Sort of spur of the moment... A buddy and I are going to drive out to VA/NC outerbanks area for a week. Leaving late tomorrow or early tues. Any tips on the kiting spots to check out? Know of anywhere to camp out? Is Darlene still working out there?
Any good spots to check out on the way??
Virginia Beach / Outer Banks
Moderator: MK
Re: Virginia Beach / Outer Banks
Darlene does not live or work out there.
Re: Virginia Beach / Outer Banks
OBX....cool!
I'm heading out there for 2 weeks at the end of July. I was out there last summer in August, and the hotspot was definitely Kite Point just south of Avon. It's right next to Canadian Hole, but double-check your map because the Hole is windsurfers only. Better yet, hit up REAL Kiteboarding and get some guidance from the staff...they were really knowledgeable when I went in, and it's right on your way down the beach, you can't miss it. I can't help with a camping spot, but here are a couple maps to the kiting destinations...
Here's Kite Point:
http://www.kitebeaches.com/kitesurf/loc ... point.html
And here are a bunch of spots in Hatteras mapped out:
http://www.kitebeaches.com/kitesurf/reg ... Banks.html
Let me know how it goes and what you discover, I'm anxious to get back out there in July.
Have fun!
Jon
I'm heading out there for 2 weeks at the end of July. I was out there last summer in August, and the hotspot was definitely Kite Point just south of Avon. It's right next to Canadian Hole, but double-check your map because the Hole is windsurfers only. Better yet, hit up REAL Kiteboarding and get some guidance from the staff...they were really knowledgeable when I went in, and it's right on your way down the beach, you can't miss it. I can't help with a camping spot, but here are a couple maps to the kiting destinations...
Here's Kite Point:
http://www.kitebeaches.com/kitesurf/loc ... point.html
And here are a bunch of spots in Hatteras mapped out:
http://www.kitebeaches.com/kitesurf/reg ... Banks.html
Let me know how it goes and what you discover, I'm anxious to get back out there in July.
Have fun!
Jon
Re: Virginia Beach / Outer Banks
Bryce,
I'm living out in Baltimore right now, and was just down on the OBX a few weeks ago. It's a very cool place, and I can't wait to get back.
Jon's post about Kite Point is right on. I think that's the main place to go, but there are lots of other, quieter places too. It seemed to me that pretty much any road on the sound side will get you to a spot you can launch at, though be careful about some of them - my rental car didn't handle the deep sand on one of them very well... Incidentally, I've got contact info for Walt from ABC towing should you need it. Awesome guy...only barefoot tow-truck driver I've ever met.
We camped at Frisco Woods campground in (or around) Frisco. It's a nice enough place, but I thought the rates were pretty high (around $50/ night for a tent site w/ no electricity). We were there on memorial day weekend however, so the rates may be less now.
If you want more specific info, I can put you in touch with my sister Leah. She lives in DC but has been down to Hatteras at least a half dozen times over the last few months.
Hope the trip goes well!
John
I'm living out in Baltimore right now, and was just down on the OBX a few weeks ago. It's a very cool place, and I can't wait to get back.
Jon's post about Kite Point is right on. I think that's the main place to go, but there are lots of other, quieter places too. It seemed to me that pretty much any road on the sound side will get you to a spot you can launch at, though be careful about some of them - my rental car didn't handle the deep sand on one of them very well... Incidentally, I've got contact info for Walt from ABC towing should you need it. Awesome guy...only barefoot tow-truck driver I've ever met.
We camped at Frisco Woods campground in (or around) Frisco. It's a nice enough place, but I thought the rates were pretty high (around $50/ night for a tent site w/ no electricity). We were there on memorial day weekend however, so the rates may be less now.
If you want more specific info, I can put you in touch with my sister Leah. She lives in DC but has been down to Hatteras at least a half dozen times over the last few months.
Hope the trip goes well!
John
Re: Virginia Beach / Outer Banks
On Spring Break, my family went to Virginia Beach and down as far south as Roanoke Island / Nags Head )on the north side of the Outer Banks). Definitey would LOVE to go back for a week of kiting/windsurfing. Flat water shallows AND waves. And wildlife, history. NIce.
Diego and I were thinking of maybe trying to get a bunch of people together to go in on a house for a week in July to make it affordable...?
Kitty Hawk (Wright Bros.)
Jockeys Ridge State Park - huge dunes. Also kited in 35+ winds there (on a SW), right off the dunes...nice sandy bottom, close to town. SW entrance to the park. They also hang glide there, and sand surf.
Roanoke Island: Elizabethan Gardens are 200 years old, very nice. Manteo is a nice little town with some good reasonable restaurants.
Diego and I were thinking of maybe trying to get a bunch of people together to go in on a house for a week in July to make it affordable...?
Kitty Hawk (Wright Bros.)
Jockeys Ridge State Park - huge dunes. Also kited in 35+ winds there (on a SW), right off the dunes...nice sandy bottom, close to town. SW entrance to the park. They also hang glide there, and sand surf.
Roanoke Island: Elizabethan Gardens are 200 years old, very nice. Manteo is a nice little town with some good reasonable restaurants.
Re: Virginia Beach / Outer Banks
About camping in OBX -
is availability or weather problems an issue in July / Aug ?
I did notice that there were 29 kiteable days of 17+ in July last year.
is availability or weather problems an issue in July / Aug ?
I did notice that there were 29 kiteable days of 17+ in July last year.
Re: Virginia Beach / Outer Banks
Thanks for the info on Jockey's Ridge Geo - been to the dune a few times, but didn't know you could kite right off the back of it. We usually stay up near Nags Head, so there aren't many kiters and you usually have to get creative finding a launch area on the sound side.
I've read that August is the most unpredictable as far as wind goes, but that July is usually pretty solid.
I'll be out there July 25-August 8, so if you guys make a trip, give me a shout and we can meet up.
Jon
jonnyjingle @ gmail dot com
I've read that August is the most unpredictable as far as wind goes, but that July is usually pretty solid.
I'll be out there July 25-August 8, so if you guys make a trip, give me a shout and we can meet up.
Jon
jonnyjingle @ gmail dot com
Re: Virginia Beach / Outer Banks
Just got back yesterday at midnight.
Camping at the national parks is great only $20/night and they say it only fills up on july 4 weekend and memorial weekend. Only 1/4 full when we were there thurs and friday night. Can walk to the oceanside beach (1/4 mile walk) from the campsite.
There was camping at buxton and frisco. We stayed at the frisco one.
Best part - Did a 2mile downwinder on the oceanside then hopped across the road and spend the rest of the day on the sounds side. Warm. Never touched my wetsuit. The sound side was like bathwater.
Camping at the national parks is great only $20/night and they say it only fills up on july 4 weekend and memorial weekend. Only 1/4 full when we were there thurs and friday night. Can walk to the oceanside beach (1/4 mile walk) from the campsite.
There was camping at buxton and frisco. We stayed at the frisco one.
Best part - Did a 2mile downwinder on the oceanside then hopped across the road and spend the rest of the day on the sounds side. Warm. Never touched my wetsuit. The sound side was like bathwater.
Re: Virginia Beach / Outer Banks
Bryce,
I lived out in Virginia Beach for a couple years and there are some really good spots there but Hatteras is by far the best if you can get down there.
For Virginia Beach, there is the Ocean Front, but kiters stick to the North side because it gets so crowded by the hotels. The locals do Down winders from 48th street to 89th street or 89th to 48th depending on which way the wind is blowing. Great wave riding and big sandy beaches.
Chick's Beach (Chesapeake Beach) is another Primo spot. The launch is called "First Landing State Park".
Another place that is great is the Eastern Shore or "Cape Charles, VA". You will have to go accross the big bridge and the toll is about $20 round trip. That is a great flatwater spot though. If you head to any of these spots on a windy day you will see kites and windsurfers and you can ask the locals about anything to look out for.
have fun.
Jason
I lived out in Virginia Beach for a couple years and there are some really good spots there but Hatteras is by far the best if you can get down there.
For Virginia Beach, there is the Ocean Front, but kiters stick to the North side because it gets so crowded by the hotels. The locals do Down winders from 48th street to 89th street or 89th to 48th depending on which way the wind is blowing. Great wave riding and big sandy beaches.
Chick's Beach (Chesapeake Beach) is another Primo spot. The launch is called "First Landing State Park".
Another place that is great is the Eastern Shore or "Cape Charles, VA". You will have to go accross the big bridge and the toll is about $20 round trip. That is a great flatwater spot though. If you head to any of these spots on a windy day you will see kites and windsurfers and you can ask the locals about anything to look out for.
have fun.
Jason