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AHD has introduced a new SeaLion to its lineup called the 8'3." This new lion has been coined the "pro" version of the XL offering a thinner rail line and slightly wider shape. From experience on the Pro, the thinner rail definitely helps with better control on the wave by reducing the bounce and offering a looser more responsive feel in the water. The 8'3" will likely work well for those riders interested in the XL yet may want something a little more aggressive for activity in the surf or even Classic riders looking for something extra yet loose.
Damn, wish I could have been there!
All in all, HI remains alive and active even if Old Man Winter has come early this year to the OBX with cold air temps literally locked in since Sandy's pass. Unfortunately for myself though, I have been stuck north or Oregon Inlet remaining warm, dry, and changing dirty diapers patiently waiting for an upcoming southerly gale... Hopefully, I will not have to wait until late April?!
UPDATE: Just received email that the RBSC will NOT be coming to Hatteras or US East Coast for Sandy. Their logistics manager called off the Chase for the US east coast due to timing concerns with getting everyone to Avon before Pea Island potentially washes out. Bummer! Will have to keep watch for the next Fall Hatteras storm?! 
and a shot in action!
AWT Hatteras Wave Jam Action in photos:
Also landed a hookup with some swag/promo from the PhixDoctor epoxy repair kits provider as the owner was traveling and happened to be in the water surfing, while I was riding Light Air Wave. Guess he liked what he saw! Good stuff and new sail stickers will look nice once the 2013 Legend freshies arrive Sept 10 ahead of Wave Jam! 
Saturday, Aug 11: Cape Point
Yesterday I introduced the 2012 SeaLion PRO to Hatteras with a fun small surf session at Cape Point near the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Surf was quite small and short period which did not really offer optimal conditions to test the Pro's surfability, but I did notice a definite difference from the Standard in that the Pro felt quite loose yet responsive, and is a definite step even closer to standard wavesailing characteristics on a light air board. The Pro has the exact same outline as the Standard however, volume is shaved from the overall rail thickness bringing it down to 115 ltrs. Weight is also reduced from the Standard which helps improve its responsiveness in the water. The Pro also comes stock with a smaller fin set at 16cm vs 18cm for the Standard.
Full action gallery slidshow 
Here is the slide show highlighting more action from Rmp 30 yesterday! 
The Red Bull Storm Chase has narrowed its short list of international destinations for the upcoming extreme wave/wind surfing window, and Hatteras has made the cut! The listing notes the "US East Coast" yet the marker is firmly planted on Cape Hatteras, and I have been in direct contact with the Chase organizers ironing out details for their Chase to these islands! The Chase will bring PWA international extreme windsurfing superstars to Hatteras! The select group of riders participating includes the very top international PWA ranked wavesailors and with the base organization stemming from Europe, the real heart of international windsurfing, the eyes on Hatteras will be huge! The window for Hatteras will likely be late October into November and focus on our classic Nor'Easter storm sailing conditions, perhaps peppered with some tropical influence. Conditions here can be quite radical, with massive shorepound, ripping current, light apparent wind in the impact zone, and ripping outside conditions, along with massive heavy Hatteras bombers! All in all, quite a challenge even for the top international pros who will be here to experience it!
The official poster for the AWT Hatteras Wave Jam 2012! Sponsors to be added soon! Great job Keith M!
Just imagine your favorite outdoor place..maybe it is a mountain, a stream, a river, a lake, a beach, or a trail. Maybe its a place where your mom or dad introduced you to when your were a kid. A place that you have brought your own children to enjoy or plan on it. A place preserved by our great National Park System. Even as a young kid I realized the greatness and importance of setting aside special recreational places for the enjoyment of all. I was comforted knowing that this place is always going to be like this. “Isn't it great that no one is going to build a condo complex or a go kart track here destroying the landscape and cutting off access.” Back then I was proud that there were organizations like the serria club and the audobon out there defending our lands keeping anything “bad” in check, an advocate for the enviroment. How shocking now to realize that these very groups are the ones exploiting the environment for monetary gain, not some greedy developer! Your Federal Parks are now being closed little by little. Using "Ecological misinformation" to flat out propaganda and lies. The NPS, Sierra Club, and the Audobon Society are systematically shutting down access to your public Federal Parks all over the USA. Week by week they are using your donations to fatten their bank accounts, land grab, hire lawyers, and gain political power. The closing of a Federal Park should be a crime along with the fabrication of photos and so called scientific data they use to do it! --- Our Parks are getting smaller and smaller due to privatized interests and ecological lobbying scams. Its so sad that these once noble organizations have lost their way. Now they are being run by people that are praying on the care and concern of the American people, to make easy money. These folks have found out, that it is a lot easier to sit in your pajamas and type up lies on your computer and generate MILLIONS in donations than to actually go out and make a difference by solving the tough problems, "heck trying to stop someone from killing a whale is dangerous, you might get shot at!! Why bother?" Sarcasm aside...don't think for a moment that this is limited to a few areas. They are coming for your favorite place next, they have to keep the revenue stream going.
Upon return to Hatteras Island, I received a call from Keith nothing fun conditions at Old Lighthouse beach. I stopped by there to find all the "off work" guys including Andy from Wind-NC and a number of the Real Kite Crew on the water. Surf was considerably smaller than big Thursday, but there remained fun overhead set waves and solid 5.0m wind. Sailed the second session to near sunset and caught some fun wave rides!
All in all, another excellent day of wavesailing in Hatteras!
Good news is that there will be a repeat today, and I will be down there!! FUN times here on the OBX right now, and you should be here!!
The crew who was out was small as compared to other Day One Lighthouse sessions, but with the set wave size and challenging currents it was intimidating to look at from the beach!
For those participating in the upcoming American Windsurfing Tour's (AWT) Hatteras Wave Jam, we are now at 90 days until the only US East Coast stop on the Tour (Sept 12-15)! Three months of training remain to solidify your wave riding action as the best of the best visit the islands for a week of fun surf and wavesailing action! Definitely a Hatteras windsurfing event not to miss! 
Wind-NC's Andy McKinney ripping at the House between new "Daddy duties" and running the shop! (all photos: Keith McCulloch)
I have seen forum posts and inquiries regarding the task of getting a light air kit to/into the ocean. Often main concerns include light air wave board weight, shorepound, and simply not knowing what to do. Folks mention a need to drag their kits into the water sliding along the sand/rocks for both entry into and exit from the beach break. A key technique to avoid both the drag and the shorebreak is the "Head Carry."
The introduction of Stand Up Paddle (SUP) boarding a few years ago enabled a new brand of enjoyment in the ocean as well as flat water. Similar to kiteboarding's introduction a number of years earlier, both sports blossomed as new and, in many respects, "easier" introductions into active water sports. Over the past year or so, Light Air Wavesailing has hit the market and offers a new and easy method to catch waves with a windsurfing rig in hand. 
Awesome time to be in Hatteras!
Awesome time to be in Hatteras!
A slideshow of the action at the Lighthouse! all photos: Keith McCulloch In other windsurfing news, the AWT Santa Cruz Classic kicked off the Tour with and epic start! Excellent conditions, and top caliber sailing set the stage for a world class wavesailing competition happening here in the USA! Stay tuned for the Tour's Sept stop in Cape Hatteras! Check out this Tour video from Santa Cruz, simply excellent production and showcase of windsurfing's finest!
Looks like more SW wind in the forecast over the coming days along with a solid swell in the water! 
How many visiting windsurfers or more importantly, kiteboarders park off the paved road along the sound side? Kite Point between Avon and Buxton is one of if not the most popular kiteboarding launch on the Outer Banks. The spit of sand extends out into the Pamlico Sound and kiteboarders drive their SUVs out onto the spit to run their lines and pump up the kites as there is no paved parking at the launch. With the new ORV access restrictions, any vehicle parked out there will require a permit ($120 annual/$50 weekly). This also hold true for the sand parking area on the south side of Canadian Hole. Additionally, all soundside sand roads such as the "Power Station" or "Planet of the Apes" will require a permit to park on the sand and/or sand road. For those coming down here this year to enjoy a kiteboarding or windsurfing vacation, be prepared to buy a permit if you want to park your vehicle off the pavement, even on the sound side!
As locals and visitors line up to purchase ORV driving permits for Cape Hatteras National Seashore, ultimately, the next question to ask is "What will the permit offer me?" Between plover and turtle nesting closures, and other closures simply due to "in season" visitor traffic, ultimately there may not be much available to drive on anyway?! Most concerning has been a recent experience by Keith M who, upon purchasing a 2012 ORV permit, was notified that Ramp 34 will be closed to ORV traffic permanently! Not due to nestings, not due to seasonal visitation, but simply permanent closure to ORV starting in mid-April! A reevaluation was noted, but not for 5 years, and though mention of new ramps being opened, budget constraints and other issues will certainly stall any efforts. Ultimately, one of our prime wavesailing access ramps with a wide expanse of beach for clean SSW wind will be closed to ORV. Though pedestrian access remains open and will be the new intended focus of the Ramp, the hike is long to the waters edge. For wavesailing, we require a lot of equipment to haul out onto the beach. Varying winds require multiple sail and board sizes, and having it available from your truck on the beach is key. Now that will no longer be an option at one of our prime wavesailing launches. The positive..., a good workout even before hitting the water by hiking all the gear out!?!
Beyond exercise though, I guess as the noose is tightened on ORV access, its simply inevitable. The Outer Banks is located firmly within reach of US mid-Atlantic metropolitan hubs and given recent medical, infrastructure, and housing booms over the past 15 years, it all boils down to regional access and population growth. Today's 2012 OBX is nothing like the OBX I first visited back in the early 1990s purely when looking at population numbers. Its not the same OBX as was here in 2000. Today's OBX is simply an extension of the mid-Atlantic metropolitan boom stemming from points west in Raleigh/Durham NC, to our northern neighbors from Chesapeake, VA to NYC, NY. There are simply a lot more people on the OBX today, and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore is no longer simply treated as BLM "all access" land anymore. As is consistent with the US East Coast, if you want free range to do as you please in open space land managed by the US Government, move west to where BLM land remains available. Here on the US East Coast, its simply no longer an option. The "environmental" and nesting bird concerns were avenues and now function as "fronts" for the true issue, which is population growth and managing/policing Federally administered land. No worries, its completely understandable, but unfortunately, its a losing battle for the ORV proponents. Population growth and access to the OBX is not going to diminish, and if anything, it will continue to expand.
A hot ticket phenomenon last year was wavesailing SUPs to take advantage of light air surf conditions. A leader in that arena is the AHD Sealion for its aggressive shape and agility on a wave when winds are below 10 knots. I had a TON of fun last summer riding the Lion in everything from knee high outside nuggets, to logo high bombs kicked up by tropical action. In the scope of all of 2011, I actually spent more time on the SeaLion than any other board in my inventory, including my trusty Quatro 92 Wave Twin (Tempo)! 
For 2012, AHD has expanded the SeaLion line to include the new SeaLion Pro. This board offers the same outline and length dimensions as the Classic; however, volume has been shaved off in board thickness. Thus, the Pro offers 115 ltrs of light air wave magic and intended for riding in bigger surf conditions. I am especially looking forward to trying this ride out, as last year during tropical season in bigger surf, more control would have been nice in the top turns. The reduced volume should help improve control of the board throughout the ride on a larger wave.
Additionally, we have windsurfing events happening in 2012 that will rock the islands like no other year! Of course the BIG Event is the 2012 American Windsurfing Tour and its Hatteras stop, Hatteras Wave Jam! The Jam is set for Sept 12 - 15, and will feature top international wavesailing pros mixing it up in the Hatteras Atlantic at peak wave season! Additionally, there will be the full gambit of competition, as well as parties, clinics, cookouts, movies, and all sorts of FUN! Definitely a week not to miss in Avon!
All in all, 2012 is shaping up to be an excellent windsurfing year in Hatteras! Lets hope for a wavy summer season with decent SSW wind. A repeat of conditions similar to 2005 would be excellent to prep us all for Wave Jam in Sept!
2012 will mark the first year where we will be required to buy permits to drive on the sand. The new requirement takes affect in a few days (Feb 15) and permits may be purchased at various stations located at or near access ramps throughout the NPS Cape Hatteras National Seashore. For local/regular Hatteras wavesailors it will mean $120 for the annual pass. Those here short term will require a $50/week pass.
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.
photographer: Charlie Myers (Ride Hatteras)
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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?!
Download high resolution printable version in PDF format.
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!
Fun times!!
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!" 
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:
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 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?! 
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!
We have excellent air quality right now in Nags Head; however, once the winds do shift SW, it will likely degrade fast! 
submitted by Rob Spurgeon
photo: RicSurf
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:
source: Live2Sail
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!
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.
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!
photo: Dimitri Maramenides, Epic Kites
photo: Dimitri Maramenides, Epic Kites
photo: Lane DuPont
photo: Lane DuPont
photographer: Pete LeWando
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!
all action photos: Pete LeWando
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. 
Jim Myers with a nice hit!
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.
See the Bambuser video report following that session! Also see the pre-sesh report before heading out on the SeaLion!
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!
photo credit: Janis Markopoulos
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!
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. 
UPDATE: 9/14/2010
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. 
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."
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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. 
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!
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:
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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).
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!
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. 
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.
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 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?!
This Friday, a special workshop is scheduled for watersports enthusiasts including surfers, windsurfers, and kiteboarders. The details are as follows:
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.
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)!
In other windsurfing news, Windsurfing International, March 2010 is out..., killer online mag!!
Wow, talk about warm Atlantic water today! One of the aspects I love about living and wavesailing in Hatteras is the proximity of the Gulf Stream just offshore. Today, the tropical warm waters of the Gulf Stream touched the southern Outer Banks providing sauna-like ocean water. The Sea Surface Temperature Satellite imagery (see circled area in image) show that little finger of yellow brushing the southern shoreline. Amazing that on one side of the sand spit, water is hovering in the low to mid 40s while on the other its pushing 70 degrees! Though wave conditions were sub par with side-onshore small stuff, 4.7m wind strength provided plenty of juice for loops and fun jumps. The occasional front side hit was possible if I was lucky and a peak lined up. All in all though, that water felt soooo great that even with the crappy surf conditions, it was an excellent sesh. My first one at the age of 40 too! For 2010, I have begun recording my sessions on SessionLogs! The site is an excellent resource for tracking sessions and the detail is fantastic. Be sure to check it out!
Very killer online Web application to capture action sport sessions and locales around the world. The site includes support for a number of different sporting disciplines; however, the focus here is windsurfing! One of the really cool features of this site is the integration with Google Street View mapping which actually shows you the visual street view of the location.
Strong SE wind blanketed the OBX and the direction is the preferred choice for Cove wavesailing. As I drove towards the access ramp, a number of vehicles with New York and Massachusetts plates indicated that visiting sailors were out. No wonder Canadian Hole was empty! Driving onto the beach at Lifeguard Beach (Ramp 43 which was the only open ramp with access to Cape Point) the blowing sand was intense. Heading toward the Point, I could see a number of kites flying along with a bunch of windsurfers. Surf conditions was averaging waist to chest high with long clean side-shore lines, which was building as I rigged 4.2m for classic Cove wavesailing conditions. 
Interested in the new Quatro Tempo? Be sure to stop by or contact Avon Sail House, our local dealer for the new ride.
Issue 3 of the new blank">Windsurfer International is out, and the online wind zine includes killer Hatteras coverage of the 2009 wavesailing season! George Markopoulos at Live2Sail wrote an excellent feature about his Hatteras experience along with a piece I put together on the Hatteras wavesailing safari.
Additionally, the Island Free Press reports that the Nights in Rodanthe house, Serendipity must go! Dare County will declare the property a public nuisance with choice for the owners to either move it or remove it. Excellent news to help save more construction debris from endangering our beaches and inshore waters. Hopefully, this is only the beginning and all "lost cause" ocean front properties will be "forced" to take action to prevent more property waste from polluting our beaches and coastal waters.
Many thanks to MauiSails for the quick shipment of the new 2010 Legends to Hatteras prior to the final edition of Hatteras Wave Jam a week and a half ago! The conditions were ripe for introducing the new sails to the Atlantic, and though the surf was not quite what it was when I introduced the 2009 Legends to the Atlantic, conditions during Wave Jam were quite fun!! 
Wave Jam 2009 scored in Hatteras with two solid days of NE and ENE wind!! Sail sizes ranged from mid 5 meter down to mid 4 ms! We has some solid side-on conditions both at Lifeguard Beach in Buxton, and at the Frisco Bath House! With a total of 20 Jammers on the water, it was quite a show! We ran all the heats for the 2nd Annual Beast of the East Wave FaceOff, and scored with both Pro/Expert and Amateur places. Rankings were as follows:
Later this week, we will be hosting Hatteras Wave Jam 2009, Tropical Edition on the OBX (Sept 25-27)! This is the final installment of the 2009 Hatteras Wave Jam series, and we hope to see excellent conditions and fun participation from local and visiting wave sailors. The Tropical Edition will include a Wave Sailing Clinic hosted by Sailworld's Andy McKinney on Friday night starting at 7:00pm. Additionally, we will be hosting FreeForm wave sessions as well as the second annual Beast of the East Wave FaceOff wavesailing competition. Locations TBD depending upon surf and wind conditions. Daily morning sailor meetings will be scheduled for participants noting locations/times during the event window. Additionally, a participant hotline will be available for text or call in location details. Weather permitting, a Hatteras-style beach cookout will wrap the event with prize giveaways and awards for the participants! Its all about FUN, surf, and wind along with camaraderie out on the beach in Hatteras! Definitely do not miss it!
I had a recent conversation with Ken K noting the spread of Atlantic side wavesailing stoke since the birth of the Hatteras Windsurfing Festival Series in 2008 and the Fests/Jams over the past two years. Ken has been an active participant in every event, and he noted how his ocean side skills have vastly improved since participating. Its awesome to hear and see sailors, especially on the US East Coast, challenge the Atlantic and graduate from the calm of the sound, lake, or bay side to the "3-D" experience found in the ocean. George M's recent post on Live2Sail highlights the spread and contagious nature of the ocean-side stoke/skills he acquired in Hatteras to local sailors in his area who had their first experience in the Atlantic courtesy of their local wave ambassador, George!
As we approach the Fall Tropical Edition of the 2009 Hatteras Wave Jam, the window has been scheduled for the next event! Fingers are crossed for another successful call for wind and waves! Last year Wave Fest 2008 scored with nearly 10 days of NE action and experienced awesome fall Hatteras wavesailing conditions! 
Well, we have wrapped up nearly 10 days of consistent SW windy weather on the OBX! Beginning July 25 and lasting though August 4, the reign of daily afternoon SW "calls to rig" was quite welcoming given our meek summer wind pattern and lack of typical strong Bermuda High setups in June and early July. We had waited all summer for the BH and finally....
All in all, I caught some killer sessions both on the sound and in the ocean. Unfortunately, the surf was mostly flat during the course of the BH with only some short period wind swell wrapping the east facing beaches for wave riding. My first day, and last day, sailing the BH stretch, provided the best wavesailing. Sunday's sesh (Aug 1) at Caleb's new "secret spot" in Waves providing the best breaking wave I have sailed since mid-June.
The HWFS Hatteras Wave Jam Fall Tropical Wave Edition has been scheduled! The event window is planned for September 25-27 and includes:
PS: For the latest on HWFS Hatteras Wave Jam Summer Edition
With all the visiting summer vacationers, many drive onto the sand for the first time. Often vehicles get stuck as unfamiliar drivers dig their wheels deep into the sand until their underside bottoms out. Also, many attempt to drive on the sand with 2WD vehicles and are often stuck soon after leaving the pavement. Its a common site during the summer months. 
- Use 4WD Low The Low option allows for better torque from the transmission to prevent strain while running though soft sand. This is especially the case for manual transmission vehicles. Often we smell the scent of burning transmissions when drivers attempt to drive across soft sand.
June is a wrap and has been kind of a let down compared to past years for summer OBX high wind windsurfing. We have had a few days, however, over the past years that I have been tracking month to month sessions, this year is the first where we did not have a solid Bermuda High (BH) producing consecutive days of windy weather.
Its been literally 10 years since my previous visit to Punta San Carlos, Baja. The trip, back in 1999 (Aug 19 - Sept 5), remains the best adventure vacation of my life. Now, in 2009 I will be returning (Aug 29 - Sept 5) with SoloSports and Alan White's group from southern NC! The airline tickets to San Diego are booked along with the SoloSports fly-in package! Everything is included so all I need to bring are my clothes, a wetsuit, and harness! Definitely cannot wait to hit the Punta San Carlos wind/surf, and enjoy the hospitality and camaraderie from SoloSports and Alan's group! Definitely will be an excellent precursor trip for the Fall Hatteras tropical season, and leadup to my 40th BDay coming in January, 2010!
Finally, a return of summer-time excellent surf and wind conditions on the OBX! What a finale day for the Real Kiteboarding Triple S Invitational which held its wave expression session at Ramp 27 on Friday afternoon. I headed down there to check the Ramp following the last awesome wavesailing sesh we had there during the Spring Edition of the Hatteras Wave Jam. As I approached the turnoff to Ramp 27, I was surprised to see numerous kites in the air, and a ton of cars in the parking lot. Lots of spectators and photographers/videographers were on the beach to catch the action for the Triple S. The set waves looked sweet in the chest to slightly overhead range, SW winds hovered in the 4.7m range, sunny skies prevailed; thus, I decided to join the fray in the ocean! When I first launched there were around 4 kiters in the surf, but as the session continued, about 20 riders packed the zone. 
Well, its June 1, and over the weekend my summer time transition for the 1988 4runner is complete. The hard top has been removed ready for the hot open air days of OBX summer! Included are a couple of pics of how I remove the top with a rigging system I hooked up in my garage. Makes it quite easy for myself to remove or replace the top!Regarding summer OBX windsurfing/wavesailing, all eyes will be looking for a classic June Bermuda High forecast! If one locks in place, we can expect many days of solid afternoon SW wind, and plenty of action in the 5.3m and down rig sizes! If surf is forecast as well, definite bonus material! The Hatteras Wave Jam 2009 continues, and the Summer Edition focuses on the Bermuda High. Stay tuned for the next event window which will be scheduled based upon an upcoming BH forecast! Want to come out and hit it with us?! Be sure to sign up for the event! Also, if you cannot make it, but would still like one of the killer t-shirts, be sure to see the merchandise page for online ordering!
Tropical depression forms off the mid-atlantic coast, Satellite imagery indicates that the area of low pressure that passed to the east of cape hatteras yesterday has become a tropical depression, the first of the atlantic hurricane season. 
Discussion arose last night at the Avon Sailhouse Spring season closure dinner party about the wavesailing experience and "convenience" vs. "the search/safari" I remember reading about a similar topic on the OffTheLip.us website (is that site still around?) last year where discussion arose about running wavesailing contests and whether its better to run events around spectator convenience or wind/wave conditions. Convenience is important for high spectator numbers, and even participant ease of "finding" the event; however, should conditions be sacrificed to satisfy convenience? Its an interesting debate, and especially relevant here on the Outer Banks given that our wave spots are not static and sandbar setups change year to year, season to season, even week to week. We do have convenience in locations such as Ego Beach (directly across from Canadian Hole) and Old Hatteras Lighthouse beach. At times these locations offer excellent conditions; however, many times they do not, and other spots around the islands offer wind and surf which satisfy the pallet of both the diehard and aspiring wavesailor. Some spots are easily accessible yet require some mileage relative to Canadian Hole, while others require 4WD capability. However, if a prime wind/wave setup is found outside the convenient locations, is it worth making the effort to hit it?!
Along with the outdoor activities, during this light wind phase we are experiencing, I have added a new feature to OBX Beach Life. Its a Twitter feed located in the right column below the Facebook badge. I decided to try Twitter for its ease in posting quick messages and photos via mobile devices. With Twitter, I can post beach reports quickly and easily on location. The OBX Beach Life Forum remains the primary tool for session announcements. Twitter will complement the forum posts by allowing quick notes/updates before, during, and after sessions. When its blowing and there are waves breaking, I usually want to be on the water ASAP! A quick Twitter post of text and/or photo is fast, easy, and available to anyone who wants to follow the feed, or see it on this blog! 
Additionally, the HWFS Hatteras Wave Jam T-shirt is now on sale online! Could/Can not make it for Jam, perhaps you simply need another shirt for a friend or loved one, or its just a rad shirt and you want one?! Check out the merchandise page on the event web site for complete details and online ordering!
must come to an end?! Looks like our continuous stretch of windy weather is finally coming to an end. Since the first days of April, it has been windy nearly every day/weekend! Simply a non-stop flow of SW, occasional NE, and a sprinkling of SE and W wind. I am sure it will be back, as we are heading into Bermuda High season; however it has been rare this Spring to see a WindGuru Hatteras forecast with such few stars. 
What a windsurfing weekend in Hatteras AGAIN! This past weekend we celebrated the May window of the HWFS Hatteras Wave Jam! We began the weekend with LoopClinic 102 on Friday night hosted by Sailworld featuring Andy McKinney. The clinic highlighted both motivational as well as technical instruction for taking that rig for a spin. 
The group who attended were eager to take some of the tips to the water, and with a promising weekend forecast, odds were in their favor to "wrap that front wrist under the boom and push up!" 
This afternoon the IWS meters from Salvo north were firing with readings hovering in the mid to upper 20s from the SSW. South or SSW wind is perfect for the Washout, and with a swell hitting Nags Head, as witnessed though the real time web cam, I had to head down to catch a few waves! I arrived at the Washout of find perfect long line peeling waves firing on both the northern and southern sandbars! Size ranged solid chest + in the sets. The outer bar wave was quite soft with crumbly sections though the shorepound was barreling! However, shorepound size was not too bad, and a quick throw of the rig over the barrel got you in the clear.
Today, the surf was small, but the wind swell was looplicious on the outside! I tried the GoPro deck mount, and caught some fun footage, including my first video captured one-handed FWD! Quite fun! I was solo at the Washout today. Conditions were juiced 4.7m (definitely could have been on the 4.2m), sunny skies, warm air, and surprisingly warm water! I wore a 4.3m fullsuit, but could have been in trunks as the water was well over 70 degrees! Beginning of May, heck this is June weather/water!! Hope it lasts, though some bigger surf would be cool?!
April is over, and what an OBX windsurfing month! We had many windy days with plenty of time spent blasting around on the small stuff! April opened with big surf and excellent wavesailing, hummed along with lots of 5.0m and a few more intense sessions, and wrapped with a summer like heat wave and a quasi-Bermuda High! I say "quasi" since the real Bermuda Highs will be here in June!
This past Friday, Avon Sail House hosted a shop party celebrating the Hatteras spring windsurfing season, and Hatteras Wave Jam 2009! The party was a packed house with lots of drink, food, and video entertainment run on Jim M's giant 50+ inch plasma TV. One of the featured videos was a new compilation title "Hatteras Extreme" which showcases some of the big stuff experienced over the past few years. 
Though, where was everybody, at least those windsurfers in and around Nags Head?! JRidge served up the best high wind bump and jump conditions, arguably on the US East Coast, and I was solo out there! West to NW 35+ mph wind produces an incredible fetch which breaks in a narrow area where deep water becomes quite shallow. Some of the best bump and jump rollers found on the OBX happen just off Jockey's Ridge! 
Conditions were overpowered 4.2m WNW wind gusting into the mid-40 mph range during the short window when I was out. Sunny skies generally prevailed bumping and looping in the sizable soundside swell. Very fun conditions, though pretty intense for the casual sailor. Definitely could have been on my 3.7m, but decided on the 4.2m for a little "extra strength" action!
More late afternoon SW action on the OBX! Yesterday, winds ramped up again into the mid/upper 20s under bright sunshine and warm air temps. Jockey's Ridge held the top spot for the windiest weather most of the day; however, during the early evening hours, the southern locales filled in, and everyone must have had a late dinner last night!
I remained local and hit a wave sesh at the old Jennette's Pier beach in south Nags Head. The pier was removed a few years ago, and now a large parking lot remains along with easy access to the water. The spot works best on SSE wind, though yesterday strong S wind produced side-off spray on the wave tops enticing me to give it a shot! Tim K joined me for the sesh, though the light inside left me solo in making it out. The surf ranged chest to head high with clean lines, though they were breaking within the wind shadow of the oceanfront buildings, so wind was squirrely in the zone. I had one solid head high wave as I caught a powerful swell which brought me into the zone with minimal wind. It was a "one hit" wonder/wipe out, and I likely crashed since I was so excited to find a big lip to hit, and lost the fin on reentry. The adventure under the froth though was fun, as I held onto the booms and took the roller coaster underwater ride for a little while! 
Last night Andy M and Sailworld hosted the Hatteras Wave Jam LoopClinic 101. We had an excellent turnout for the clinic with plenty of future loopers amped to take the instruction, tips, tricks, and motivation to the water. 
Well, its been a whirlwind weekend and I just fired up the computer this morning. Between Friday's windsurfing, to my quick trip to Harrisburg, PA for a "bachelor night out" (a buddy of mine getting married later this spring), and back over 3 days, its been a long ride! The weekend began Friday with an excellent OBX wavesailing forecast, and delivery with strong SW winds and phenomenal side-off conditions at the parking lot about 4 miles south of Oregon Inlet Bridge on Pea Island. Friday, the ocean served up an excellent south swell which was firing across the islands! The northern beaches had cleaner conditions, while down in Avon, it was a wilder ride (see Andy's latest video!). I scoped the entire stretch from Coquina down to Ramp 34 in Avon, as I had to get down there to pick up a new boom at Avon Sailhouse. After checking conditions in Avon, I decided to return north, as the ocean looked much cleaner up near Oregon Inlet. I stopped at a number of spots while driving north...Salvo Ramp, S-Turns, Caleb's Secret Spot, and finally settled near Oregon Inlet. With each point I checked while heading north, the ocean looked cleaner, and when I reached the spot where I rigged, it was perfect, clean long line, side-off head to overhead high sets!
Hatteras Wave Jam 2009, the latest installment of the Hatteras Windsurfing Festival Series (HWFS) has a new look with stylized artwork created by my wonderful wife and most excellent graphic designer!! The new artwork will be found on all media material associated with the event including web banners, posters, t-shirts, and more! Stay tuned, and check out the event web site for all the details, including registration! The first event window is approaching soon!
I missed a number of cold weather windsurfing days this winter to keep my leave bank up as warm springtime and summer approach! There have been some "missed its;" though most were part of cold, cloudy, and even rainy weather this month. Definitely, not the late spring-like weather we had all during the winter of 2008. Given, my relative "greenness" this winter, a wave sesh at the Lighthouse was an excellent opportunity to test both stamina as well as skill!
(click the lighthouse photo to open the report gallery)
The kickoff of the 2009 Hatteras windsurfing season is just around the corner, and today launched the announcement of the latest installment of the Hatteras Windsurfing Festival Series (HWFS)...Hatteras Wave Jam 2009! 
Sometimes, it can be fun to chase the wind, especially if there is surf firing as well; however, yesterday I decided to remain close to home. Avon wind meters were running light, though there was some surf down there, and I did not want to go road sailing on a sunny 70 degree SW day in March. I decided to remain in Nags Head since the Jockey's Ridge meter held the top of the IWS meter list all afternoon. Juiced 5.3m SW was the call, and I had sailing partners with some of the VA beach crew down to join the fray. 
"Sign Sign everywhere a sign
(click on image to see the full Jockey's Ridge Sign Gallery) 
In other windsurfing reporting news, its been a warm SW 6.0m windy weekend! If you are into soundside cruising under a bright sunny sky, this past weekend was the perfect setup. I caught a late afternoon/early evening ocean-side session at Coquina on Friday. There was a swell coming in; however, the tide was high during my sesh, killing the breaking wave on the outer bar. Friday was the final day of sizable surf on the east facing beaches, and through the remainder of the weekend, the ocean was basically flat. The water temp Friday was bone chilling hovering around 43 degrees, but by the end of the weekend, we were seeing 50 degree water out there. Sound-side the water is even warmer, approaching 60s in the shallows.
I guess I do not have to tell this to all the US east coast blog readers, but even here on the OBX, our Gulf Stream warm water influence has been all but offline this year. Yesterday, we again had a dusting of snow, and today freezing air temps have patches of ice formed on my hot tub cover! Though, its been windy, there has been a price to pay with the cold air temps! 
October 1947, a WWII fighter ace named Chuck Yeager flew the experimental Bell X-1 "Glamorous Glennis" into history becoming the first man to beat the sound barrier. As he approached the speed of sound, vibrations caused by the extreme loads on the aircraft, buffeted the plane. Setting aside the danger, he pushed forward and with a sonic boom, found smooth sky beyond Mach 1. Yeager's story is a milestone of aviation achievement and a stepping stone to the advances we take for granted today. What's this have to do with windsurfing you ask?
Beyond windsurfing's FWD loop, the "Mental Barrier" plays a part of our everyday lives. Its simply an element of the game of life. Though, as we move forward, the "should of," "could of," or "would of" questions will come back to haunt us if we feel compelled to challenge some of these barriers, yet do not. I know that through the course of my windsurfing experience, when "retirement" comes, knowing that I challenged most aspects of this watersport is my goal. Some aspects may be missed, but others that I feel compelled to attain will be achieved.
Lake Atlantic as seen from Oregon Inlet. Barely a hint of surf out there!
(mouse over images for captions)
- The Bar: At the club, the bar is where the drinks are served, and in the Hatteras surf, the Bar is also where you can definitely be "served...," tumbler and all, though at least not "on the rocks!" Basically, the Bar is usually found following the initial shorepound. It can also be part of the shorepound depending upon the sand setup just off the beach. The Bar is the apparent line or step where the height of the ocean appears to jump from beach level to a few feet above. It can be two feet or five depending upon the surf size. The Bar is often a spot of initial denial after successfully timing the shorepound. Often the wave may not be that big, but it simply is always there, and takes some balance, timing, and patience to clear it for freedom in the Lounge.
- The Lounge: This area is the hang out spot on a big wave day. Its found over the deep water located between the inner and outer sand bars. As the wave energy breaks across the outside bar producing large walls of whitewater, these dissipate as they cross over the Lounge. Often a six foot wall of white will shrink to a few feet or less over the Lounge. This is the perfect area to catch your breath, relax, and get your bearings especially after a heavy wipeout or denial at the main sand bar. Its an area of relative safety and relaxation; though there often exists current in this area. Therefore, if you lounge in the Lounge too long, you may end up far downwind from where you launched from.
- The Dance Floor: Ultimately, you have to hit the dance floor, right?! Well the dance floor is the main surf zone. Its where the wave riding happens; however, you have to get out onto the floor, in order to show off your moves! Similar to the Bar, another wave barrier must be breached. This one differs from the bar in that there is often space between the swells, and clean lines out; plus, you are often in some sort of groove/control as you approach the dance floor. Of course, the dance floor also has its "bouncers" to keep you off the stage. They usually manifest themselves as the actual set wave whitewater, current, light wind, or other dancers (aka wave sailors). As mentioned in the previous 101 posts, there are some key tips such as not looking at the "peak wave energy," and rather focusing on the clean sections. Avoid the bouncers and get out onto that floor with your partner. 
Your dance partner at the club is also very important. Whether it be a sleek, pure wave hottie, or a more voluptuous free-wave knockout, your choice purely depends upon your personal preferences. Here in Hatteras we see both partners mixing it up with the local wave crew. Rider balance, size, and comfort level usually dictate the choice partner to dance with. Your partner also is dressed for the club; thus, the rig complements the groove on the floor. Wave sails vary depending upon draft and power placement, and skinny masts are basically a must in the surf. A solid wave boom rounds out the attire, along with a fresh tendon base. All in all, your partner can really influence your moves out there, and as at the club, the best dancers groove with the creme de la creme!
Ready to derig and pack up at the Canadian Hole parking lot soundside across from Ego beach.
"Winter Rocks!" The title of the new April 2009 Windsurfing Magazine. Definitely check out the Hotshots to find a full page shot of Keith on the Kite Point speed slick! Congrats Keith for the ride, Lane for the shot, and thx WS for the full page Hatteras photo coverage!
Shorepound/whitewater is one of the most challenging aspects of wavesailing depending upon your home break conditions, as well as experience in the ocean. Here in Hatteras, these two elements of ocean windsurfing, test our abilities and challenge our skills not for riding waves, but simply making it out! Shorepound and whitewater are the first things you see when looking out into the surf zone, and the first thing you have to face. Here are some tips/tricks for challenging the froth:
2) The Line Out: This refers to the path you drive on the board to make it out. The best path seeks to avoid peak wave energy where possible, shoot for a downwind angle, and "look" where you want to go. "Peak wave energy" refers to the critical point where a breaking wave has its strongest energy. This is usually found where the initial crash occurs, or if the wave is sectioned, where two sections meet. These areas are "easy" to look at, since often they are "oh sh!@#!!" spots in big surf. However, with practice you want to avoid looking at these spots, and rather look for the smooth area where the wave has not broken. Often your best avoidance approach is to shoot for a downwind angle. If the path straight out has a breaking section ahead, turn downwind and shoot for the shoulder of the wave. Sometimes a pinch upwind is necessary, especially if the waves are breaking opposite of the "down the line" sailing tack; however, always the first choice is downwind.
4) Cahones!: Often a product of experience, a certain level of mental discipline is necessary to successfully make it out. There are no special techniques or skills to master, but rather a willingness to make the commit and really go for it! Many times, this is the hardest hurdle to overcome, but often is also the easiest. I plan a future post on the "Mental Barrier" highlighting its aspect related to windsurfing/wavesailing. Cahones are a product of comfort in one's own abilities and the environment in which they play. From the recent big kona action on Maui, to tropical Hatteras mayhem, cahones play a major factor in simply rigging up to hit it!
Today we welcome our new President, Barack Obama. Congratulations America! Washington DC, though cold welcomed the new President with sunny skies and no adverse weather. Travel south and east of DC however, and Old Man Winter's white stuff falls in blizzard-like strength!
Yesterday, we experienced a warm SW gale force day on the OBX! From dawn until well after midnight, the SW winds blew extremely hard across the islands! There was one period of lull where it dropped into the mid-20 mph range, but other than that, it hung in the mid to upper 30s/40s for nearly 20 hrs! Air temps ranged in the upper 60s to near 70 degrees. Removing the wetsuit on the beach was not too bad! Heck, I did it twice!
Soundside at Canadian Hole
On the water action. The middle explosion is Andy landing a FWD. I snapped the photo just a little too late!
The wave lineup at Lifeguard beach following our session.
That's me getting ready to throw it over the shore pound at Lifeguard Beach
Andy on a nice one at Lifeguard Beach. This shot is up on his report as well, but I circled him in the photo. Nice peak!
One of the bigger waves at the "Wall." Note the spray coming off the top of that wave!
Andy and I wrapping up for the day. We had Lifeguard Beach all to ourselves!
Found some unpublished video from Day One of Tropical Storm Hanna and wavesailing at the Cove! Its nothing super spectacular as compared to some of the photography from that session (see photo at left shot during this video filming. photographer: Lane Dupont); however, it gives a nice sense of the wavesailing, including one fun denial! The GoPro action is non-wide angle, however stayed tuned in 2009 for future Hatteras wide-angle action! 
Nice that the top is back on the 4runner. Already looking forward to June 2009!
Our deck palm is definitely not happy!
Last week before Noah arrived, Lane Dupont submitted some photos from an east wind speed session at Kite Point just south of Canadian Hole. East wind at the Hole/Kite Point is straight offshore. Most of the sound water blows out; however, the "Hole" at the site is actually a long (800+ meters) trench which runs parallel to the shoreline about 20 yards offshore. The Hole held the water creating a perfect speed strip for those who like to go FAST!! Not sure if any records were broken during the Speed sesh, but the photos look great! Thanks Lane!
Yesterday was a historic moment in America. The landslide election of Barack Hussein Obama as the 44th President of the United States marks a unique point in America's direction. Its a moment of immense joy, wonder, and hope for the future of this great country as we have overcome many long standing obstacles to reach this point in history. Whichever side of the fence you follow, the election of a new American president is a defining aspect of our democracy, and we should all be proud of the achievement of this great nation of ours.
Hatteras Wave Fest 2008 Wave Challenge begins tomorrow. We have two solid NE wind forecasts both Saturday and Sunday!
Well, I saw the movie Nights in Rodanthe! I was primarily interested in the scenery since the movie was shot on location from various parts of the Outer Banks. For one scene where the house was shot from an aerial perspective, I was actually windsurfing in the ocean off S-turns and saw the helicopter make a few passes. I looked for the reflective glint of a windsurfing sail in the background of the scene; however, none was found.
Hatteras Wave Fest 2008 has wrapped for September with an assortment of successful FreeForm Sessions: (Sept 18, Sept 19, Sept 20, Sept 21, Sept 22, Sept 23), Wave Clinic, and Awards Party. However, the event is not over yet! We had awesome wind for the majority of the festival and an exciting forecast leading into the Wave Challenge contest weekend, but...the storm which brought huge surf and crazy wind mid-week, killed our promising conditions as it passed. We were left with great surf, but no wind to drive our wave rigs! The rest of the weekend has been all but windless with spotty mid to upper teens, amounting to a "no go" for the contest weekend. Though, we are heading into October and must keep the Hatteras Wave Fest fire alive!
Hatteras Wave Fest 2008 continues, and currently we are in the middle of crazy!! A strong tropical-type storm is raging offshore, and with the gradient compression between a high pressure to our north and this system to our southeast, the OBX is getting battered! 
Hatteras Wave Fest 2008 is underway, and we are halfway through the festival! I am beat after 5+ straight days of wavesailing from Nags Head to Ocracoke! Our first Official FreeForm session at East Point on Thursday was the start with visiting participants, and we have been in the Atlantic every day since! Its been an awesome experience for those who have participated in the FreeForm sessions served up at some of Hatteras best wavesailing locales! Last night Andy McKinney and Sailworld hosted the Hatteras Wave Fest Wave Clinic! We had lots of participation and Andy did an excellent job highlighting the concepts of wavesailing along with some of the attending local wave pros. Everyone had an excellent time and left the event psyched to hit the surf, especially to test out the "schlog lesson" today!
We had excellent wind and fun waves for the Hatteras Wave Fest 2008 opening FreeForm Expression Session! The sesh was at East Point in Buxton. The wind and waves were rolling in side to side-onshore producing "looplicious" ramps both back and FWD! Backside wave riding was the call with some open sail down the line hits possible! Waves ranged in the chest high range and were crumbly and well spaced. Excellent conditions for some of the ocean beginners participating in the festival. 5.0m range sails were the call in the 25+ mph NE wind.
Hatteras Wave Fest 2008 kicks into high gear with an excellent wind and surf forecast! Tomorrow starts our first announced FreeForm Expression session, and conditions should be excellent! NE wind and surf forecasts continue to build into the weekend! We may have a nice wrapping swell by Friday/Saturday?! Stay tuned!!
I have two sails from my MauiSails quiver for sale.
The Hatteras Wave Fest 2008 t-shirt has arrived! The festival officially kicks off Sept 15 with Freeform Wave Expression sessions pending conditions throughout the festival. The first fixed date event is the Wave Clinic, Sept 20 hosted by Sailworld, in Avon. Don't miss this gathering for some excellent wave sailng instruction/tips, "meet and greet" with festival participants, along with prize giveaways, and a raffle to win a new 2008 wave sail! It will be the place to be in Avon Saturday night! The weekend following the Clinic, be here for the Wave Challenge, Sept 26-28! The Awards Party will wrap up the festival and feature raw video of the Wave Challenge and Freeform action, awards for event competitors, prize giveaways, and additional windsurfing fun times to wrap up the experience! 
Not registered yet?! Sign up today!
TS Hanna has been a real ocean watersports blessing here on the Outer Banks. Beginning Labor Day weekend with fun surf at the Point/Spit and Ocracoke through to today, we have been enjoying excellent swell from Hanna. When she skirted nearby over the weekend, we had two days of some of the best wavesailing offered this year. I really love the warm water, and trunks only experienced during Hanna. It makes it easier to be more aggressive on the wave since going down actually feels pretty nice in the refreshing ocean water. I had plenty of rinses in the spin cycle, but with every one I came up smiling. 
TS Hanna is set to visit the OBX over the coming weekend. Beginning tomorrow, we will see wind and surf increasing as the storm approaches. The Cove is the call, likely providing some of the best wavesailing conditions found on the OBX! Perhaps a setup similar to last year's TS Gabrielle with more easterly wind this time. The storm also will arrive to our west after nightfall, providing hopefully a full day of epic sunny Cove conditions! Saturday may be squally with intense rain/wind and clouds as the storm passes; however, as it moves off and conditions stabilize the east beaches may offer up a side-off juiced SW/NW playground! All in all, stay tuned for the after action report which will include photos and GoPro/beachside video! All camera batteries are charging now!
August is over, and with it an end to Lake Atlantic. The late summer tropical induced surf of September is here, and Labor Day weekend offered up plenty of super clean, fun lines to ride on the southern facing beaches. From Cape Point to Ocracoke, world class super clean long lines generated by TS Hanna were found! Surfboards and windsurfing gear was packed together this past weekend!
Hatteras Wave Fest 2008 is approaching with one month to go until the start of the wavesailing festival! The Wave Clinic kicks off the event on Sept 20, with the Wave Challenge contest window running Sept 26-28, 2008. The Wave Challenge will feature various divisions and we have some awesome prizes to award for the top competitors! Everything from cash prizes for the "Beast of the East Wave Face-Off" pro/expert division, to new sails and other windsurfing gear for the intermediate/advanced divisions. Hatteras Wave Fest 2008 is for everyone from the beginner wavesailor to the competitive pro. If you have been waiting for a wave event in Hatteras, this is it! Tons of photographic and video exposure showcasing the best of Hatteras wavesailing action!
Today, we had the best of the best from the surfing world hit the water just north of the Nags Head Fishing Pier. RipCurl's Right Coast Raid Tour is in Nags Head today, and featured some world class surfing in some surprising surf generated by the afternoon NE wind. Conditions were messy onshore, but these guys ripped it up for the crowd of judges and onlookers for the contest/event! Tonight, the festivities continue at the Outer Banks Boarding Company (OBBC). See some photos from the BBQ party which included great food, music, autographs, and videos!
Recently, I ran a poll to gauge windsurfing skill level from visitors to the blog. Choices were based upon a Windsurfing Magazine Skills Chart highlighting various levels within broad discipline areas. Given that the majority of OBX Beach Life windsurfing readership comes from the north/central/south east quadrant of the US and Canada, an interesting sampling was gathered. Over 50% of respondents marked their skills as "Advanced." Per the skills chart, the breakdown for Advanced is as follows:
This past weekend, summertime beach weather was at its prime. Small surf, clear/warm 80 degree water, balmy air temps, and packed beach access parking lots was the norm throughout Nags Head. We had family in town from northern Virginia, and it was perfect conditions for them to have fun at the beach. Yesterday, we set up beach camp at the Huron wreck site at mile post 11 1/4 in Nags Head. I hauled out the two person ocean kayak, a foam beginner surf board, snorkeling gear, and assorted beach necessities. 
The clear water provided great snorkeling conditions, and Lauren and I made another trek out to the wreck, this time with my camera. There is one small section of the ship which remains above the sand. Too bad it is basically covered, since we have had great visibility recently to snorkel the wreck. The ship sits in about 10 ft of water on the outer sand bar. During the paddle out to the wreck, there were swarms of balloon jellyfish! I was unsure about swimming amongst the jellies, but a local spear fisherman noted that they are basically harmless.
All in all, another perfect summer time beach weekend on the OBX! There was some leftover swell from last week's low pressure, but I believe it was better caught on the southern beaches, as compared to Nags Head. 
July is a wrap on the OBX, and we had a number of windy days! I missed many of them due to a vacant engine in the 4runner. However, now my 1988 4runner has new life and is back on the road with a new engine for many future trips to catch sessions in Hatteras!
Ready for a Hatteras Wave Festival?!
After 4 long weekends, my new engine is complete and the 4runner is back in action to haul my sandy windsurfing, surfing, and other beach gear around the OBX! The odometer currently reads 368,226 miles, and with the new engine the truck will have plenty of trips to Avon/south beaches back under its hood!
Wave etiquette is an important aspect of sharing the surf with fellow riders. Courtesy, respect, as well as safety comprise the concept of "wave etiquette." Additionally, etiquette varies depending upon location. Here in Hatteras, since our primary wave source is shifting sandbars, and we have numerous breaks found across the islands, wave sailors find less "agro" attitudes amongst fellow riders. Whereas in places where static reef breaks provide the action, the level of attitude in the water is noticeably more apparent. Numbers/concentration is also important to factor, since in Hatteras there are considerably less local/visiting wave sailors on the water as compared to a place like the north shore of Maui. Attitude is not necessarily a "bad" thing, but rather simple understanding amongst riders so everyone out on the water has a fun time.
Sometimes, while on the beach hanging around after a fun session, new words or phrases are added to the windsurfing vocabulary. Following the LoopOff on Saturday, June 28, we had a killer session at Lifeguard Beach near the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Conditions were juiced 5.0m with so many looplicious ramps it was near perfection! One handed, two handed, one foot, etc... all sorts of forwards were thrown during that romp in the Atlantic off Cape Hatteras.
Its been a windy 4th so far on the OBX with regular afternoon SW in the low to mid 20 mph range! I missed Friday afternoon, which had winds gusting into the low 30s! The Bermuda High is back and hot windy afternoons are here, and set to last though the foreseeable future!! Hopefully, I will soon be back on the road with a new engine in the 4runner. The past few days I have been in "auto mechanic" mode. The engine swap is going well, especially with the invaluable help/advice from Keith M.
Tomorrow finishes Hatteras Loop Fest 2008. The month long event ended with a phenomenal span of SW windy days! Beginning Thursday (6/26) and lasting though tomorrow (all red SW 25+mph IWS forecast), we have been blasted by perfect looping winds! Nothing like a summer time Bermuda High, especially for a Hatteras windsurfing contest! 
I want to thank all the participants who signed up for Hatteras LoopFest 2008! Whether you successfully made the commit or not, being here participating really stoked the windsurfing community. For those few who successfully made the commit, your level of stoke is waaay up there, and we who helped you break the barrier are very honored and proud of your accomplishment. It definitely takes your windsurfing game to a new level of achievement and FUN!!
The LoopOff is on schedule for tomorrow starting at 5:00pm! The forecast looks near epic for the event! The LoopOff will run two 30 min free form heats. A 15 min "breather" between heats will also be part of the event. "Loopers Meeting" (no skippers for this event) is scheduled for 4:45pm on the beach at Ego across from Canadian Hole.
UPDATE: new video clip, see below. More to come...
The rescheduled Hatteras Loop Fest LoopOff looks to score this coming weekend (June 27-29)! The forecast is calling for a "classic" Bermuda High setup beginning Thursday with plenty of WindGuru stars lasting though the weekend and into next week! We have waited all month for a Bermuda High, and finally...!!
Well, after a promising forecast all week, the wind just did not materialize for the LoopOff. Today, there were breezy pulses here and there around volatile weather across the OBX, but nothing consistent for ideal LoopOff conditions. The forecast tomorrow looks fairly lame as well, therefore we will likely postpone the LoopOff until next weekend (June 27 - 29). 
The Commit Fest continues through the end of the month. Congratulations again to George Markopoulos, who was the first to successfully commit during the 2008 Commit Fest. We are very happy that George will be heading back to MD with a newly discovered passion and challenge in our sport of windsurfing! Additionally, he scored a new red 5.6m Simmer X-Flex donated by Avon Sail House!! Good luck George!...you will be landing and sailing away in the straps soon!
UPDATE: June 19, 11:00am EST 
Last night we had another Commit Fest session..., this time, at Canadian Hole. The SW wind filled in with moderately powered 5.3m conditions. A number of sailors were on the water including many Hatteras Loop Fest participants. There were a number of FWD loop attempts; however, no solid commits with splashdown in a water start position. It is more difficult to break the commit hurdle in the small sound-side wind chop. The key though is to hang on to the boom and stay in the straps until splashdown. Ken K and Chris G were two participants who were close to hitting the splashdown, but the mental blocks of looking at the water or letting go of the boom kept them from spinning. Great though to see them jump and set the rig!
Tonight, Sailworld hosted the Hatteras Loop Fest Loop Clinic. Andy McKinney provided participants with valuable knowledge and tips regarding making the initial commit and executing a successful first forward loop. We had an excellent turnout for the event, and everyone is pumped and "Ready to Rotate!" There were also a number of sponsor prizes for registered participants including t-shirts, rash guards, and other cool stuff. George Markopoulos from Maryland took home the Loop Clinic grand prize which was a new Dakine T3 waist harness! 
The 2008 Hatteras Loop Fest LoopOff trophies arrived today! We have five categories to award for the event which begins one week from today (June 20-22). The LoopOff will feature accomplished loopers competing for the various titles, along with exposure in video and photography. The action will be documented both on/in-the-water and beach side. It will be an aerial spinning windsurfing extravaganza! Forward, back, push, wave360, etc...if the rig and rider goes for a spin, its game for the LoopOff! Following the event, an awards celebration will be hosted by OceanAir.
