coming to Kelly's Tavern (Nags Head), Thurs, May 26.

Giant Panda is a roots reggae, jam, indie group from Rochester, NY.

Their sound is pretty cool!

For more info:
www.giantpandadub.com
www.Facebook.com/giantpandadub
www.Youtube.com/giantpandadub

Sealion Sunday!

2011-05-16T07:05:00.006-05:00

Summer is approaching along with warm ocean water, SW afternoon thermals, and FUN surf! The perfect wavesailing answer to meet that summer fix is the AHD Sealion! The Sealion is the guarantee wavesailing session provider for those trips to the beach!

Yesterday, we had a touch of summer conditions on the OBX with warm southerly winds in the upper teens to around 20, warm ocean water in the mid-60s pushing 70 degrees (must have been from the sound water vacating O Inlet), and bright sunny skies with warm 80 degree air temps. (see yesterday's Bambuser report!)

I had the Sealion loaded along with my Tempo 92. The surf looks quite fun averaging solid waist to chest high on the sets with a solid ENE swell in the water. Clean side offshore wind made for butter smooth wave faces and general water conditions. I started on the Sealion and caught wave after wave at a good spot just north of Ramp 3 between Oregon Inlet and Coquina Beach. Keith McCulloch joined me later in the afternoon as Ramp 30 was feathering as high tide approached and was not really breaking. He had a go at the Sealion and caught some fun waves too while the wind hovered around 10 mph!

All in all, the Sealion is an excellent light air wavesailing insurance sesh provider, and with summer approaching it will be the board to catch those light air surf days when you "wished you could be out there!" The 2011 Sealion arrived here a few weeks ago and I have it ready to ride as well as demo/rent. Of course, if you are interested in purchasing the Sealion, contact me. I am a US East Coast Rep for the Sealion along with the NahSkwell SUPs!

Here are a few pics snapped with my phone of Keith catching a few waves along with some images of the 2011 Sealion. Keep an eye out for Keith riding the Sealion down on Hatteras Island when conditions are light and the surf is FUN!

Mainland Forest/Brush Fire Impacts OBX

2011-05-11T09:51:00.000-05:00

A large mainland brush fire within the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge has spread a large smoke cloud that can be seen from space. Satellite imagery yesterday showed the cloud passing over Buxton and south Avon during the morning hours as NNW winds carried the smoke. Later in the afternoon, NNE/NE winds cleared the southern OBX and moved the cloud off Hatteras Island. Here on Bodie Island (Nags Head area) we have not as of yet, felt the impact of the smoke cloud since no SW wind pattern has been in place since the fires began.

Keith M reported from Avon that the smoke at times is near unbearable with a smell of burning trash (heavy peat fueling the fire), and smoke thick enough to require headlights while driving. Avon has weathered a few days but luckily now with solid onshore winds in place, the area should be clear for the time being.

I snapped this shot of the smoke cloud SW of Roanoke Island yesterday evening from near Jockey's Ridge in Nags Head.

We have excellent air quality right now in Nags Head; however, once the winds do shift SW, it will likely degrade fast!

More on the fire can be found:

More AWT Coverage!

2011-05-08T16:42:00.001-05:00

The Santa Cruz Classic rolls on with excellent conditions and awesome coverage for the American Windsurfing Tour.

See the latest video of Day Three action

Check out the Waterhound.com for excellent coverage, commentary, and photography!

Also be sure to check out the American Windsurfing Tour on Facebook!

AWT Santa Cruz Classic Day Two Video!

2011-05-07T14:56:00.013-05:00

Killer conditions, competition, coverage, and video production for the AWT Santa Cruz Classic!
Can't wait until the AWT arrives here on the OBX Sept 14 - 17, for Hatteras Wave Jam 2011!!

Stoked!!!

PS: Some FUN surf today in Nags Head with a 2 ft ENE mixing with SE swell at 13 seconds! Produced solid waist/chest high outside crumblers which were quite fun on longboard/SUP! I had the NahSkwell 10'6" Stroller out and caught some fun rides! Trunks and a 2 mil top was all that was needed! Fun times!!

Note, if you are interested in the NahSkwell SUP and/or AHD SeaLion, contact me for details in arranging a demo!

The American Windsurfing Tour is Underway!!

2011-05-06T13:38:00.006-05:00

UPDATE: Day Two in Santa Cruz scored!
Check out the latest results here!

May 5 marked the start of the American Windsurfing Tour with the first stop Santa Cruz Classic at Waddell Creek south of San Francisco, CA. The talent level is stellar and it is awesome to finally have the Tour underway! Of course, the Hatteras leg Hatteras Wave Jam will be here Sept 14- 17, 2011!

Check out the new Day One Event video!

April was Warm and WINDY!

2011-05-02T10:48:00.001-05:00

What a windsurfing month for 2011! April simply rocked with summer-like warmth, strong SSW winds, and ocean temps graduating at and above the 50 degree range! I actually sailed one day in trunks and a 2 mil top in Nags Head at Enterprise!

It was also great to see so many visitors join us in the surf! The hot spot is Ramp 30 located along Rt 12 about halfway between Salvo and Avon. The outside sand bar there is well formed and provides a great wave setup for the predominant SSW winds.

April really fired last week with warm windy SSW nearly every day starting over Easter weekend. Those here to windsurf scored some major time on the water both in the sound and surf! I caught a few days of it mid-week as I was out of town over last weekend, but the traffic on the OBX Beach Life Forum told the story of FUN sessions in the surf! Not a forum member yet...?, be sure to sign up!

To top it off, two celebrity pro windsurfers (Tyson Poor and Wyatt Miller) were here last week and scored a major jump sesh at Ramp 30 last Thursday. I missed that sesh as I caught it in Nags Head, but Andy at Wind-NC reported "30 ft backloops landed dry" out in the sub-4.0m conditions! Sweet!!

We are now into May which is also traditionally an excellent month for Hatteras windsurfing. If you are coming down, or are here now, definitely stay tuned to the OBX Beach Life Forum for where/when the sessions are happening, and get out there and have FUN!

In American Windsurfing Tour News, the Santa Cruz Classic starts this week! Stay tuned to upcoming video reports and commentary coming out of Stop 1 for the 2011 national wavesailing event! Below is a new "intro" video clip which may be coming for the upcoming report vids!

A Little Taste of the Hatteras Windsurfing Lifestyle

2011-04-14T08:48:00.002-05:00

I recently took a trip back OBX Beach Life memory lane using the Blog Posts Calendar (top right column of blog) to view old posts from past years. In Oct 2008, Keith McCulloch put together this excellent photo montage of Hatteras windsurfing lifestyle. The presentation really captures the essence of this place and the windsurfing experience we all love. For those coming into town to join us for some water time in 2011, this is for you.

Keep in touch with us to know where we will be wave sailing on the islands, and come on out and join us in the surf!

Kiting vs. Windsurfing!

2011-04-13T09:41:00.007-05:00

Epic Kites founder, Dimitri Maramenides caught up with me during the heavy SW JRidge session last weekend and captured some fun aerial overflights out on the water! Pretty cool perspective from flying high with a GoPro and a kite kit in 30+ mph wind!

Check it out!

We will have to continue to work on this perspective to capture some cool action including loops and other moves while he flies high overhead! Who needs a helicopter when you have a kiter who can fly high?! : )

PS: Also caught a really fun wave sesh yesterday at Rmp 30! 4.5m Legend with the Tempo 92 was a perfect combo (I still have the 2010 Tempo 92 for sale, see left side bar Gear for Sale section for details!) for some fun aerial and wave riding action! Bright sunshine, upper 70s air temp, and warming ocean water made for a killer day! If any photos come in to OBX Beach Life, I will post them up!

April and the Heavy SSW!

2011-04-12T09:16:00.004-05:00

April is here and the OBX has been experiencing some excellent warm windy windsurfing conditions! SSW has been on tap near daily since the start of the month, and we have had some real blasters so far keeping the small stuff wet! If you were/are here now, I am sure you have experienced some FUN sessions, and if you are on the way later this month or in May, it should be killer! Also, lots happening this Spring ranging from the Windsurfing Mag Board Tests to the Makani Fin/Freestyle Clinics coming in late April.

I will also be hosting SeaLion demos in May/June for those interested in trying the light air wave ride! Be sure to contact me if you are interested in taking this unique light air wave stick for a spin!

As for recent action, check out these shots submitted!
This first one is the buried walkover at Jockey's Ridge following the heavy blow a few days ago when I broke out the 3.7m in the previous post.

submitted by Rob Spurgeon

Keith McCulloch on a wave yesterday at Ramp 34 in Avon!

photo: RicSurf

All in all, the FUN factor is high in Hatteras as the Spring season rolls! Hope to see you here soon!

PS: Its blowing strong SSW right NOW!! Ramp 30 anyone?!

SW Super Sesh at Jockeys Ridge, Nags Head!

2011-04-05T14:18:00.002-05:00

A few times each year, especially in the Spring time, Jockey's Ridge soundside windsurfing conditions ignite to provide some extreme water action! Yesterday was one of those days as gale force SW winds blanketed the islands under bright sunny skies and warm 70+ degree air temps! For those here who caught it, JRidge does not get any better than what was experienced yesterday.

What makes Jockey's Ridge unique to other OBX soundside sailing areas is the proximity of deep to shallow water and the fetch which extends from Roanoke to Bodie Island. Though, the proximity of deep to shallow water at the JRidge sand bar is the real secret ingredient along with sustained SW winds in the mid-30 mph range! What happens under these conditions is that the chop actually dissipates and smooth swell peaks and troughs form which provide excellent boost slots for jump ramps on both tacks. Additionally, the shallow sand bar which extends out at JRidge actually forms breaking waves in the waist high range which provide an ocean-like onshore wavesailing effect with lines of whitewater and top to bottom breakers. Backside riding, aerial loops, and big floaters are the name of the game while crossing the soundside surf zone immediately upwind of the shallow sandbar.

Yesterday, all the ingredients were in play, and coupled with the 2011 MauiSails 3.7m Legend, and 2011 Quatro LS Quad 75, provided for a mighty wild ride!

Dimitri M was out on a kite and we attempted a few flyovers where he literally flew above me with a GoPro HD; though unfortunately, none of the footage turned out due to lens fogging (water was cool in the low 60s/upper 50s). Perhaps next time!

Here are a few pics prior to my sesh!

SW is Kicking IN for Springtime Hatteras Action!

2011-03-23T11:39:00.000-05:00

SW winds have been ramping up in Hatteras and the latest sesh scored on Monday, March 22. Ramp 30 was the spot and featured fun waist to chest high surf, strong SW wind requiring mid 4 meter sails and small boards.

OceanAir Sports, Brian K snapped this shot of one of my first big FWDs of the season! Juiced on the 4.5m Legend and 75ltr Quatro Quad LS, it only took a little tug to go for a big spin! Fun time!

Next sesh though has eyes on Ramp 27 where an interesting sandbar setup looks to be firing about 100 yds south of the ramp. Until the next SW sesh, perhaps this afternoon?!

Josh Angulo on the American Windsurfing Tour and Upcoming Santa Cruz Classic

2011-03-22T14:29:00.003-05:00

Former World Wavesailing Champ Josh Angulo is the latest stoke video interviewee for the American Windsurfing Tour. Josh highlights the upcoming Santa Cruz Classic, May 5 - 8 which launches the Tour.

Hatteras is Tour Stop 4, Sept 14 - 17!

The Official American Windsurfing Tour Poster!

2011-03-21T09:28:00.005-05:00

Fresh out of the designer's studio, the American Windsurfing Tour Poster is here! Sweet job on the design Har Rai Khalsa!

In Hatteras windsurfing news, it has been WINDY!! Lots of windy NE and a few warm SW days thrown in; though I have been MIA for all. Between work deadlines, and new baby prep (he will be here as early as next week?! :-) ), my gear remains dry. The crew down in Avon though have been ripping from Ramp 34 to the Lighthouse with reports of fun conditions for mid-March. Stay tuned to Andy's blog at either Windsurfing Mag, or his shop, Wind-NC for details.

As the Spring visiting windsurfing season is set to launch, Wind-NC will be hosting some cool events including Makani Fin's Week! Oh yea, and do not forget Windsurfing Magazine's Board Tests LIVE coming soon!

All in all, lots happening in Hatteras from the windsurfing front, and if March is a bellwether for the upcoming Spring season, it looks like it is going to ROCK!

Hope I can make it out for a few sessions between diaper changes!

Keith Teboul on the American Windsurfing Tour

2011-03-07T10:42:00.001-05:00

Keith Teboul, famed magic maker at Quatro International, is the latest stoke video interviewee for the American Windsurfing Tour. Keith will be participating on the judging panel for all Tour stops including Hatteras...Stoked!

Robby Naish is ON for the American Windsurfing Tour!

2011-03-03T09:49:00.004-05:00

Robby Naish, undeniably the biggest name in windsurfing, submitted a call out for industry support of the 2011 American Windsurfing Tour. He is also registered to participate! The Tour is a US national wavesailing event spanning both coasts of the country including Hawaii. In his words:

Dear fellow industry members,

I am writing you today regarding the American Windsurfing Tour. My hope is that I can encourage each and every member of the windsurfing industry here in the States to step up and support the tour with at least a silver package sponsorship.

Clearly the business of windsurfing in the United States is not what it once was. Sales are tough, margins are low, and marketing dollars are scarce. Still, the sport is as dynamic and incredible as ever and continues to have a passionate following. I am confident that this tour will help to re-kindle the windsurfing flame in the States, by at least giving passionate amateurs something to strive for, and professionals the opportunity to show their stuff on home turf where they can connect with consumers. Lets face it, there is very little "going on" in terms of opportunities for windsurfers to create a buzz in this country. If we all chip in, we can provide enough financial support for the events to at least happen. It will also send the right message to potential sponsors from outside our industry. Here is an opportunity to showcase the sport in a grass roots, all inclusive way.

Naish is on-board, as are a few other brands so far. I have signed up for each event personally,...I want this tour to be successful, and for windsurfers young and old to have something tangible to dream of. I hope that you will all join me in supporting Samantha and the American Windsurfing Tour!

Aloha and good sailing,

Robby Naish

Therefore, get onboard and support the Tour either though direct sponsorship, video advertising, and/or direct participation!

Ramp 23 Winter Wave Sesh, Bambuser Reporting

2011-02-15T15:57:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, had a fun late day solo session at Ramp 23, just south of Salvo. Waist to chest high surf, though cold 40 degree water. Lots of sunshine, and strong SW winds on the beach. No gloves as the air hovered in the low 60s; however any time I had to swim, the water was quite icy on the hands! Everything else though remained warm in full vest/hood, 5/4mm Bare, and 6mm booties.

Here is the pre-sesh:

and the post-sesh:

Feeding Frenzy!

2011-02-14T10:41:00.003-05:00

Check out this video, Wind-NC Andy shot down in Avon a few days ago. Definitely some fish and birds in the water! Very cool winter beach scene on the OBX!

In windsurfing news, a recent Jeff Masters weather post noted a "Polar Vortex" forming during the second half of February. This weather feature, according to Jeff, will funnel the cold arctic air mass north and free the OBX for warmer temperatures to fill the islands. Additionally, the mainland US may finally thaw out! Looks like the forecast may ring true as warmth is on the charts with perhaps 70 degree air hitting the OBX late week?! Lots of yellow stars are aligning for some mid-winter windsurfing!

Finally, perhaps the gear may remain wet, and not frozen?!

Little Bit of OBX Snow and a Windsport Hatteras Feature!

2011-02-10T16:07:00.000-05:00

This morning we awoke to snow on the OBX ground. Here in Nags Head, the white stuff blanketed the trees and non-paved surfaces. The roads remained relatively clear as the air temps were just below the freezing mark and the road surfaces were a little warmer. Very nice to look at, but once the sun came out, the snow began to melt nearly as fast as it fell. Here are a few pics just as the sun broke out earlier today.

In windsurfing news, Windsport Magazine published its Winter 2011 edition which featured an excellent piece titled "East Coast Waves." I was honored to write the Hatteras piece which included some killer imagery from Hatteras Wave Jam 2010. Additionally, my topless 4runner snagged the two page photo spread for the feature title page! Very cool!

source: Live2Sail

Kevin Pritchard on the American Windsurfing Tour

2011-02-04T10:03:00.002-05:00

The Tour is going to be killer and Stop Four will be here in Hatteras Sept 14 - 17, 2011! Defintely an event not to miss!

Be sure to mark you calendars and visit the Hatteras Stop for this world class windsurfing wave event!

Back in the Groove!

2011-02-03T10:38:00.010-05:00

There is a simple equation:

This

A TON of FUN!!

Yesterday, we experienced our first day of winter "warm" southerly winds under afternoon sunny skies. The "Monster" storm that ravaged most of the country; offered the OBX some fun windsurfing conditions! The "100 Rule" was met with 65 degree air and 40 degree water, and I suited up for the first time in 2011 to catch a fun light air wavesailing sesh at Enterprise St in Nags Head. Extremely fun outer bar waist high surf cleaned up by the off-side-off winds made for some excellent action on the SeaLion! This board is simply awesome for actually the majority of surfable OBX days! Light 12 to 18 mph side off wind, clean outer bar surf, and a willingness to go is all that is required. I had a blast yesterday catching wave after wave on the Lion! Lots of turns, lip hits, and DTL rides rekindled the wavesailing urge which has laid dormant over the past two months. My buddy Tony V joined me out there too for a birthday sesh (Happy B Day Tony!) riding a long board in the surf. He too caught some fun waves, but remained a little cooler sitting on the board in the cold water, as compared to my standing ride. No gloves necessary riding the SeaLion! : )

For 2011, I am sure to log many, many sessions on the SeaLion, especially locally on the excellent in-town sand bars which are set up this year!

I also ran a recon run down to Coquina Beach just north of Oregon Inlet, and this year appears to have some promising sandbar setups there as well! Well formed outside bars with fun surf for SSW side-off conditions. Nice thing about Coquina is cleaner wind as there are no buildings to block the inside as compared to Enterprise St.

All in all, I have a feeling that 2011 will be the year for "light air" OBX wavesailing, and the SeaLion will be leading the charge for those days where it will be sharing the action with SUP and standard surf riders. Nice thing about the SeaLion though is its wavvyness and ability to make the lip and execute when needed!

Note, I will likely be hosting a light-air oceanside SeaLion Demo in early May for anyone interested in taking the board out for a ride. The very informal demo will be scheduled during a window seeking fun side-off conditions, excellent surf lineup, and minimal shorebreak! Email me if you are interested in attending so I will have a rough estimate for board quantity available. Also, if you are simply interested in light-air, small surf wavesailing, come on out!

A Long Cold OBX Winter, However...

2011-01-25T14:32:00.005-05:00

It has been a long time since my previous blog post. There simply has not been much action here except for cold weather and colder water. We are far below the "100 Rule" and have been since basically mid-Dec, 2010. There have been a few forecasts where air temps were predicted to crack 60 degrees; however, with the near freezing water temperatures surrounding the islands, a cold fog usually persists and any "warmth" is stamped out by the cold water. All in all, this is the coldest winter I have experienced on the OBX given my nearly 20 yrs here.

While the windsurfing gear remains cold and dry, I have moved into a new home office! The office was completed in early January and has a killer view of the Nags Head Woods Nature Preserve. Working from home has never been better and now with the new office, its great to have a nice view along with enjoyable work and sometimes play space.

Here are a few photos from the new office. Note, it remains a work in progress as for setup, but basically the important stuff is there!

In windsurfing news, the American Windsurfing Tour kicks off May 5, 2011!! All said, that is not too far off, especially for those arranging travel plans to participate or spectate the Tour. The first stop is the Santa Cruz Classic, May 5th - 8th at famed Waddell Creek, south of San Francisco, CA. The stop will draw some of the best national and international wavesailors and should be quite an event! The American Windsurfing Tour will be the windsurfing US national highlight of 2011, and of course stay tuned for the North Carolina stop, Hatteras Wave Jam 2011, Sept 14th - 17!

Onward to 2011 and the Windsurfing Sessions to Come!

2010-12-31T16:17:00.006-05:00

Well, 2010 is a wrap! What a year for Hatteras windsurfing and especially the action in the surf! Its always fond to remember back to past sessions, and luckily with online blogs, Facebook, Picasa Photo Galleries, and various Web Forums, we can usually take a peek back at either what we experienced or what we missed (oh yea, and lets not forget SessionLogs.com!).

2010 offered up some of the best Hatteras windsurfing conditions with fun surf, strong winds, Bermuda Highs, and an Epic Hatteras Wave Jam!

Taking a trip back in time, I remember those two memorable late Spring sessions at Ramp 23 where we caught some killer surf the one sesh, and strong looplicious conditions during the second Spring Bermuda High before the NPS closed the ramp for the summer tourist season. It was great to also share the surf with all the visitors who were here for that memorable sesh at Rmp 23 including Mike F from Fish's Windsurf Journal and the Windsurfing Mag crew!

Throughout the Summer of 2010, as well as Spring, we experienced a number of strong Bermuda Highs that blanketed the islands with strong SSW wind. The first one of Summer in early June kicked off with some fun surf too! As Summer progressed, we experienced numerous days of SW wind. The big Bermuda High of the year hit in July when we had nearly 10 straight days of strong SW wind! The summer surf spot was Ramp 30 (which luckily was not closed by the NPS) with the magical sand bar setup, and there were many fun sessions there for both the wavesailing and wave kiting crews. August arrived and all eyes and rigs were geared for Hatteras Wave Jam 2010.

The event was scheduled for mid-September during the prime tropical season, and with all fingers crossed for killer conditions, the 2010 Wave Jam simply epically scored!! Epic swell from Hurricane Igor arrived on schedule for the event with building conditions throughout the Jam window. Amateur to Expert/Pro conditions offered awesome action to place Hatteras on the international wavesailing map, and earn its spot as Stop 4 of the 2011 American Windsurfing Tour! We cannot forget the epic Wave Jam "Extended" Ocracoke session which was likely the best wave sesh of 2010!

Hatteras Wave Jam also was the showcase for light air SUP wavesailing with the introduction of the AHD SeaLion, as well as other windsurfing SUP models from RRD and NahSkell. I am definitely looking forward to many upcoming 2011 light air wave sessions on the SeaLion!

The Fall season offered more Bermuda High like conditions in October, and November had some fun warm and cooler weather sessions peppered in. Of course, December 2010 will be known at the "Deep Freeze" as the entire month remained basically near or below the freezing mark, plummeting water temps to where they are today in the low 40s.

All in all, 2010 was an awesome year of Hatteras windsurfing and I know I had an awesome time during all the sessions I was out there! Sure, there could have been better surf during some of those Bermuda High sessions, but to be on the water planing under hot sunny skies and strong SW wind seems oddly distant now. Well the good news, is that the days are getting longer, and the warmth will be back. Definitely looking forward to that first string of consecutive SSW days to come.

Who knows, perhaps a SSW light air wave sesh Sunday?! Though, will definitely be donning the 6 mil booties!

PS: If you are interested in taking a look back yourself at 2010 or any year back though 2006, the Calendar widget (top right column) on this blog works great to view past blog posts featuring many killer sessions over the years.

Hatteras Deep Freeze!

2010-12-14T10:14:00.006-05:00

One word this early winter here on the OBX..."COLD!" Since December 2, we have been locked in a deep freeze of cold, blustery weather. Cold here is usually low 50 degree air temps; however, during Dec 2010, 50 degrees is "warm!" Water temps have plummeted as well both in the sounds and the ocean. The Gulf Stream has remained at bay with minimal warmth hitting the southern beaches. All in all, not too enticing to go windsurfing unless you have heated wetsuit apparel and a large heated van to change in.

Andy reported on likely the last "warm" sesh of 2010 a few days ago, and I remember that day myself as the last time I suited up. Been way too long!

In other news, Hatteras Wave Jam 2011 has been scheduled!! Mark your calendars for Sept 14-17, 2011.

As Stop Four of the American Windsurfing Tour, Wave Jam 2011 will be the US East Coast wavesailing highlight of the year with celeb national and international pro level participation! Similar to 2010, the 2011 Event will feature world class wavesailing action as well as nightly activities throughout the event window. Whether participating or spectating, this is definitely an event not to miss!! Stay tuned here, and throughout the windsurfing online media outlets for more info as the Tour gets underway.

Black Friday Wave Sesh!

2010-11-29T10:52:00.012-05:00

While many were out shopping following the Thanksgiving holiday, the OBX was blanketed with strong SW winds on Friday, Nov 26. Air temps rocketed into the low 70s and sunny skies prevailed until the weather rolled though around mid afternoon. Friday's session was a short but sweet Atlantic romp. Ken Kellar, visiting from MD, and I caught it at Ramp 23 near Salvo. Waves ranged waist to chest in the side to offshore conditions. We began on windsurfing SUPs, and I had the SeaLion out for a few fun wave rides before the weather rolled in. Actually, the "weather" was more of a dry frontal boundary. It looked quite ominous from the water as a dark line of clouds; however with no rain present or lightening, we remained out while it passed. The only effect was a wind shift from SW to WNW and a brief increase into the mid 20 mph range.

The offshore shift prompted me to grab the Tempo 92, and I caught a few fun runs in juiced straight offshore wavesailing. Basically, screaming down the beach running parallel to the clean surf lines looking for a steep section to hit an "out the back" wave aerial. I had a few, and Ken caught some on camera, but with his point and shoot, they all were blurry. Though, here are a few sharp ones shot while I was out sailing straight offshore wind. (Note, I do not recommend attempting this unless you are an experienced ocean sailor, and are comfortable in the ocean. Straight offshore conditions can get hairy, especially if you have equipment failure or have trouble remaining "upwind.")

photo credit: Ken Kellar (click any image to open gallery)

Oh yea, and if you are looking for a unique holiday gift this year, order a Hatteras Wave Jam 2010 event T-Shirt! Makes an excellent stocking stuffer, and helps support the 2011 Jam!

BIG NE Wind and Surf - The Wave Kite Crew SCORED!!

2010-11-15T10:03:00.004-05:00

The Hatteras Atlantic is now calming after a pounding over the past few days! Throughout most of last week, strong NNE winds blanketed the islands. Coupled with a strong low pressure system offshore, the swell rose considerably creating big surf including south side wrap across the islands! The swell began to hit last Thursday, and peaked Friday. The wave kite crew caught the epic conditions with some radical action captured!

Check these out! (click image to open gallery)

photo: Dimitri Maramenides, Epic Kites

photo: Lane DuPont

photo: Lane DuPont

On the windsurfing side, Keith McCulloch reported solo session at the North End, Ocracoke on Friday and some big conditions. I caught it at South Beach, Ocracoke on Thursday in much smaller conditions as compared to what Lane and the kite crew caught a day later on Friday! All in all, a wild ride for those who made it out, and also the DOT road crews who battled the overwash experienced at multiple spots along Rt 12 on Hatteras Island!

Start of a Cold Windy FUN Week on the OBX!

2010-11-07T20:37:00.006-05:00

photographer: Pete LeWando
click any image to open gallery

Today was Day One of an upcoming week of cold windy weather on the OBX! NNW winds peaked in the upper 20s/low 30s calling the small stuff into the ocean. I caught it at Old Lighthouse Beach along with Keith, Dano and Chad. Surf ranged chest to head high with some bigger sets. Large swell mountains rolled on the outside, and when they broke out there, it was like running ahead of a freight train! Inside the current was ripping downwind from the groin at a velocity where it was near impossible to stand. Typical Lighthouse! Water felt great though hovering in the mid/upper 60s.

I began the sesh with my inaugural wavesailing ride on the 2011 Quatro Quad LS 75. I've had the board since Wave Jam; however, I have not had a prime opportunity to ride it until today. Paired with the 2011 MauiSails 4.5m Legend, the combo worked great in the strong conditions. Inside was a little tricky given the heavy current and low board volume, but I made it with no real problems. Wave riding on the LS was killer!! Keith and I were lining them up on the downwind bar near directly offshore of the new Lighthouse location. Clean crumblers mixed with top to bottom pitching sections made for some aggressive wavesailing. The Quad felt like a rock star ride with effortless sharp carving bottom turns and approach to the lip. Port DTL is my weaker side, but with the Quad, the ride felt great and I was able to connect some fun, aggressive top to bottom turns and lip hits!

As the day progressed, the wind dropped into the low/mid 20s, and I decided to swap the Quad for the Tempo Twin 92 to have a little more volume to deal with the light wind inside and strong current. Also, the break off the Groin began to fire as the surf size increased. Again, another hour or so of fun waveriding and challenging inside action! At one point I was denied three times by constant head high closeout walls, but finally made it out for a final wave ride and peak hit! Not sure if Pete L caught that one?!

all action photos: Pete LeWando

Its Official! The American Windsurfing Tour is On!

2010-10-29T15:59:00.005-05:00

2011 will host the first US national wavesailing tour in over a decade! The American Windsurfing Tour will span coast to coast with stops in California, Oregon, Mexico, Hatteras, and Maui. The Tour will reintroduce North America to the global wavesailing scene, and provide an excellent venue for national and international participation.

Of course, we are majorly stoked to feature Hatteras Wave Jam 2011 as stop 4 of the Tour and welcome the participation and Hatteras wavesailing exposure!

Be there next year for the upcoming Tour!

Is it July on the OBX?? Warm Windy SSW All Week!!

2010-10-28T08:34:00.002-05:00

What a week of warm windy wavesailing here on the OBX! The magic spot has been Ramp 30 with daily sessions there since Monday. SSW winds have been on tap ranging from the mid-teens to mid-20s with some gusts into the 30s found in Waves and Nags Head! Sunny skies, warm water, and air...it feels like a Bermuda High week in July!

Surf has been fun all week with waist to chest, and occasional head high peak at Ramp 30. The sand bars are working well there and it has been a popular spot with plenty of windsurfers and kiteboarders in action! Even Maui famed, Josh Stone is in town and hit it at Rmp 30 yesterday! I missed his sesh, as I got there later in the day, but the crew reported that he was definitely the standout hitting sweet wave aerials, loops, and other high end action out there.

All in all, its been a fun week and the warmth cannot be beat! Trunks and a long sleeve 1 mil top is not too bad for the end of October!

Jim Myers with a nice hit!
Photo: Ken A, courtesy of Andy McKinney. See Andy's report also at Windsurfing Mag!

On to November!

More Weekend Wave Sailing FUN on the SeaLion!

2010-10-19T09:23:00.006-05:00

I am definitely becoming more and more of a light air wavesailing connoisseur now that the AHD SeaLion is part of the kit. This past weekend, the departing coastal low which provided rock star conditions for the Cape Cod Wave Challenge and action in DelMarva left the OBX with some fun afternoon surf and departing NW winds. The magic spot was that sand bar surf zone about 1/4 mile north of the Oregon Inlet beach access ramp (north side of bridge across from Fishing Center/Marina). I caught it around 12:30pm Sat with NW winds hovering in the upper teens/mid 20s, and the outside bar breaking solid waist with shoulder high peaks. My 5.3m was with Olaf at Avon Sail House, so I had to make due with my 4.5m. Sand was blowing on the beach, however with only the 4.5m, and dropping wind velocity, I decided to take the SeaLion into the Atlantic.

What an awesome time! I was out for a little over 2.5 hrs riding wave after wave dialing in the SeaLion with each ride. Always searching for the peak hit, it was a ton of fun under the cloudless sky and side off conditions. As the winds dropped, the surf cleaned up and became smooth as glass providing true surfing conditions on the maneuverable ride.

I came off the water around 3:45pm only because the tide rose causing the surf zone to only rise but not break. Plus, I had to run down to Avon to pick up my 5.3m. All in all though, it was a killer light air wave sesh on the SeaLion AGAIN! See the Bambuser video report following that session! Also see the pre-sesh report before heading out on the SeaLion!

Sunday, the weather was again perfect, and I had the Nah Skwell 10'6" Stroller loaded on the 4runner. Winds were light from the south and I remain local in Nags Head and hit Enterprise St. A small, clean knee to waist high wave was breaking on the outer bar and with winds hovering in the low to mid teens, I rigged the 5.3m and rode out on the Stroller. Again, another magic day on the ocean cruising on the big board watching dolphins and jellies swim underneath. The swell was small, but I could catch it on the big board and ride some fun surf in the zone with each tack back towards the beach. Another few hours of SUP light air, small wavesailing that kept a smile on my face the entire time!

Definitely, have to get yourself a windsurfing SUP or better yet, a SeaLion for these extremely fun light air, perfect surf days!

Here are a few pics from beach camp on Sunday:

Need a Hatteras Wave Jam 2010 T-Shirt?!

2010-10-13T15:45:00.003-05:00

Did you miss Hatteras Wave Jam 2010, or perhaps spilled coffee or some other beverage on your current 2010 Wave Jam shirt?! Perhaps you simply want to help support a killer event, and sport a sweet looking new windsurfing apparel piece! Well no worries, the t-shirt is now available for order online!

Check out the event merchandise page for details or see the newly added section in the left sidebar of this blog!

Order a t-shirt today to support the stoke and help make Hatteras Wave Jam 2011 the US East Coast wavesailing event of the year!

photo credit: Janis Markopoulos

PS: There is some more BIG news coming soon!! Stay tuned!

Hatteras Wave Jam Showcases the AHD SeaLion!

2010-09-28T12:59:00.010-05:00

Hatteras Wave Jam 2010 was the perfect opportunity to introduce the AHD SeaLion 7'6" to the Hatteras Atlantic and participants of the event. The SeaLion is a strap-less light air wavesailing twin-fin fish specifically designed to provide FUN on the water when the winds are light and the surf is good. During Day One and Two of Hatteras Wave Jam, we had perfect conditions to demo the SeaLion!

all photos: Janis Markopoulos (click any image to open gallery)

Day One at Ramp 55 near Hatteras Village offered small surf and light NE wind. Conditions were side-offshore and the SeaLion was a popular ride for event participants to try out its maneuverability in the waves. Every rider noted the stable yet maneuverable characteristics of the board along with the simple FUN of taking it out in the light air conditions! The board did not spend much time on the beach as there was always someone who had it out for a spin!

During Day Two of Hatteras Wave Jam, the conditions at Ramp 30 found moderate SSW side-offshore wind and bigger swell. Chest to head high crumbly surf provided a nice playground for another spin on the SeaLion. Stewart Proctor has the board out during Day Two and did some excellent riding showcasing its FUN factor in the surf! Stewart noted that the board was a blast to ride in those conditions and he definitely had a smile on his face out on the water!

If you are interested in the SeaLion, either consumer or dealer (US Mid-Atlantic region), please contact me for details!

PS: I had the SeaLion out last week during the fleeting Igor swell and had a blast! Definitely a very fun ride when there is not quite enough juice to get into the straps!

TONS of Hatteras Wave Jam Coverage!

2010-09-24T08:40:00.004-05:00

There is a TON of Hatteras Wave Jam 2010 coverage out online including commentary, photographs, and video! Be sure to check the Hatteras Wave Jam Event "the visuals" page which is updated regularly as new coverage is found online. Currently the web page is quite full with a number of links out to some great stuff! Latest in the list includes a full writeup with slide show featured on the Island Free Press, Hatteras and Ocracoke Island News.

Also be sure to check out the complete Hatteras Wave Jam SmugMug Gallery by event photographer Janis Markopoulos!

Enjoy!

Hatteras Wave Jam "Extended" - The Epic Ocracoke Wavesailing Story, Featuring Keith McCulloch

2010-09-21T21:16:00.015-05:00

The following is a guest writeup by Keith McCulloch, one of the fortunate Wave Jammers who ventured to Ocracoke Island on Sunday Sept 19, following Hatteras Wave Jam to experience the best wavesailing of 2010! Unfortunately, I missed this sesh but am stoked to give you Keith's perspective!

all photography: Janis Markopoulos (click any image to open gallery)

Well, after the somewhat grueling but successful conditions provided by Hurricane Igor for the 4 incredible days of Hatteras Wave Jam 2010, a crew of us gathered what energy we had left over and headed off to Ocracoke on Sunday. I caught the 10 o'clock ferry headed for OC, rolling on to the boat just as I pulled into the terminal, man you got to love that, sort of makes you think the rest of the day is going to go well. A few others made the 10 o'clock as well, Charlie an Dano had the box truck loaded with gear. I could tell the ferry was listing to that side! George and Janis Markopoulos, and Ian and Gordon Stokes were on the ferry as well. We could all see the break we sailed the day before as we traveled south on the back side of the island. The swell was big enough now that it was washing clean across the island into the sound in a few weak spots. Arriving at the north end of Ocracoke, as we all pulled out from the dune onto the beach, we could see stunning long lines of clean logo high swell with solid 20 knot NE side off wind standing the swell up and ripping the top off as it peeled for what seemed like a mile. Ocracoke at its finest!

The long flat bottom of the ocean floor at the north end of the island is created by the inlet constantly filling this area in with sand, this unique to Hatteras area can “tame” a powerful swell, organizing it and spacing it out. The offshore wind finishes the sculpture and polishes it into wave riding perfection. Giddy is the word that comes to mind to describe how I felt as I watched the first big set roll in. Wow, I've been waiting for this for 2 years, and here it is. I was thinking, I've got to make every minute of this day count. Start rigging! A 5.2 was the call. The outer bar was going off, Charlie was making it look easy as usual, catching huge waves again and again, three or four solid bottoms turns...kick out, sail right back up to the pick up point and do it again and again.

Ian sailed out like a pro and rode the wave of his life (so far:-), screaming down the line of a nice meaty logo high wave he looked right at home. A few more sailors began to show up and the day progressed, Emmanuel from DC and Scott from Charlotte joined in the fun midday both of which caught killer rides, it was like a free day on the best roller coaster you have ever been on, all you had to do was sail back up to the beginning of the line for another free ride. Jim Myers, Caleb and Andy showed up in the after noon, by now the tide was coming in and the wind had switched more to the north, more offshore. The outer bar wasn't breaking as hard, only the really big mast high sets were now breaking. Caleb was in good form working the inside with several long fast impressive rides which at any one instant looked ripped from a magazine spread. Jim switched over to a bigger board to compensate for the squirrely wind now on the inside making it difficult to get out, not missing a beat he snagged a few nuggets which put a smile on his face. Emmanuel was sailing strong, this guy amazes me, he comes in to these conditions after not sailing for months on end and sails with authority pulling into some of the biggest sets of the day. Andy McKinney with his better half made the trip to OC to see what all the commotion was about, text messages, voice mails were flying across the airwaves, get here now! After riding a few of these waves I'm sure he was glad he made the trip. George Markopoulos from Delaware made the OC trek and caught the wave sailing day of his life while his wife Janis documented the whole episode with the Nikon, big risk, big reward.

By now the low angle sunlight was really making the rides look dramatic from the beach, images of long sweeping bottom turns and top side cut backs looked like brush strokes on a tubular canvas are now burned into my memory, the shimmering light reflecting off the logo high swell was real life artistry unfolding before your very eyes, looking too good to be true; and no photoshop necessary.

Graham Ezzy was late to the show and was a little under volumed for the now offshore and lighter winds and larger shore break, but he made due with the gear that he had, working it hard to get in the right place at the right time, after which he could finally cash in on a few payday waves showing all that this guy can adjust to the conditions at hand, and rip it up anywhere.

At the end of the day, Charlie, GS, and I went out and worked the inlet break. This was a little nuts! Next time your are riding the ferry across the inlet look out into the inlet...look way out.. you'll see two very large buoys on the horizon, a red one and a green one. The red one is east of the green one. Both are pretty damn far offshore, we were using the red one to line up the swell, this was the pick up point! This wave out here is completely different, FAST with barreling sections. Perfect formed, consistently peeling and made of smooth water while being caressed by clean wind, it was beauty-and-the-beast all rolled into one.

Sailing out on a port tack thru the “channel” you've got a front row seat of the action on your left, as the big sets hit the bar and begin to barrel it looks easy, it looks reasonable, it even looks “small” due to the scale of things out here, we are way the hell offshore! Looking back at the beach I can just barely make out some lumps on the horizon which appear to be our trucks or maybe that is the dune I'm looking at? Sailing out I knew the risks, I was thinking “man whatever you do don't fall...you'll never get your gear back and you'll have to swim at least a mile trough shark-infested water!”

Charlie snagged the first wave, he went in a little deep and had to bottom turn around and clear a section the size of a tractor trailer, so close the barreling breaking white water was pelting the back of his neck as he screamed down the line to safety. For my first ride, I chose a more conservative location to drop in, just a little west of where charlie just had his thrill ride, using the buoys to judge my position I picked #3 in the set. All day long the largest wave of the set seemed to be the 3rd one, its always a good idea to grab the biggest wave of any set. After about four solid turns on this one I kicked out and went back for more, a real confidence builder that was.

Now I returned to more east of the red buoy which put me further into the pit, tacking to stall a little while the next big set approached. Charlie was just downwind of me doing the same. Here it comes, bigger than the last. I went deep, real deep, dropping in and moving upwind while looking down the line. Now on the wave... stalling a little waiting for the moment to start my run. My vision narrows, its time and I begin the run, easily mast high, it was beautifully shaped, butter board smooth wall of continuous liquid momentum which allowed me to easily connect bottom turn energy with the top turn, man you got to love the acceleration you get off a properly timed bottom and top turn combination. As you come off the top in a nice arc, the wave shoots you out in front, this is the key to sailing big fast moving waves.

You've got to harness that top side turn energy, you've got to direct it, you can't control it... its a redirection, you are borrowing the energy and channeling it in the direction you want to go. Energy that came from millions of miles away from our Sun, converted to wind and converted again into this glorious wave made of water, like a freight train it moves on with no care to your presence and unforgiving. You've got to put your board and body in the right place at the right time.

On this one I made a mistake, I misjudged how fast this wave was moving, I just could not believe the size and speed of this wave and I was just discovering that this section was beginning to bowl up...and all on top of that, the wind was fluking out.. I thought “ughggh you can't be serious!” Three big pumps and I narrowly escaped real punishment, now I am barely planing out in front of this wall of water with a barrel behind me that you could park a truck into, one more second in this direction and I'm dead! I've got to turn back into the wave to get some speed to make the next section or I'm trapped. I make this next top turn about half way up the face, I'm late, if I went to the top I'd be drilled into sand for sure, as I complete the turn in the middle of the wave I begin to accelerate back down the face. I'm still running behind and the second half of the bowl section is still out in front of me and it is now beginning to pitch, there is this deafening noise in my right ear and I instinctively look back towards the noise, just where I was a millisecond ago is a silo sized tube of water arcing over the tail of my board blowing chucks of white water at me and my gear. Moving forward from this point, time seemed to slow down and I do almost an exact repeat as I clear the next section, with the bowl shape catching me off guard I really wasn't sure I was going to make it past those two enormous sections. Still a little stunned, now I was in the clean long section that I was after in the first place, I connected five solid top to bottom turns back to back cutting deep swaths in the hillside made of velvet water. Looking back I feel like I was watching the whole thing from a helicopter shot, I guess its the closet I've come to an out of body experience!:-) Charlie caught the 2nd swell after that one and had better positioning after the knowledge gained from his first experience and he worked it like he owns the place. With the wind waning it was time to end on a high note, we sailed in and called it an incredible day.

Hatteras Wave Jam Video Action!!

2010-09-20T20:33:00.008-05:00

Visual content is beginning to blossom online showcasing the world class conditions offered during Hatteras Wave Jam 2010!

Here are a few short vids filmed by Andy McKinney.

Keith McCulloch in action during the Expert/Pro Division all day Super Session at Ramp 55 near Hatteras Village Saturday, Sept 18.

Graham Ezzy riding a Hatteras bomber during the Expert/Pro Division all day Super Session at Ramp 55 near Hatteras Village Saturday, Sept 18.

Stewart Proctor outbound during the Expert/Pro Division all day Super Session at Ramp 55 near Hatteras Village Saturday, Sept 18.

See more Wave Jam videos!

Stay tuned for more Hatteras Wave Jam visual content to come!

Hatteras Wave Jam 2010 Results!

2010-09-19T21:11:00.003-05:00

Amateur Division:

Josh Miller
Ian Stokes
Ryan Getchis

Expert/Pro Division:

Graham Ezzy
Keith McCulloch
Bill Bell

Choice Awards:

Shorebreak Artistry (formally Aerial): Gordy Stokes
Master Wave: Charles Lategano
Wipeout!: Francois Cremer
Choice Wave: Ian Stokes

Hatteras Wave Jam 2010 experienced some of the best, if not the best wavesailing conditions of 2010! The swell was massive and the weather conditions were perfect with warm sunny blue skies to capture stunning action coverage of the event. Be sure to remain tuned to the windsurfing online and print media outlets for release of the A-list coverage! Its simply killer!!
Bonus too was the "Wave Jam Extended" session experienced Sunday, Sept 19 on Ocracoke Island. Many of the Jammers were there along with the Hatteras Wave Jam event photographer to capture more stunning imagery of simply the best Hatteras wavesailing conditions in years. What a SCORE for Hatteras Wave Jam 2010!!! If you were here to experience it, it will leave fond memories for a lifetime, if not, its a definite "Missed It!" in the calendar. For the complete Results Report, see the Hatteras Wave Jam 2010 event web site!

Stay tuned for more imagery of the action as it is released soon...will keep you posted!

Hatteras Wave Jam 2010 Week IS HERE!!

2010-09-12T22:52:00.007-05:00

UPDATE: 9/14/2010
Final NPS authorized locations final and include the following:

Wed: Ramp 55 (near Hatteras Ferry Docks): 12:00pm to 6:00pm
Thurs: Lifeguard Bch (Rmp 43): 12:00pm to 6:00pm
Friday: Lifeguard Bch (Rmp 43): 12:00pm to 6:00pm
Saturday: Ramp 55 (near Hatteras Ferry Docks): 12:00pm - 6:00pm

Stay tuned for LIVE VIDEO BROADCASTS during Hatteras Wave Jam! The videos will be featured here in the OBX Beach Life Broadcasts widget as well as on the Event web site!

Hatteras Wave Jam 2010 week is here and set to kick off Wednesday! Wow, what a forecast lining up! The swell from Hurricane Igor is set to arrive late week during the event window! 14 to 15 second period with building 5 to 8 ft swell will provide some definite action for Hatteras wavesailing. Coupled with a moderate to strong wind forecast, the action may be INTENSE, especially on Saturday when swell hits 10 ft+! The setup looks great with mild surf conditions to start the event on Wed with a build though the weekend that will be for the expert/pros only.

All in all, Hatteras Wave Jam 2010 will deliver some excellent starter as well as intense hard core Hatteras-style wavesailing conditions! Those here to participate and/or watch the event will be in for quite a show! Stay tuned to the Hatteras Wave Jam web site and OBX Beach Life Forum for the final location announcements. Final authorizations from the NPS will be determined on Monday.

Introducing the AHD SeaLion

2010-09-09T22:10:00.009-05:00

The AHD SeaLion 7'6" has arrived! This is the first time this light air wavesailing SUP has experienced the Hatteras Atlantic! The SeaLion along with a 10'6" Nah Skwell Nose Rider Stroller SUP cousin arrived today just in time for Hatteras Wave Jam next week! The SeaLion is specifically designed for very light air wavesailing. The fish hull design is conducive for maneuverability on a wave additionally complemented by the twin fins.

Today was my first time on the SeaLion, and I had a blast out in the small surf this evening in Nags Head. Winds were SSE in the 5 to 12 mph range and with the 4.5m 2011 MauiSails Legend the setup worked great for catching the side onshore surf. The board was quite stable at 135 ltrs and I had no trouble maneuvering it within the surf zone. The wide and fully padded deck made it nice to move around the board to adjust weight while working a wave. The board turned with ease and I was able to get a few nice lip hits when they presented themselves in the waist high surf. Traversing white water was no problem as the board floated nicely with a solid weight shift to the back of the board. I do need a few more sessions to dial in the SeaLion, but the FUN factor will be high as this board allows the ability to wavesail surf when the wind is near non-existent. I am definitely looking forward to the first side-off sesh with longer period swell and light wind! In this environment the SeaLion should really roar!

The SeaLion as well as the Nah Skwell 10'6" will be available for demo at Hatteras Wave Jam, especially if the wind is light and the surf is good!

Here are some photos of the board from today!

Action from Hurricane Earl

2010-09-06T22:56:00.007-05:00

Hurricane Earl was the big news of late last week. The hurricane approached Cape Hatteras as a category 4 storm prompting local authorities to issue mandatory evacuations for both residents and visitors to Hatteras Island. Though the evacuation call was in the best interest given the storm's approaching fury, Earl quickly degraded as it neared Cape Hatteras and brushed by with minimal damage/effect. All in all, the aftermath included some soundside flooding, ocean overwash at vulnerable stretches of Rt 12, and downed tree branches and pine cones. Though, the SandBar in Buxton did lose part of its roof, and the Frisco Pier finally collapsed. See local coverage on Island Free Press.

As for water action, Earl was the surfers storm. The fast pace of the hurricane, timing, and lack of surrounding weather conditions kept windsurfing or kitesurfing windows of opportunity to a minimum. Coupled with the mandatory evacuation and NPS closures, no word of wavesailing or wave kiting were noted (other than the national spotlight (Weather Channel and CNN) for Dimitri M as he made an oceanfront kitesurfing run by the camera crews in front of the Ramada on Thursday as the storm began its impact!). However, for the surfing enthusiast, Earl provided some excellent conditions both in the lead up to his arrival as well as the follow through. The most intense action was found at Avalon Pier on Friday, Sept 3 where local pros hit it for some tow-in action in the heavy stuff! There are a ton of pics of the tow-in session; however, they are all located on Facebook. Here are a few found on 99.1 The Sound's Facebook Fan page. Also, a nice SurfLine story and gallery of surfing Earl.

As for pre and post-Earl surfing, there were a number of fun days as the swell began to impact the islands Tuesday, and vacated Saturday. I had some fun sunrise sessions as well as a great Wednesday afternoon outer bar session (until I broke my board while finishing up for the day on the inside bar). Saturday the surf was firing, and with a backup board, I hit it at the north side of Jennette's Pier! As for windsurfing, I did catch a fun B&J session at Jockey's Ridge on Friday taking the new 2011 MauiSails 4.5m Legend and 2011 Quatro Quad LS 75 for a spin! Though, I will post a full review later in the season once I introduce this kit properly to the Hatteras Atlantic!

All in all, Earl was the surfers storm. Wavesailing will have to wait until the next tropical swell... perhaps for Hatteras Wave Jam 2010 coming up in a little over a week!?!

Here are a few photos I snapped during the days of Earl:

A little video from my buddy Tony featuring the Friday Earl sesh at JRidge!

Live OBX Beach Life Video Broadcasts!

2010-09-05T11:28:00.004-05:00

Last night, I was surfing the applications available for my HTC Incredible and found an interesting live streaming video app called Bambuser. The application provides a platform to broadcast live streaming video feeds from the phone. This capability will allow for live OBX Beach Life condition reports when I am out checking the surf or the wind! We will definitely be using Bambuser for Hatteras Wave Jam! See the Bambuser feed in the left sidebar just below "Featured Advertising."

Now, you will see live video broadcasts from the beach! Very cool.

An Evening with Hurricane Earl

2010-09-02T21:12:00.006-05:00

Well, we are buttoned up and ready to see what Earl has to offer tonight. Reporting from Nags Head, westside just north of Jockey's Ridge State Park.

Sept 3, 7:30am: The full strength of Earl arrived around 2:00am this morning and has been raging since. Heavy rain, and strong 50+ mph wind gusts have been the norm though the night. IWS wind meters are currently reading NNW winds at near 70 mph with gusts to 83mph in Rodanthe at this time. Here in Nags Head, power remains online, along with all other utilities. The only debris I see are down tree branches, though no fallen trees. I do have to deal with some water leaks around a few windows, but nothing major. Our little guy slept though the night without a peep! Will post some photos later this morning.

12:00 am: Wind and rain has increased and an extremely warm humid airmass remains when stepping outside. Wind strength is climbing in Nags Head; however, remains in the mid-20s with higher gusts. Falling pine cones is all that is happening thus far.
Note though that the IWS wind meters are reading very windy conditions in Avon with NNE wind averaging 51 with gusts to 65 mph! Definitely the beating is underway down south on Hatteras Island and especially Avon at this moment as Hurricane Earl continues his march north just east of the Outer Banks. Stay tuned for the next report if I am awakened by extreme conditions which may hit overnight?!

9:30 pm: Not too much happening yet. Conditions outside include a very warm humid airmass with NE wind blowing in the mid-20 mph range. The air feels very thick with humidity as the storm continues its approach. Light, wind driven rain. Wind is increasing though as I type this blog post! Next report at 12:00am.

Full Mandatory Evacuation for Ocracoke Island - Hyde County, and ENTIRE - Dare County (VISITORS)

2010-08-31T21:03:00.018-05:00

UPDATE: Sept 2, 7:00am
The mandatory evacuation has been extended to VISITORS across ALL of Dare County. Additionally the Town of Nags Head has issued a mandatory evacuation for all residents and visitors in South Nags Head (Rt 12 south of Whalebone Junction). Hurricane force conditions are expected early Friday morning across all of the Outer Banks as the eye of the storm is expected to pass around 70 miles offshore.
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UPDATE: Sept 1, 7:00pm
The mandatory evacuation has been extended to RESIDENTS as well as VISITORS on Hatteras Island (includes all villages south of Oregon Inlet). The latest storm track forecast notes a probable landfall along the southern Outer Banks with a curve east as the storm tracks north along the islands. Hurricane force conditions expected early Friday morning on Hatteras Island.
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UPDATE: Sept 1, 9:00am
Dare County has issued a mandatory evacuation for all VISITORS to Hatteras Island. This is in anticipation of ocean overwash and breakthroughs likely at S-Turns/Mirlo Beach and other spots along Rt 12 on Pea Island. Recommend travel during periods around low tide which passed at 7:30am this morning, and will approach this evening around 8:30pm. Though of course, if you are planning to evacuate best to leave ASAP before the heavy storm swell arrives.

Be sure to check this live photo/video feed from Mirlo Beach/S-Turns which is one of the most vulnerable locations for ocean overwash that will likely occur restricting access to/from populated areas of Hatteras Island. Additional feeds are available on this blog in the right hand sidebar under "OBX Web Cams"
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As the forecast models refine the track of Hurricane Earl, the storm cone brings it very close to the southern Outer Banks. Hyde County (Ocracoke Island) has issued a mandatory evacuation of the island:

A state of emergency has been declared for Hyde County effective 9 PM today. A mandatory evacuation has been issued for all visitors and residents of Ocracoke beginning at 5 AM on Wednesday, September 1.

The NC Ferry system will be on a first-come, first –serve basis for all vehicles open to Hatteras, Swan Quarter, and Cedar Island pending road conditions in those receiving counties. Schedules and toll collections are suspended during the evacuation order.

Emergency services, government agencies, commercial vendors delivering essential groceries and supplies, and permanent residential traffic as indicated by purple and green stickers will be allowed on the island via air and marine traffic. The State Highway Patrol may restrict access without appropriate credentials.

Before leaving, residents and guests in this area should take precautions such as moving cars and equipment to higher ground. Please pick up potential debris that could become unsecure during the storm.

People with medical needs and unique situations are urged to consider their options. Hyde County public safety services will cease after winds reach 50 mph sustained.

Those seeking shelter may travel to North Pitt High School, 5659 N. Highway 11, Bethel, NC. This shelter will be open at 9 am on Wednesday, September 1.

This is the only information available at this time. Please tune in to local radio 90.1 FM on the island, the National Weather Service, and local television reports.

As seen in the past, hurricanes are unpredictable and can change with little notice. Residents and visitors need to remain vigilant and not let your guard down.

Hyde County Emergency Services continues to review the latest weather forecasts, is coordinating with the State and nearby counties, and advising citizens on possible actions to protect themselves and their property. Further updates will be issued after the 6 pm meeting.

Please make yourselves aware of the state ferry system’s schedule and road conditions before making travel plans during this time and after the storm has passed.

Hatteras Wave Jam 2010 - Killer Industry Support!!

2010-08-31T09:25:00.006-05:00

What an event and what a score for participants of Hatteras Wave Jam 2010! The windsurfing industry support has been awesome this year and there are some killer prizes available for event participants!

Hatteras Wave Jam 2010 is stoked to offer participants the opportunity to score some killer windsurfing merchandise from windsurfing industry sponsors. Brand new RRD WaveTwin 90 wave board, 2010 wave sails from MauiSails and Goya, Dakine harnesses and other merchandise, a complete ABK Windsurfing Camp, SUP excursions, etc., etc...!

All in all, Hatteras Wave Jam 2010 has an excellent assortment of killer prizes courtesy of our supporting sponsors. Definitely all the more reason to not miss Hatteras Wave Jam 2010!

Be sure to register today to join the Jam!

Lots of Tropical Action to Kick Off OBX Sept!

2010-08-29T21:55:00.006-05:00

Well, the surf is finally here for Hatteras 2010 with a triple header lining up to end August and welcome September!! First there was Hurricane Danielle which offered up a fun weekend swell with great longboard and SUP action at the Cove in Buxton.

On deck we have H Earl who is forecast to make a brush by the OBX Thursday/Friday. The forecast models have been all over the place with surf size ranging from 27ft to 12 ft and winds from 60+mph to mid-20s. The models will zero in as the second half of the week approaches, and hopefully the storm will remain well offshore and only throw us a fun sized swell as well as wind. Definitely do not want to see Mirlo/S-Turns and Rt 12 washed out again, especially leading into Labor Day weekend!

Following Earl we have Invest 97 which is well out of the picture until the week following Labor Day. Hopefully, again a storm which shoots The Slot between Cape Hatteras and Bermuda and does not approach landfall.

What a kickoff of the 2010 Hatteras Tropical Season! After a year of minimal surf, we are kicking into high gear! Now if we can also experience some ideal wavesailing wind (SW/NE in the 20 to 25 knot range) along with a long period swell..., what a lead up to Hatteras Wave Jam 2010!!

Stay tuned for upcoming Hatteras Tropical coverage!

Hatteras Wave Jam 2010 Promotional Video!

2010-08-26T09:14:00.005-05:00

Still on the fence for Hatteras Wave Jam 2010?! Be sure to check out the new promotional video for the upcoming event! You still have time with a little less than three weeks to plan a trip and come out to "Rip it!"

Awarded Top Beach Blog for 2010!

2010-08-25T16:26:00.010-05:00

Bill's OBX Beach Life has been awarded one of 30 Top Beach Blogs for 2010 presented by Online Schools!

From Online Schools:

The award winners for this category were announced on August 23, 2010.

This award highlights the very best blogs to learn about the beach and all things related on the internet that were nominated by the internet community, and is designed to thank the authors for their contribution toward the world wide web we all use & enjoy.
Awards candidates are found by one method:
- Anonymous nominations that are open to the internet community
This allows us to generate a candidate list that is based upon what the internet determines as being good, original content. After a list of candidates is compiled, we then filter the list to ensure that each site qualifies for the category. We then give the list to be scored by our panel of 5 judges. Each judge rates each blog across 20 different attributes, including content, frequency of updates, amount of advertising, length of posts, and readibility. This then provides the site with a ‘subjective’ score. These ratings are combined into an aggregate total for the 5 judges. The amount of nominations are also converted into a score, and this score combined with the aggregate score gives the blog its final rating.
The ratings are then compared for each site within a category and awards are given out to blogs in the 99% percentile (meaning the top 1% of blogs receive awards).

Sweet!!

Hatteras Premier of the Windsurfing Movie II!

2010-08-23T11:39:00.001-05:00

Hatteras Wave Jam 2010 will feature the premier of the Windsurfing Movie II. This feature presentation is the second installment of the series and features top international windsurfing stars showcasing the action in the best windsurfing locations around the globe. Poor Boyz Productions have produced another stellar edition to the series and Hatteras joins to list of international premiers of the movie around the world!

The showing will take place during the Hatteras Wave Jam Event Party scheduled for Friday, Sept 17 starting at 7:30pm. In addition to the movie, the party will feature music, food, drink, and a raffle of some excellent prizes including new 2010 windsurfing sails from MauiSails and Goya along with a full ABK Windsurfing Camp! The party will be hosted at OceanAir Sports in north Avon.

Hatteras Wave Jam 2010 is the premier Hatteras windsurfing event of the year! Definitely do not miss this event!

For more details, be sure to check out Hatteras Wave Jam 2010 event web site or Facebook site!

2010 MauiSails Legends for Sale/Demo!

2010-08-09T08:50:00.008-05:00

I have the following MauiSails Legends for sale/demo:
2010 MauiSails Legend 5.3m, 4.7m, 4.2m, 3.7m

All sails are in excellent/like new condition! Actually, the 3.7m has never been used and remains wrapped in the original unopened plastic bag!
Given that the 5.3m is my primary sail size for Hatteras it has the most use and thus wear. Though all sails including the 5.3m have no defects and are in excellent shape!

Prices for the sails:
2010 5.3m Legend: SOLD!
2010 4.7m Legend: SOLD!
2010 4.2m Legend: SOLD!
2010 3.7m Legend: (now a Hatteras Wave Jam event prize!)

Quiver Complete: SOLD!

If you are planning a trip to the OBX later this summer/Fall (Hatteras Wave Jam!), these sails will provide fun times on the water, including excellent FWD loop carma! : ) I can also arrange an on-the-water demo if you would like to try before you buy!
Shipping available if needed, as I will have a MauiSails quiver packing box.
contact me
Additionally if you are interested in other gear, be sure to see the Gear for Sale section located in the left sidebar of this blog!

Sails available mid to late August.

(click images for enlarged view and further detail)

Hatteras Wave Jam 2010 Set for Sept!

2010-08-01T21:36:00.006-05:00

If you have not heard or seen the buzz yet, Hatteras Wave Jam 2010 is on schedule for Sept 15 - 18, 2010! The event marks the third year for the Hatteras Windsurfing Festival Series host of windsurfing gatherings along the Atlantic coast of Cape Hatteras, NC. Following the successful formula of 2009, The Jam will consist of wavesailing freeform/expression sessions along with the Beast of the East Wave FaceOff III wavesailing and aerial artistry competition. Night time activities include a Wave Clinic, restaurant gathering, event party, and awards/wrap beach cookout! Numerous sponsors are on-board with an assortment of prizes for giveaway and/or raffle.

Additionally, GCP Media will be providing professional HD video coverage of the event to promote Hatteras wavesailing, lifestyle, and camaraderie along with local business and industry sponsors (see Event Sponsors page for details if you would like to involve your business)! The video collection will include an event interview promo featuring Hatteras local wavesailing stars, along with past participants who captured the unique stoke offered by the 2008 and 2009 experience! The promo is set to air on or around August 15 as a lead up to Wave Jam. Additional feature videos will include Daily Short-Takes during the actual event window, as well as a comprehensive wrap-up feature showcasing the experience of Hatteras Wave Jam 2010! We are stoked to have GCP's professional video capture and production coverage of the event, and the exposure will be top notch!

Visit the Hatteras Wave Jam website to see the latest comprehensive schedule of events and plan to be here for Hatteras Wave Jam 2010! Where better to catch perfect US East Coast wind and surf than the Cape Hatteras Atlantic; especially during our prime tropical wave generator season!

Wavesailing, "Don't You Get Bored?"

2010-07-26T11:06:00.003-05:00

I was on a recent "Hatteras vacation" with my wife's family. Her father rented one of those massive ocean-front beach houses in Hatteras Village, and we had an excellent front row view of the ocean during the entire week. For me, the vacation was a windsurfing score, as the July Bermuda High (discussed in the previous post) was in full swing and provided excellent wind conditions near daily (though for the family, conditions were a little rough to swim/enjoy the water). I decided to sail a few days in front of the beach house as her family had never seen me windsurf.

An interesting question arose from one of my wife's young nieces while I was out sailing in front of the house. "Doesn't Uncle Billy ever get bored of windsurfing?" Of course my wife chuckled and said, "Are you kidding?!"

Interestingly, I have been pondering this question for little while both on the water, and on dry sand. Regarding my prime windsurfing discipline; "wavesailng," I have come up with a very simple reason why I will never be bored of the experience.

Literally, every tack both out though the surf, as well as, in towards shore provides a very unique experience. Never is the ride either in or out, the same. While on the ocean over the past number of days during our recent July Bermuda High, I found myself excited, and wondering what the next ride in or out would bring. Its the essence of wavesailng for me, and why it will never become "boring." The complete dynamic nature of riding ocean surf always provides for an unknown expectation which is very fulfilling.

From catching an outside swell and riding it into the surf zone, to heading out looking for a steep ramp, or avoiding a pummeling closeout section, the moments always have my mind racing in wonder of what will happen?! Every moment is completely different and keeps me alive and wanting more.

Not sure if other wavesailors have been asked the question, but is their answer similar?

Definitely not bored, and already hungry for the next wave sesh, hopefully coming soon?!

The Hatteras July Bermuda High!

2010-07-21T14:35:00.002-05:00

Beginning July 13 and continuing as of this post; the July Bermuda High of 2010 has been awesome! Peppered in with some surf found at Ramp 30 between Salvo and Avon, the windsurfing and kiteboarding community have had numerous hours of enjoyment on the water! Well over a week of warm windy weather courtesy of the solid High pressure anchored offshore! The 5.0m and down sails remain wet as we continue in this string of summertime windsurfing FUN!

Plenty more to come along with a promising long period ocean swell for later in the week/weekend! SW windy weather and 9+ second ocean swell at 5 ft+ equals some of the best wavesailing conditions yet this year!?! Stay tuned...

Here are some pics of the FUN thus far... (click any image to open gallery)
(photographer: Keith McCulloch, Jim Myers)

FUN on the Dunes at Jockey's Ridge!

2010-06-20T21:59:00.013-05:00

Of course there is excellent soundside windsurfing and kiteboarding found on the water west of Jockey's Ridge; however, this post centers on the fun found among the actual sandy dunes of the park! Jockey's Ridge State Park showcases the largest natural sand dunes found on the US East Coast. The terrain offers Sahara Desert-like views of nothing but sand and sky depending upon the vantage point. Coupled with scrub brush forests and unique dunes and ridge lines, a hike though the park is an experience not to be missed when visiting the Outer Banks. One of the biggest attractions on the dunes is hang gliding. With a steady east wind, the dunes come alive with excellent conditions for experienced or novice gliders. My buddy Tony Varga, a FedEx airline pilot, neighbor, and best man at my wedding, expanded from his water sports of surfing and kiteboarding to begin his aerial hang gliding adventure this summer with Kitty Hawk Kites. Given that our neighborhood borders the park, he was prime to venture into the dunes and fly! After earning his Level 1 rating, and recent Level 2, along with the purchase of an hang glider, he is amped to fly the dunes just minutes away from where we live!

Lauren, the little guy, and I hiked up to catch some of Tony's flights over the weekend! Check these out (click any image to open gallery)! (photographer: Lauren Nassetta)

In windsurfing news, you have likely been following the Pistol River Wave Bash, hosted in southern coastal Oregon, which scored epic conditions this past weekend! Congrats to the organizers and participants for an awesome venue and major plug for US mainland wavesailing! I definitely have to plan to be out there next year! For excellent video coverage of the event be sure to check out Pritchard Brothers Windsurfing.

Speaking of US wavesailing events, Hatteras Wave Jam 2010 will be officially announced very soon. Stay tuned!

Here on the OBX, we are locked into extremely flat ocean conditions and moderate SW wind. If only we had even a hint of a wave....?! Oh well, I guess the surf can only get better?!

Also on the FLASH wire, I received an email from Justin, a state park service ranger, noting this info nugget regarding kiteboarding on Pea Island. I noticed that the latest update on this regulation list was dated June 15, 2010, but see the line where "Kiteboarding and the use of Personal Watercraft are prohibited." Hmmmm, more on this piece in a future post.

A Little Wind Here, A Little Surf There...

2010-06-14T07:47:00.008-05:00

Since the previous post there have been a few days of wind, including a juiced 4.7m session at Jockey's Ridge late last week! Dimitri Maramenides from Epic Kites was out with a few GoPro HDs and caught some unique helicopter-style footage of windsurfing while he soared overhead on the kiteboard! Very cool...stay tuned for his next video! We will work out some pre-planning to catch even better footage such as loops and other windsurfing tricks while he soars overhead. Until then, check out his latest video Kiting Solo (seen below) shot in Hatteras over this past spring. Its an awesome first person perspective of the kite ride with a world class pro and also includes an aerial shot of, I believe, Mike Burns sticking a FWD in the sound at Island Creek (near end of video)!

We also had a little surf yesterday. Super clean, glassy waves and fun waist high surf along with some odd little jellybean style critters in the water. Super clear conditions though and quite refreshing given our balmy 90 degree humid daytime heat.

As for the upcoming week, the WindGuru forecast looks fairly light with not too many stars out there. Flat ocean conditions forecast as well.

Hey, also this in from the email wire. Michael Chagnon will be on the Outer Banks this week performing live at a number of venues across the islands.
- 9pm June 16th and 17th at Kelly's Outer Banks Restaurant in Nags Head;
- 2pm June 20th at Mulligans in Nags Head;
- 9pm June 21st at Howard's Pub in Ocracoke.

End to a Week Long Bermuda High!

2010-06-07T08:28:00.008-05:00

What a week! This past Bermuda High was the longest we have seen this year with a total of 11 straight days of SSW windy weather!! The sweet spot for every Bermuda High is Rodanthe/Waves and I am sure that the shingles at Hatteras Island Sail Shop may need looked at, especially on the south facing side of the roof!

Every day like clockwork, the afternoon SSW winds ramped into the 20+ mph range. Peppered in a few upper 20s, 30mph days, and it was a killer week for sounside windsurfing!! Oceanside, unfortunately we had zero swell in the Atlantic, thus no surf to play in. Though, at the beginning of the BH, we did have SE swell remnants in the water (see previous post noting Memorial Day Weekend), and to finish off the BH, winds ramped up in Frisco providing some side-onshore wavesailing at the Bathhouse.

All in all though, if you were vacationing in Rodanthe this past week, and were here for windsurfing, you are probably beat from exhaustion, with plenty of memorable afternoon/sunset sessions... Likely, you are also returning perhaps with a new 3.7m sail, if you did not have one before arriving?!

This coming week, all eyes are on Wed/Thursday as we see a forecast coastal low forming, which will provide SE swell, and luckily in this case, SE/S wind!! This combo means only one thing....Coquina Beach/N Oregon Inlet!! Perfect combo at that spot for world class wavesailing if it happens. Stay tuned!

A few pics from the Frisco Bathhouse yesterday!

Memorial Weekend and Another Bermuda High!

2010-06-02T07:51:00.011-05:00

We are back in the grip of another Hatteras Bermuda High providing daily strong afternoon/early evening SSW winds! The High set up shop over the weekend and provided excellent wind along the typical wind corridor from north Avon to south Nags Head.

We had surf too during the start of the High, and I caught a fun session just north of Ramp 4 at Oregon Inlet on Saturday. Conditions were light SSW wind, warm water, and sunny skies. The beach was packed with vacationers as trucks lined the sand. It felt like Spring Break Daytona Beach out there with all the people partying and having a great time! In the water, I was solo on the Tempo 92 and Legend 5.3m, though there were a few surfers out sharing the break.

Following Saturday's O Inlet wave sesh, I caught a Sunday evening session at Ramp 30 between Avon and Waves. The surf was dropping but there were a few stray swells/peaks. By Monday, the surf was gone, though the wind remained strong, especially at sites from Waves to south Nags Head. Tuesday, again afternoon SSW winds ramped up soundside in Nags Head and Rodanthe hitting numbers in the mid-20s!

All in all, if you were here for Memorial Day weekend, your sails are likely still wet, and you hands may have a few callouses. Definitely, served up by the latest Hatteras Bermuda High this week! If you are still here and vacationing though the week, the forecast calls for more afternoon SSW winds to come! Though in the wave department, we will likely be flat.

A Repeat of the 2005 Outer Banks Surf Season?!

2010-05-27T11:58:00.008-05:00

The latest tropical weather forecast for 2010 signals an extremely active season this year! A record number of named storms is forecast, and if we see conditions similar to the summer of 2005, literally we had perfect, near epic Hatteras surf every day! I began this blog in 2006; however, if I had it active in 2005, there would have been nearly daily posts of epic surf experienced throughout that Summer/Fall of that year. Of course, 2005 was the year of H Katrina and we do not wish landfall for any major hurricanes; however, when they remain safely out in the Atlantic and only provide long period swell..., that is what we wish for.

This year, if the forecast rings true, the odds of a major storm landfall is high given the shear numbers predicted along with the well know paths. Of course this is reason for caution along all coastal areas of the US and central Atlantic islands; though also optimism for the surfing and wavesailing community for a stellar 2010 wave conveyor season!

Here are a few posts over the past years referencing conditions in 2005:
- Waiting for the Next Big Day (wavesailing the swell from Katrina)
- Its Been a Windless August (flashback to the surf of 2005)

Be safe and smart out there!

Hatteras Goes BIG!!

2010-05-26T10:45:00.009-05:00

After a relatively wave less Spring, Hatteras was hit hard with a huge SE swell driven by an extra-tropical storm out in the Atlantic near Bermuda. NE winds from the storm provided the extra ingredient to get us out to surf the big outer bar waves.

Keith McCulloch, Caleb Jacobs, Dan Runyan Jesse Waters (visiting from NY), and myself ventured out off the beach at the north end of Ocracoke Island, famed for world class wavesailing on days such as this.

The setup included minimal shorebreak, and three breaking bars to traverse. The second (middle) bar was the most challenging as an east flowing current and the light NE near offshore wind provided a squirrely area to work though. A number of denials were offered at this area, but once past, the far outer bar provided BIG long line surf in near glassy texture. I rode the Tempo 92 and the 5.3m Legend, and the combo was perfect for the conditions, especially traversing the middle bar area.

All in all it was a fun session, with some great outer bar wave rides in logo+ high surf; however, with the action happening so far offshore, we could not capture it very well in photographs or video.

Though to get a perspective of surf size, Andy posted a great up close shot of Stewart at the Lighthouse showcasing the bombers hitting Hatteras! Great ride Stu!

Here are a few snaps from Ocracoke yesterday:

Surf Gods Have Answered, Ocracoke Wave Sesh Coming?!!

2010-05-23T16:19:00.009-05:00

This weekend found some extremely fun surf in Nags Head and points south along the east facing beaches. I caught sessions both Saturday and Sunday in the fun crumbly chest high set waves just south of Nags Head Fishing Pier. Light E winds both days did texture the surf somewhat, but overall it remained relatively glassy. No photos or video, but stay tuned for action later this week, as a strong "extratropical" low (90L) is expected to head our way bumping up the surf and wind! Tuesday, and through the second half of the upcoming week, may be ripe for NE wind and a sizable SE long period ocean swell?! Ocracoke wave sesh anyone?!

Definitely will have the cameras out for this upcoming event! Its been too long since an epic Ocracoke session, hopefully the upcoming forecast pans out!

Stay tuned!!

We Need the Surf Gods Blessing In Hatteras!

2010-05-13T10:36:00.009-05:00

Spring 2010 in Hatteras has had the full blessing of the "Wind Gods" as we have seen an excellent array of SW windy weather throughout April and May. Two solid Bermuda Highs, plus plenty of single SW and occasional NE days have been great for wind. However, in the surf department, conditions have been less than ideal. The Hatteras Atlantic is functioning more like July as compared to April/May. Normally, April/May surf averages 4 to 5 feet with many days of chest to head high conditions. However, this year, we are averaging 2 feet knee to thigh, with even waist high being fairly rare. Kind of a bummer for the wavesailing crew as we are definitely stoked for the windy weather, but when paired with surf, we have only found a few days were everything gelled together.

Coupled too with the lack of sand bars at popular spots such as Ego Beach, and the current and coming National Park Service (NPS) summer beach closures, if the surf gets good, we may not be able to hit it?! Ramp 23, which has a nice sandbar setup, has already been shut down, and at Ramp 27 the ideal bar is located in restricted beach area. You can still sail it, but cannot come into shore for anything...or else....?!

All in all, its a bummer that both the surf this Spring has been less than ideal, and given the coming summer full beach closures starting May 15, if any surf begins to hit, perhaps all the best breaks will be inaccessible.

Oh well, welcome to Cape Hatteras 2010... definitely nothing like Cape Hatteras 2005 when we had access and SURF!

Super Saturday!

2010-05-10T08:42:00.014-05:00

SW winds returned to the OBX with reckless abandon this past Saturday, wetting 4.0m and down size sails! We caught it in the Atlantic at Ramp 27 between Salvo and Avon. Ramp 23 has closed due to nesting birds, so we moved one ramp south. At Rmp 27 on Saturday, 35+ mph SW winds blew head high sand on the beach, and maxed/overpowered 4.2m conditions in the ocean. The surf remained relatively small; however, the extremely strong winds did kick up a decent chest high short period wind swell, though average wave size hovered in the waist high range. Ocean water was quite warm with trunks only conditions out there! We had a nice sized crew out blasting around, catching FUN lip hits, loops, and jumps!

Unfortunately, I broke a footstrap screw late in the session, with no backup, but that was ok, as I was maxed on the 4.2m. I would have rigged a new 2010 Legend (still in the plastic bag) 3.7m; however, with the broken strap and a need to be back to Nags Head for "daddy duties" during the early evening, the sail remains "brand new."

I am psyched that the OBX Beach Life forum live reports are working as Keith Misch, visiting the OBX, made it out for another ocean sesh based on the location report posted on the forum. Now that I have the HTC Incredible from Verizon, I can post pics, and commentary from the sesh site easily both on the Forum and/or on my Twitter feed. Definitely, if you have a modern smartphone, follow me on Twitter, and/or join the OBX Beach Life Forum to get the latest info on where we are sailing oceanside!

Here are a few pics from Saturday!

End to Another Hatteras Spring Bermuda High...

2010-05-04T10:09:00.015-05:00

All good things... we recently ended our second rare Spring season Bermuda High. 5 straight days of strong SW afternoon winds which began Thursday, April 29 and ended Monday, May 3. Visiting hands were well calloused during the string of windy weather! What a great score for those visiting (Josh S and crew from Windsurfing Mag, great call on the "drop all Hatteras Run") as well as us locals who enjoyed the time on the water! Too bad we did not have better surf conditions, but no worries, there was lots of loop'n going on, especially during our Loop Rodeo this past Monday at the Salvo Ramp (23).

Now, we are in between weather systems enjoying beautiful weather on the islands. Though, another round of windy weather is forecast for the upcoming weekend! Come on out and play!

As for some pics from the Bermuda High, check these out!
(click any image to open gallery)

Also check out the pics Keith Misch shot onsite live while out there on Monday!

All in all, a very fun 5 days of windsurfing action on the Outer Banks! Hope you were here to catch it!

Hatteras Beach Access and Watersports, Be Informed!

2010-04-29T11:03:00.013-05:00

As noted in previous posts over the years, again beach access is heating up as a topic of debate on the OBX, as well as other locations around our windsurfing world.

This Friday, a special workshop is scheduled for watersports enthusiasts including surfers, windsurfers, and kiteboarders. The details are as follows:
When: Friday, April 30, 7:00pm
Where: Fessenden Center, Buxton
The latest proposal from the US Park Service could DRAMATICALLY impact the ability to enjoy the beaches of Hatteras Island from a watersports perspective. See Outer Banks Preservation Association for details.

Additionally, access issues are also alive in California. See and sign the petition regarding access at Lake Hodges near San Diego.

As for some Hatteras action where access in not yet an issue, I caught this GoPro still mid tweaked FWD loop during the showcase session last Monday. Yana missed this one in the still snaps (likely she was capturing Caleb at the lip of a sweet wave!), but it looked cool from the onboard perspective flying/looping over the surf zone!

The weekend forecast also looks great as another Hatteras Bermuda High sets up starting tomorrow, providing strong afternoon SW winds though next Tuesday!! Definitely, come on out and enjoy some warm windy weather on the islands!!

The Hatteras Wavesailing Monday Photo Showcase!

2010-04-27T08:38:00.012-05:00

Over the past two days, we have finally experienced the combination of great surf and wind on the Outer Banks! Definitely the best two days so far this Spring and year for warm, strong SW side-off wind, and strong ocean swell. Yesterday (Monday) we had photographers out at the two prime wavesailing spots for the day and caught this action!

Enjoy! (Click any image to open gallery)

From Ramp 23 near Salvo/Rodanthe
All Ramp 23 photos shot by Yana Bagdasaryan

And from Ramp 34, just north of Avon
All Ramp 34 photos shot by Keith McCulloch and Jim Myers

Hatteras Went BIG Today!!!

2010-04-26T22:00:00.007-05:00

Lots of photos, big Hatteras conditions and the full report coming soon!
Stay tuned for the next update which will include pics from Ramp 34 and Ramp 23!! Killer wavesailing conditions in Hatteras today!!

Congrats to those who hit it!!

Here is a teaser Keith M sent of Jim Myers in the zone at Ramp 34!!

Much more to come! Stay tuned!!

Finally!!!, Some Wind and Surf!

2010-04-25T22:09:00.011-05:00

UPDATE: Andy posted some nice pics of Stu and Ken during the sesh last night at Ramp 34 north of Avon! Great perspective! Stay tuned for more today!!

Well, the alignment finally happened as wind and waves gelled to produce some excellent side-off wave sailing on the islands! Today, saw some of the best surf yet this Spring with solid head high set waves and super clean conditions at Oregon Inlet. The shore pound was intimating, but with some timing and no mistakes, getting out was a piece of cake. The outside bar offered clean long lines, fun wave rides and nice hits! Sunny skies, warm 70+ deg air, 60+ deg water, and powered SSW winds were on tap. The 4.7m and 76 ltr worked great, though early in the sesh, the 92 would have been nice during some lulls in the wind, especially given the fast ENE swell. Luckily though, the wind did ramp up during the session. I was relatively conservative wave riding since I was again solo in some bigger conditions (not even any fishermen around). I was going to head south to Lifeguard, but with reports of mediocre conditions there, I could not pass up the excellent, clean surf at Oregon Inlet. For pure wavesailing, it was awesome!! Too bad everyone else missed it! Well, looks like repeat conditions are forecast for tomorrow so there will be another shot at it!?!

I filmed GoPro, tailgate video, and some stills, but it really does not do the conditions justice since there was no one else there to capture for perspective! Oh well, definitely will have perspective tomorrow with a dedicated photographer set to capture the afternoon session!

All in all, stay tuned for more reports this week as the wave and wind conditions are set to continue! Along with action photography as Yana is coming out tomorrow to shoot!

Here is a pic of the shore pound for your entertainment, as well as what it looked like when it settled down.

Small Yet Fun at Cape Point!

2010-04-19T08:27:00.006-05:00

Small but fun session with lots of little white water peaks on the sand bar at Cape Point Friday, April 16. Juiced 5.3m warm SW wind, and plenty of inside power while riding the Tempo92. Great setup for goiters, and lots of loops on the trip out over the bar. I was solo since the surf was small, and some of the key wave crew were out of town, plus 4WD is required for access to the spot. There were plenty of fisherman out on the Point, though none were near where I was sailing.

Great warm weather and water, now all we need is some Spring-time Hatteras surf?!

Unfortunately for Hatteras wave sailing, popular and convenient spots such as Ego Beach, across from Canadian Hole have no working sand bars this year. Therefore, the Hatteras wavesailing scene is fairly scattered. If you are visiting and interested in hitting the Atlantic, definitely check in with Andy at Wind-NC, Olaf at Avon Sailhouse, Stu at OceanAir or Charlie at RideHatteras for the latest on where the crew is at. Also, if you have a wireless device, be sure to bookmark the OBX Beach Life Forum, as we update near real-time with wave session reports and locales on the site!

Simply hiking across the dune line at Canadian Hole will not find you any waves, at least now...though hopefully, perhaps this will change later during the Spring?!

Nuking Finish to the Hatteras April Bermuda High!

2010-04-08T20:31:00.011-05:00

It simply nuked today on the Outer Banks!! All iWindsurf sensors across the islands reported SW wind strength above 30 mph for most of the day!! Sunny skies, warm 4.0m and down wind, trunks only sound side water temps...what a ripping windsurfing day!! The only element missing was ocean swell, and the Hatteras Atlantic was basically flat. There was definite southern wind swell out there, but not enough swell period to produce ridable waves. Oh well, super windy like today is definitely a wild ride soundside!

I remained local and hit Jockey's Ridge. One other guy was out with me visiting from MD, along with a solo kiteboarder. My session was short as "Daddy Duties" kicked in at 4:00pm, and I had the little guy for the evening.

I rigged 4.7m at around 1:30pm. The wind was ratcheting up, but I stuck with the 4.7m to have extra power for the bump and jump conditions offered outside the sand bar at JRidge. Lots of loops, jumps, and hero jibes in the slightly overpowering conditions! By the time I came in, the 3.7m would have been the call. I returned home, logged a few more work hours then took the reigns of the little guy, as Lauren had an evening class.

I returned to JRidge with the little guy to check out the peak 35+ mph conditions around 5:30pm. The sound was filled with large whitecaps, rollers, though no one was out at that time. One visiting kiteboarder was contemplating flying a 10m C-kite, but I strongly advised against it. With gusts near 40mph, and no one out, likely a 6m bow kite would have been a better call. Not sure if he launched, but hopefully he planned to wait until the weekend?!

As for some shots, here are a few after I returned to check conditions with the little guy.

Bermuda High Conditions in Hatteras!

2010-04-07T21:44:00.007-05:00

Wow, what a week!! If you are here right now, you are scoring some amazing early April windsurfing conditions in Hatteras! We have been locked in a summer-like Bermuda High since Sunday, and the afternoon SW winds have been pumping!! The 4.0m gear remains wet all this week with daily SW winds hitting the mid 30 mph range every evening! Sunny skies, air temps in the 80s, warm trunks-only sound water, is it really April 7th?! What a change from the brutally cold and wet winter we left only days ago?! Seems like a jump straight into late June! Definitely enjoying it!!

The only downside has been the flat ocean. No surf at all, and though there was a small bump down at Lifeguard Beach today, it was nothing like the sesh we had there late last month. Definitely summer-like with the small surf conditions too!

Tomorrow again, more warm windy weather and hopefully some building surf?! That is it though, as the wind is forecast to switch NW, and though be windy, air temps will plummet. Enjoy it while it lasts!!

Hatteras Feature in May Issue Windsurfing Mag!

2010-04-06T08:17:00.010-05:00

April is here, SW Bermuda High-like conditions are locked in place, and the water is warming nicely both in the sound and ocean! What better place to be than Hatteras! If you are here this week, you are scoring some excellent warm, windy conditions, and if you are planning a trip later this month or this Spring, it will only get better!!

In print publication news, the May issue of Windsurfing Magazine features an excellent Hatteras piece written by Stewart Proctor. It highlights the intensity of sailing Hatteras and includes some awesome dramatic images by Lane Dupont, as well as first time print published windsurfing photographer, Sam McAdoo! Be sure to stop by your local Borders to pick it up if they hopefully have it, or you can see it online (save your three zoom pages for the Hatteras feature)!

Yea, and major kudos to our favorite Maui blogger, Giampaolo Cammarota! Damn, a cover shot for the issue, great stuff!! : )

Stay tuned for reports this week! SSW is locked in, and there is a little swell out there! I am looking forward to some after work sunset sessions at that little wave playground located about 1/2 mile north of the Oregon Inlet access ramp. Who wants to join me for a few waves?!