Surfing on the Outer Banks

The Outer Banks of North Carolina were destined to become a Mecca for east coast surfers. The nearby continental shelf, changing sandy sea floor, and strong winds have and will forever continue to provide some of the most appealing surfing conditions from Miami to New York. The continental shelf lying directly east of The Outer Banks is among the most drastic on the Eastern Seaboard. What this means for surfers or better yet waves is that the swells are less inhibited before reaching land. This translates into larger waves and more of them alternatively leaving areas such as Florida and Virginia where the continental shelf is much more gradual and less defined prone to weak and infrequent swells. The power and quality of waves on the Outer Banks often stack up equally to almost anywhere in the world. Recently, a local blew minds with his natural approach to tube riding (maintaining control while inside of the breaking wave) by plowing through an international pool of world renowned surfers and into the semi-finals at a professional surfing event at Pipeline, Hawaii; the most revered wave in the world. The waves were in the 20 foot range and our local charger showed no fear. Surfing has shaped the culture on the Outer Banks for years and shows no sign of slowing. The laid back atmosphere and respect for nature often associated with surfers has translated into our daily lives and is one of the main reasons the Outer Banks flourished in the 1960s and 70s culminating in what it has become today. Who knows? Without surfing and the waves delivered my mother nature our businesses, schools, artists and musicians and churches may not be what they are today. Next time you’re visiting the beach whether a local or tourist, consider picking up a board and giving surfing a try. Believe me, you only need on wave to understand that Only a Surfer Knows the Feeling. Stay up to date with Outer Banks surfing by connecting with http://www.mattluskphotography.com/ or http://www.surfkdh.com/.