Few places on earth offer better conditions for water sports than the Outer Banks of North Carolina! We're renowned for consistent winds, a temperate climate, and an abundance of water. The barrier islands of the Outer Banks are bordered by the vast Atlantic to the east and shallow waters of the sound to the west. Explore canals by kayak, catch the perfect wave on a glassy day, or experience the rush of kiteboarding - water sports adventures on the Outer Banks are practically unlimited.
Experienced water sports enthusiasts can perfect their skills in the ocean or sound, while beginners can take lessons and get hooked on a new sport. Professional instructors are available to safely introduce vacationers to a wide variety of water sports. Lessons and rentals are easily found in every town and village on the Outer Banks. Many instructors over beginner, intermediate, and advanced water sports lessons. Some of the most popular water sports on the OBX include surfing, kiteboarding, windsurfing, diving, parasailing, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding and jet skiing. You can also find local businesses that specialize in eco-friendly water adventures.
Unlimited Wind & Water...
Seemingly endless amounts of water and ideal wind conditions make the Outer Banks one of the best places in the world for kiteboarding and windsurfing!
The smooth, shallow waters of the sound and our famous winds attract visitors from as far as Canada and Europe! Consequently, "Canadian Hole" on Hatteras Island earned its moniker. Canadian Hole offers ample room for kiteboarders and windsurfers, as well as a paved parking area and a bath house. You'll also find plenty of excited spectators in awe of the colorful display of kites and sails.
Sun Realty's Outer Banks vacation rentals are located near popular kiteboarding and windsurfing spots, and some of our rentals even offer direct sound access for the ultimate convenience. Give us a call at (252) 441-7035 if you have any questions about a particular vacation home's sound access. Let Sun Realty host your next kiteboarding or windsurfing adventure!
Outer Banks Kiteboarding
Kiteboarding is guaranteed to get your heart pounding no matter your skill level! Experts and beginners can hone their skills in the shallow waters of the Pamlico, Albemarle, and Currituck sounds. While experienced kiteboarders can head east and go extreme in the waves of the Atlantic. Both calm waters and challenging waves are available on the OBX. In many places on the OBX, the ocean and sound are easily within walking distance.
Want to give kiteboarding a try? Hatteras Island is world renowned for being a great place to learn. Miles of flat, shallow water and predictable winds allows beginners to learn quickly with minimal swimming. However, don't try to learn to kiteboard on your own. It's much safer and more efficient to take a lesson from a professional instructor. A beginner lesson will include basics such as rigging, line management, launching, and overall safety. Outer Banks kiteboarding instructors teach vacationers just like you every day. They know how to help you make the most of your kiteboarding experience.
Outer Banks Kiteboarding Instruction
Kitty Hawk Kites Kiteboarding School
24798 NC Highway 12, Rodanthe, NC 27968
(252) 987-2297
REAL Watersports
25706 NC Highway 12, Waves, NC 27982
(252) 987-6000
Outer Banks Kiting
39450 NC Highway 12, Avon, NC 27915 (located at Ocean Air Sports)
(252) 305-6839
Outer Banks Windsurfing
Each year, the Outer Banks happily welcomes the annual influx of windsurfers!You can easily spot this group on Highway 12 you'll see vehicles and trailers stacked with equipment and passengers looking for wind and water. Windsurfing is popular in all towns and villages on the Outer Banks, but Hatteras Island reigns supreme when it comes to windsurfing conditions.
Windsurfers can find convenient launch points all along the soundside of the Outer Banks. Some of our Hatteras Island vacation rentals even offer private soundfront launch points - talk about convenient! More daring windsurfers can move seaward to test their skills in the waves.
Want to give windsurfing a try? Save yourself a huge amount of time - sign up for a windsurfing lesson! This exhilarating sport requires practice and some technical expertise. There are numerous professional windsurfing instructors on the Outer Banks who can safely introduce you to the sport.
Outer Banks Windsurfing Instruction
Fox Watersports
47108 NC Highway 12, Buxton, NC 27920
(252) 995-4102
Hatteras Island Sail Shop
25195 Lela Court, Waves, NC 27982
(252) 987-2292
OceanAir Sports
39450 NC Highway 12, Avon, NC 27915
(252) 995-5000
Find Your Wave on the OBX...
The Outer Banks of North Carolina has long been known as one of the top spots on the East Coast for surfing. The unique position of our barrier islands allows swells to make it to shore instead of breaking up in the ocean. Favorable winds and offshore storms also help create ideal surfing conditions. The Outer Banks boasts several pro surfers and surf competitions. Experienced surfers can find a challenge, and the rest of us can take a surf lesson!
On the Outer Banks, the surfing crowd is quite diverse. You'll find cool grandads who've been surfing since they were teens, professionals who quickly change from suits to wetsuits, kids who can rip better than you'll ever dream of, and novices experiencing the thrill of catching their first waves.
You'll see Outer Banks surfers in the water 4 seasons a year. Yes, even in winter! Good waves can happen during any season, but fall traditionally brings the most desirable swells. During peak summer and early fall, wetsuits are hardly ever needed - the water is usually in the mid-70s.
Outer Banks Surf Spots
One of the great things about Outer Banks surfing is that there are over 100 miles of coastline - you can join the lineup at a popular break, or you can head on down the beach to find a secluded spot. Each year, coastal storms change sandbar patterns, which in turn creates new breaks. There are well-known Outer Banks surfing spots such as "S-Turns" near Rodanthe, or Avalon Pier in Kill Devil Hills. The good news is that you can have a great session anywhere along the Outer Banks! Head north to Carova in your 4-wheel drive to surf and play on the beautiful beaches all day. Go to Corolla or Duck and you'll find vacationers enjoying the waves. The Central Beaches of Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head offer easy parking and several great surfing spots. Hatteras Island is known as the pinnacle of Outer Banks surfing - this is where you'll find the best breaks and biggest waves. But don't worry, beginners can easily find more mellow spots along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Check out our list of Outer Banks surf shops to find one near your rental home!
Never surfed before? Numerous local professionals can safely introduce you to the sport. Lessons are available for both kids and adults.
Outer Banks Surfing Lessons
Outer Banks Surf School
118 E Becker Street, Nags Head, NC 27959
(252) 599-2006 or (252) 573-8437
Outer Surf
2500 South Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head, NC 27959
(252) 715-1445
Kitty Hawk Kayak & Surf School
6150 North Croatan Highway, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949
(252) 261-0145
Kitty Hawk Surf Company
Locations in Corolla, Duck, Nags Head, & Rodanthe
1-877-359-8447
Outer Banks Parasailing, Sailboat Rentals, Stand Up Paddleboarding, Kayaking, Wake Boarding and more!
Causeway Watersports
7649 South Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head, NC 27959
(252) 441-8875
Kitty Hawk Watersports
6920 S Croatan Hwy, Nags Head, NC 27959
(252) 441-2756
Nor'Banks Sailing and Watersports
1314 Duck Road, Duck, NC 27949
(252) 261-2900
North Beach Watersports
1066 Ocean Trail, Corolla, NC 27927
(252) 455-9977
**More companies listed under the Family Entertainment page found here.