Visit The Outer Banks

Surfing on the Outer Banks

Surfers worldwide recognize the Outer Banks of North Carolina for the largest waves on the East Coast of the United States.

Cape Hatteras reaches nearly 30 miles away from the mainland, forming the chin of a sandy barrier island shaped at the edge of the continental shelf by two powerful ocean currents: the cool Labrador moving down from the North and the warm Gulf Stream rising from the South. Known to fans as OBX, this stretch of shoreline is positioned to catch swell energy from several directions. In winter, the east-facing beaches often line up beautifully; in summer, swells roll toward the south side beaches.

Cape Hatteras and big swell go hand in hand, making it an East Coast proving ground for skill, courage, and style on the water. The wild character of North Carolina’s barrier islands gives the Outer Banks an ideal setting for surfers and the people who cheer them on. Wave chasers have plenty of spots to gather, while non-surfers can still be amazed by the ocean’s force and by the talent of the riders who work with it. The scene is just as rewarding for a board as it is for a camera.

The geologic and meteorological forces that formed these shifting barrier islands tens of thousands of years ago continue to bend, twist, and reshape the coast. Because the Outer Banks bows far into the Atlantic Ocean, incoming waves can arrive from many angles without losing much energy. That setup can turn huge, glassy surf into a memorable surfing weekend with very little warning, which is why surfers from all across America head for the Outer Banks season after season.

From Miami to Toronto, surfers make their summer, fall, winter, and spring trips to local breaks such as the S-Turns on Highway 12 in Rodanthe, Cape Hatteras, and a few quieter public accesses in Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills where the carving can be every bit as good. Pair an offshore wind with double-overhead conditions, or add glassy barrels throwing spray, and the result has all the makings of a magazine cover. The Outer Banks surf scene includes contests large and small, from pro-level events to low-key gatherings, with seasonal updates available through outerbanks.org.

Surf events and competitions

The Outer Banks hosts several surf competitions that encourage, test, elevate, and celebrate the area’s surf culture.

WRV Outer Banks Pro

Held every year in late August-early September, the Wave Riding Vehicles Outer Banks Pro settled into its home in 2009 after the completion of the new Jennette's Pier in Nags Head. The pier’s wide views and generous parking help support what has become the most core surf contest on the east coast. Its eco-conscious design supports ocean ecosystem conservation and awareness. The WRV Outer Banks Pro is an official WSL QS1000 event drawing top rated surfers from around the globe to the unique coastline of Outer Banks of North Carolina. The event looks ahead to a great contest with a smoking swell.

ESA Eastern Surfing Championships

The largest amateur surfing organization in the world brings its season finale to Jennette's Pier in Nags Head every September, where the best of the best surfers compete head to head.

Down the Road Surf & Art Festival

Down the Road is an annual surf festival in Kitty Hawk, NC, built around Outer Banks surfing history and culture. From the start, the festival set out to gather the community in a distinctive way while giving people room to show their surfing ability, art, and music. Its goal is an annual event that welcomes every part of the surf community, from Pro surfers to the familiar parking-lot storyteller who talks about the surf more than he surfs, as well as the kid who recently moved here and wants to learn.

Surfalorous Film Festival

Presented by Cucalorus and the Dare County Arts Council, Surfalorous is a three-day celebration of coastal North Carolina marine culture. Surfalorus brings together film, sun, and water culture through the year’s hottest surf films and ocean documentaries, with outdoor sunset screenings and accompanying festivities. Times and locations for each film are listed on their schedule online.

Featured surfing-related listings

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