Cowabunga!
North Carolina Surfing
Have you ever surfed in North Carolina? How about catching a wave? Do you know anything about surfing? I've never surfed in my life and I don’t know anything about surfing, but I did some research and I think I am capable of teaching you all about surfing. If you want to know the websites that I got this information off of, they will be located at the bottom of the page. Now back to surfing.
Facts:
- Cape Hatteras, located on the East Coast of North Carolina, is the focal point for East Coast surfing because of the shipwreck problems caused by storms from every direction, treacherous currents, and offshore shoals.
- Because of its countless sunken ships, Cape Hatteras is nicknamed “Graveyard of the Atlantic”.
- Any wave that that comes across the Atlantic will contribute some sort of surf around Hatteras.
- The earliest surfers were local teenagers that stumbled across board in 1962. Their names were Buddy Hooper and John Ochs.
- They surfed in isolation for a few years until a Buxton resident, named John Conner, later joined Buddy and John in 1964. In 1968, he converted his mobile home into a surf shop!
How Are Different
Waves Approached?
- Surfing begins when the surfer rides a simple wave on the horizon.
- Then, the surfer matches its speed by paddling.
- The surfer leaps to his/her feet when the wave begins to bring them forward.
- After that, they ride down the face of the wave, staying just ahead of the white water, or the breaking part.
Which Part Of A Wave Does A Surfer Ride On?
Why?
- After that, they ride down the face of the wave, staying just ahead of the white water, or the breaking part.
- A surfer usually rides just ahead of the white water on the face of the wave because cleanup sets can catch a surfer by surprise and wipe them out completely and you don;t have a wave to ride back to the shore.
What conditions do experienced surfers avoid?
Why?
- You do not want to catch a wave when it is the form of a C and is throwing water forward at high speeds because you will go "Over the Falls" which typically means that you will get pounded with tons of water, and you will get pushed more and more under.
What are the dangers of surfing?
- Shark attacks are very rare, but they are something to look out for.
- Another danger of surfing would include lightning hitting the water, although that also happens rarely.
- Surfers can also get hit by the fin of their surfboard, or any other part of their surfboard, when the wave wipes you out.
- You also have to know the currents, rocks, and you need to have a leash connected to your surfboard so you don't get severely injured.
What kinds of waves do surfers look for?
- Surfers look for bigger waves that give them more control and they can easily surf through them, but bigger waves are also more likely to "Wipe Out" surfers.
- You can also surf longer in bigger waves than shorter waves and they are supposedly more fun, too.
What makes a great surfing wave?
- Some surfers go to various places around the world to find the perfect tide for the waves they want to ride.
- Surfers may also want to ride "Killer Waves" which are waves that are known to be more than 100 feet high in the air.
Other Surfing Facts:
- Small waves travel at a few knots
- Medium waves travel at tens of knots
- Large waves travel at thirty to fifty knots
- Tsunamis are the largest waves and travel at about 450 knots
- This might be helpful: 1 knot is equal to 1 nautical mile per hour
This video is about some surfers, that I don't know if they are random surfers or famous ones, that are catching some waves in Cape Hatteras. Hope you enjoy it!