OUTER BANKS MILEPOST: ISSUE 11.3

free ride

Relaxing SINCE

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THIS AIN’T THE BEST SURF MAG IN THE WORLD.

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But it could’ve been.

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That’s not some stoner Spicoli statement or overblown piece of surf-bro braggadocio. It’s a fact. As stark and plain as the 20-story barber pole standing at the tip of Cape Hatteras. Actually, I’d even argue there is no place on Earth so primed to accurately — and brilliantly — depict the very definition of stoke. Able to produce enough frothy fodder to fill page after glossy page of the sport’s most respected rags, back when print pubs were the connective tissue that tied together global surf culture.

Don’t believe us? It’s already happened.

You want action? Jesse Hines graced the front of America’s three biggest titles when they still felt unfoldable. Noah Snyder busted big airs — and a few staples — as a primetime, pull-out poster boy. And Brett Barley got tubed across the spine as many times as the First Groin sandbar. (Almost.)

Compelling stories? Talk to any of the brave locals who helped pioneer spots from Indonesia to Nicaragua. Contest glories? The annual ESA Easterns produced a half-century of East Coast pro standouts, including four

world champions. (Kelly Slater even credited his fall runs to Hatteras as a critical-wave training ground, calling it “My Pipeline, my Mecca.”) Legends? The mighty Bob Holland was a media presence from 1966 to 2017. Hell, the whole skunk-and-score drama of chasing hurricane swells was born around the Graveyard of the Atlantic.

And that doesn’t touch the dozens of shaper profiles and “hot prospect” bios, or the metric tons of regional coverage, where the Outer Banks still stands as the go-to for waves-of-consequence anywhere east of the Golden State.

Perhaps more importantly, all this material was documented by diehard photogs and writers who either lived here full-time or put in mad hours cutting their teeth in our trickiest conditions. A few went on to score coveted staff positions up the publishing food chain. (Including a lot of the names on this very masthead.) Even now, in the digital age, a new generation of hungry surfers, shooters and scribes feed websites with wave after wave of Carolina coverage.

But the real reason runs deeper than mere talent in the water, behind the lens, or with

a word processor. It reaches back whole millennia to our very formation. Back to when sea levels dropped and sediment began draping itself over a suboceanic chunk of rock that we call Buxton, then slowly began building up on either side.

Because while surfing’s more recognized and reliable epicenters of Hawaii, California and Australia were all formed from land bubbling up from underneath, our little backyard wave garden was birthed by the ocean.

It’s a process that still continues. Every day, water moves sand along our shoreline so that each morning, new sandbars rise out of the mist — like the legendary island of Avalon. Accessible to only those of us who seek it, day-in and day out. So, while those

other so-called surf meccas are filled with cookie-cutter crowds who paddle out at the same spot, here, staying wet takes more than a daily repetition — it takes a lifelong passion. Perseverance. Sacrifice. A willingness to suffer day after day of disappointment — for those moments when it’s finally decent. And sometimes “decent” means barely rideable.

But there’s also those special days when the waves and the winds conspire in just the right ratios. When any sandbar between the research pier and Rodanthe can be totally firing. Days when there’s literally no wrong place to paddle out and any of 100 spots can spit out more epic rides than anyone can remember.

It may only happen every few years, but when it does, all you’d need to do is call the key players listed above and put them to work. They’d come back with volumes of jaw-dropping product, dripping with stoke. The very picture — or pictures — of a surfing paradise.

But good luck getting them out of the water. — Matt Walker

Thank you for reading Outer Banks Milepost. We hope you enjoy it. If not — before chucking this issue into the nearest dumpster — please consider one of the following equally satisfying ways of expressing your disgust: take a bar of wax and write “Kooks!” across the front; lay it out on the floor as a prop for cross-stepping practice; use it as tinder for your next surfboard sacrifice. Or simply toss it on that six-month stack of newspapers you’ve yet to recycle. (Trust us, you’ll feel better.) Then, send any and all feedback — positive, negative or just plain confused — to: editor@outerbanksmilepost.com. We promise to find some way to re-purpose them.

OUR LITTLE BACKYARD WAVE GARDEN WAS BIRTHED BY THE OCEAN.

Issue 11.3 Fall ’22

Cover: Tickled pink.

Photo: Daniel Pullen

Reader You Brushes & Ink

Carnell Boyle, John Butler, Ginger Che, Love Che-Howell, True Che-Howell, George Cheeseman, Marcia Cline, Carolina Coto, Kim Cowen, Cloey Davis, Michael J. Davis, Fay Davis Edwards, Mary Edwards, Laine Edwards, Marc Felton, Travis Fowler, Adriana Gomez-Nichols, Andy Howell, John Jones, Amelia Kasten, Chris Kemp, Nathan Lawrenson, Dave Lekens, Alex Lex, Tim Lusk, Elisa McVearry, Ben Miller, Dawn Moraga, Ben Morris, Holly Nettles, Stella Nettles, Rick Nilson, Barbara Noel, Holly Overton, Stuart Parks II, Charlotte Quinn, Willow Rea, Meg Rubino, Shirley Ruff, Mark Slagle, Noah Snyder, Rob Snyder, Janet Stapelman, Alyse Stewart, Kenneth Templeton, Stephen Templeton, George Tsonev, Christina Weisner, John Wilson, Mark Wiseman, Bri Young, Mike Zafra Lensfolk

Nate Appel, Matt Artz, Chris Bickford, Russell Blackwood, John Bliven, Mike Booher, Don Bower, Aycock Brown, Mark Buckler, Jon Carter, Garnette Coleman, Rich Coleman, Marc Corbett, Kim Cowen, Chris Creighton, Mere Crockett, Jason Denson, Amy Dixon, Susan Dotterer Dixon, Lori Douglas, Julie Dreelin, Tom Dugan/ESM, Roy Edlund, Bryan Elkus, Ben Gallop, Cory Godwin, Cody Hammer, Chris Hannant, Katie Harms, Bryan Harvey, David Alan Harvey, Ginger Harvey, Bob Hovey, Biff Jennings, Jenni Koontz, Mike Leech, Anthony Leone, Jeff Lewis, Jared Lloyd, Matt Lusk, Ray Matthews, Brooke Mayo, Mickey McCarthy, Nic McLean, Roger Meekins, D. Victor Meekins, Richard L. Miller, Dick Meseroll/ ESM, David Molnar, Rachel Moser, Ryan Moser, Elizabeth Neal, Rob Nelson, Candace Owens, Anne Snape Parsons, Crystal Polston, Daniel Pullen, Ryan Rhodes, Terry Rowell, Cyndi Goetcheus Sarfan, Katie Slater, Tom Sloate, Wes Snyder, Aimee Thibodeau, David Thomas, Ed Tupper, Eve Turek, Chris Updegrave, Dan Waters, Kati Wilkins, Cyrus Welch, Jay Wickens Penfolk

Ashley Bahen, Madeline Bailey, Sarah Downing, Laura Gomez-Nichols, Jim Gould, Steve Hanf, Dave Holton, Sarah Hyde, Catherine Kozak, Katrina Leuzinger Owens, Dan Lewis, Terri Mackleberry, Fran Marler, Matt Pruett, Mary Ellen Riddle, Peter Graves Roberts, Arabella Saunders, Corinne Saunders, Sandy Semans, Shannon Sutton, Kip Tabb, Kathleen Wasniewski, Hannah West, Clumpy White, Sharon Whitehurst, Natalie Wolfe, Michele Young-Stone

Pointing/Clicking Jesse Davis

Sales Force

Laurin Walker Big Mouth In Chief Matt Walker

Blame It All On Suite P Inc. PO Box 7100 • KDH, NC 27948 Office: 252-441-6203 • Sales: 949-275-5115

editor@outerbanksmilepost.com • sales@outerbanksmilepost.com

Outer Banks Milepost is published quarterly (sorterly) by Suite P Inc. All contents are the property of Suite P Inc. and do not reflect the opinion of advertisers or distributors. Nor do their contents reflect that of the creative types (who would never, ever sell out). Comments, letters and submissions are usually welcome. Please include SASE for return delivery of all snail mail, however, Milepost and Suite P Inc. still aren’t responsible for any unsolicited materials. And don’t expect much else to move much faster than IST (Island Standard Time). Oh yeah: if you reprint a lick of this content you’re ripping us off. (Shame on you.) To discuss editorial ideas, find out about advertising or tell us we blew it – or just find out what the waves are doing –call 252-441-6203 or email: editor@outerbanksmilepost.com; sales@outerbanksmilepost.com.

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“It’s perfectly logical to me that surfing is the spiritual aesthetic style of the liberated self.” — Dr. Timothy Leary “All I wanna do is have some fun.” — Sheryl Crow

“Deadman’s”

By John Jones

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took art classes all through school. But being good at math is what got me through college. I actually went to DC to become a naval architect. Didn’t last two days before I looked at my supervisor hunched over his desk and thought, ‘I don’t wanna be that guy.’ So, I left for lunch and never went back. I’ve been a carpenter ever since. But whether it’s carpentry or engineering, the plan is the most important part. The nice thing about art is there’s no real plan. No vision. Sometimes I don’t even finish the piece. This one, I painted a bunch of skeletons then let it sit for a long, long time. Maybe 10 years. But about two months ago, I had a thought: ‘Maybe it’d be cool if they all had surfboards.’ Then I grabbed some red paint and away I went…” — John Jones

Want a new career? Or just a new hobby? Dare’s new COA campus is designed to serve more than just recent grads.

You’ve heard about the brand spanking new building. The big, glass windows and airy spaces that breathe life into classrooms. The computers that disappear into desks with the push of a button. And the eyepopping price tag that made it all happen. (Close to $20 million.)

But the College of Albemarle’s new Dare County campus is more than modern tech and clean design. And it’s not just for the latest class of high school graduates either. It’s for frustrated workers looking to do something different — and retirees looking to try something new. It’s for community gatherings and festivities, book signings and job fairs, art shows and even blood drives.

“What the school is meant to be,” says Tim Sweeney, Dean of COA-Dare, “is a resource for the entire community.”

programs and extra training to earn a certificate that leads to job promotions, better pay or entrepreneurial opportunities.

“The vision of this campus is really to help local industry in the area,” Sweeney says.

There’s welding classes for boatbuilding. Nursing programs for healthcare providers.

Marketing certifications for the hospitality industry. And numerous other ways to groom skilled workers to serve the Outer Banks economy, while in turn building opportunities for local people to have well-paid careers.

Want to try a new side hustle? Take a class on cleaning pools and spas. Just looking for a fresh hobby to spice up your free hours? Try pottery, photography, jewelry making, or oil painting. Have a loved one who’s been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s? A September class teaches “current evidencebased, person-centered practices to care for individuals living with dementia.”

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In addition, Sweeney says, COA-Dare is partnering with the business community, local governments, and other educational providers like East Carolina University and ECU’s Coastal Studies Institute to provide hands-on experience. Most of the instructors come from the industry they’re teaching, he adds.

And if your job feels dead-end — or your employer hit the road and never came back there’s workforce development

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To elaborate, Sweeney, who has been dean since 2014, sees COA-Dare not as a mini college, but as a practical steppingstone to

a four-year degree, as well as a trade and apprenticeship education that can convert to local work almost immediately.

“The jobs have changed,” he says. “Customer service has changed tremendously. So, we had to adapt.”

Sweeney says that with technological advances and the upheaval from the pandemic, the employment picture is evolving everywhere, especially in the tourism and service industries that dominate the Outer Banks economy.

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Harrison Farms Microgreens

Even before the new campus was completed, he notes that the workforce development programming in the last four or so years has expanded considerably.

For instance, the artistic welding program that was offered in 2014 became a oneyear certificate industrial welding program in 2016. Today, because of the demand for high-paying welding jobs, the program also offers a two-year certificate as well as an apprenticeship program.

The HVAC program has been similarly popular. An electrical program was added last spring, and plumbing classes are scheduled to start this coming spring. Those trade classes are held nearby in the renovated Professional Arts Building that was constructed in 2009.

Sweeney notes there’s a mismatch between an educated professional and a job market dominated by service industries. Four-year college degrees don’t guarantee a job here — or the best pay. The chaos created by COVID has only exacerbated the situation.

“It’s really just a transformation here in the workforce,” Sweeney says. “What we try here at COA is to give (students) different pathways.”

Nursing is a good example of the flexibility of the college’s approach. COA’s registered nursing program, which began in Elizabeth City in 1971, offers a 2-year associate degree, which qualifies for employment as a nurse aide, a certified practical nurse (CPN) or a registered nurse (RN).

“Since our community is so expensive to live in, they can’t afford to go fulltime and not work,” says Michelle Coley, Director of Health Occupations Programs. “I recommend to my students that if you want to go into nursing, go to COA for two years, get your associate degree, and then you can work.”

If the student then chooses to pursue a four-year degree, they’re more likely to qualify for assistance from a hospital or other healthcare provider to complete the higher degree.

Other health sciences offerings at COA can enrich skills and qualifications, provide certification, or be part of a degree curriculum, including classes in EMT, CPR, medication aide, phlebotomy, EKG tech, pharmacy tech, mental health first aid, GEM Memory Care, and NC Community Health Worker. Also, a new dental assistant program has just been added.

“It’s just a good start into health care, and a very good employable field,” Coley says.

“It’s in high demand.”

On the more mechanical end, class offerings include EPA refrigerant certification, marine diesel engine repair, introduction to drones, certified forklift operator, certified pool and spa operator, NC vehicle inspection, and introduction to electrical.

Whatever program a student chooses, if they attend a high school in Dare County, they can get a head start on their education for free starting their junior year.

Furthermore, in 2019, county commissioners voted to pay COA tuition

for any county resident who graduated from one of the three local high schools. In addition, there are scholarships available and help for childcare and transportation costs.

Scholarships are available first to Dare County high school students who have graduated in the last two or three years, Sweeney says; any leftover funds would be available for permanent Dare County residents. (Scholarships would cover curriculum costs for tuition, laptops and books, or costs for certification programs like nurse aid or for industries like HVAC, marine diesel engine repair, electrical, among others. The scholarships are not available for those enrolled in enrichment classes, such as pottery.)

Those enrolled in COA-Dare also have access to online or on-site classes at the other campuses.

Workforce Development Career Readiness Coordinator Heidi O’Neal boasts about the wide range of choices people have to choose from, some that lean more to the fun end — say, music appreciation — to the more serious career enhancement classes, like notary public.

“This fall, there will be a new class helping nonprofits write grants and market their cause — as well as self-betterment options like yoga and pottery.

“Pottery is so popular, we’re going to add another class this fall,” O’Neal says. The addition will bring COA-Dare’s total pottery class offerings to four.

In the near future, O’Neal says that COADare is planning to add Lifelong Learning Series classes like what’s offered in Elizabeth City. (The free program focuses on a range of different topics, like history or health.)

In addition, they plan to start a SPARK talk series, which will feature different speakers sharing inspiring stories — similar to TED talks — in the fall. And O’Neal says to be on the lookout for more ways to broaden local minds, such as movies on the lawn and stargazing events.

The new campus has already proven to be a popular place for folks to gather.

“This is such a good community,” O’Neal says, while showing off the classrooms and equipment in the new building. “They really care about each other.”

Coley notes that community space in the Veterans Memorial Hall has been used frequently. And a part of Dare Days celebrations were held at the campus this summer.

“There’s just so many events,” she says. “Not just for students, but for the community.”

That’s us. — Catherine Kozak

“THE SCHOOL IS MEANT TO BE A RESOURCE FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.”

— TIM SWEENEY, DEAN

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It was a cool and breezy night in January 1995 when Drew Wilson got the call. Wilson — who worked as a photographer for the Virginian Pilot and their local weekly, The Coast — was playing guitar at his girlfriend’s house in Kill Devil Hills when the paper’s circulation manager, Phil Winslow, rang in a panic: the newspaper’s Nags Head office was on fire.

Wilson quickly hung up on Winslow, jumped into his car and sped to the southeast corner of Barnes Street and US 158, where he saw flames shooting out of the upper windows of the converted two-story beach cottage. He immediately raced into the the bottom floor and began rescuing precious lives — or at least priceless memories.

As the Pilot’s sole Outer Banks photog, Wilson was on-site to capture the 80s and 90s’ most important news. He was there when the First Colony Inn was cut into thirds and hauled from its original site near Jockey’s Ridge to Milepost

14. He chronicled “the day the ship hit the span” — when the dredge Northerly Isle broke loose from its mooring and took out a 369foot section of the Oregon Inlet Bridge. Not to mention countless hurricanes and nor’easters, Dare Days celebrations, and political upheavals.

Keep in mind that this was before the shift to digital photography. There were no back-up files saved on hard drives at home or off in the cloud. Wilson shot the image, developed the film and printed the photographs in the dark room. Pictures that needed a quick turnaround could be sent via wire, while others made it to Norfolk via bus or courier.

The only evidence of their existence lived inside the burning building. And he wasn’t about to watch them perish.

“I bolted right past the firemen and grabbed boxes of pictures,” Wilson recollects. “I knew the firemen were going to immediately follow me, so when the first one opened the door, I

Pilot editor Ron Speer — not stoked on the damage to his office. Photo: Drew C. Wilson

handed him a big stack of boxes and said something like, ‘Here, this is Nags Head’s history!”

Staff writers John Harper and Mary Ellen Riddle soon showed up at the scene and helped Wilson and the firefighters pull the photographs from the ground-floor darkroom and deposit them safely away from the fire.

At first, Nags Head Commissioner Carl Nunemaker and his wife Sally stored the boxes of soggy and singed photographs in their Beach Road store that was no longer in business. From there, Wilson gradually moved the prints to his Wanchese rental to salvage them.

“I separated all of the prints and laid them all over the ground,” he says. “I didn’t have much furniture in that house anyway, so I had lots of space. All the rooms had prints laying all over the floor.”

Eventually, Wilson was able to dry out the photographs, although some ended a bit warped from the water of the firehoses.

Still, it was a wake-up call for the documentarian. Over the course of the next two years, Wilson donated his photos to the Outer Banks History Center in Manteo, where the 3,000-plus images were meticulously catalogued.

Stuart Parks, archivist at the Outer Banks History Center, says the collection is unparalleled in documenting the 1980s

and 90s on the Outer Banks and in the Albemarle region. In fact, he still burns scans for modern news outlets.

“There’s not much else quite like it,” he says. “There are other collections that are kind of hit or miss around that time span, but nothing quite as all-encompassing.”

Last December, following the death of Edward Greene, Wilson’s photos were used to pay tribute to the former owner of The Christmas Shop and Manteo Commissioner. During Women’s History Month, a Wilson portrait of the officers of the Dare County League of Women Voters was shared on Facebook.

“Here we are, 40 years later, having to get images of some of these people as we’re doing stories or blogs about them, and fortunately Drew was there at the beginning of their careers,” says Parks. “He’s offered us a marvelous chunk of visual history from

a time period on the Outer Banks that we don’t have much else reference to.”

The fire was attributed to faulty wiring in editor Ron L. Speer’s office, where a new computer had recently been installed. But within two weeks, operations resumed at the paper’s new office in Kill Devil Hills.

Wilson spent another decade capturing local shots before leaving the VirginianPilot in 2005. Today, he is photojournalist for the Wilson Times in Wilson, NC. But the veteran photographer still has some classic Outer Banks images in his personal collection; in fact, he says he intends to make an additional donation to the OBHC.

“It’s become burdensome,” he says, “to carry this stuff around.”

— Sarah Downing

Sources include: “Pilot and Coast Open New Outer Banks Office,” The Carolina Coast, Feburary 2, 1995; “Pilot’s N. Head Office Damaged by Fire,” Coastland Times, January 24, 1995.

WAS ON-SITE TO CAPTURE THE 80S AND 90S’ MOST IMPORTANT NEWS.

SCHOOLED

Don’t threaten a proven educator who’s giving their all — unless you wanna get shown the door. That was the lesson Dare County Schools’ Superintendent learned the hard way this May. After a local teacher questioned his leadership in public meetings, he decided to send her a caustic “cease and desist” letter — only to resign once the dismissive missive went viral on Facebook. At press time, the board was still seeking his immediate replacement. Let’s hope the new hire comes with a better grasp of social media. (Or at least some better social skills.)

STORYBOOK ENDING

Step aside, Judy Blume. First Flight Middle Schoolers are getting to see their creative works put into print thanks to Project Publish, which pairs a seventh-grade

writing contest with Gold Leaf Publishing. The winner gets to print hardcopy books of their short stories or novellas for family and friends — with the chance to sell copies on Amazon, too. The real goal, however, is to show young creatives that becoming an author is a tangible dream.

GO FIX YOURSELF

More than 2,400 residents found themselves without a primary doctor in May, when a Manteo clinic announced they were closing down due to a shortage of providers. Suddenly, would-be patients were left hustling to find options as far away as Virginia — while hospital staff and commissioners were scrambling to provide solutions. By July, there were plans on the table to revamp the Manteo office — and eventually expand it. But that’ll take months. And with a combo of limited housing and high living costs making it hard to hire new professionals, this is one medical issue that’s far from cured.

FEEBLE KNIEVEL

Are these summer drivers insane?

Drunk? Or just plain dumb? Hard to say, but yet another speed demon tried to outrace local cops in June, this time on a motorcycle. Instead of clearing the Snake River Canyon — or just hopping the sound — this dumb-ass daredevil couldn’t even clear the curb near Henry’s. One crash and a short foot chase later, the fugitive was on his way back to Georgia, where he is now Roscoe P. Coltrane’s problem.

PRECIOUS METTLE

She may be keel-up — but she ain’t about to keel over. That’s the news out of NOAA regarding the USS Monitor. In May, researchers did a check-up on the historic Civil War vessel and were pleasantly shocked to find it remains in “astounding condition” despite sitting on the seafloor off Cape Hatteras for 160 years, where it’s survived currents, hurricanes and a range of rough weather. Furthermore, they expect

the mighty ironclad will be holding strong “for generations to come.”

TOTALLY BITCHIN’

A rad collection of historic Dare County ladies became popular again this summer, thanks to the release of a new book.

Remarkable Women of the Outer Banks profiles seven legendary, local heroines from Virginia Dare to Virginia Tillet — as well as little-known names like aerial pioneer Irene Tate. But we’ll save our personal kudos for Hannah West — the razor-sharp pen/Milepost contributor — who made this bad-ass crew the coolest chicks in town.

UNSIGHTLY MARKS

Looking for a flattering image of the Outer Banks? Stay away from the NC Budget & Tax Center’s latest “economic snapshot.” According to a five-year study, a quarter of Dare County renters send half their paycheck to the landlord, more

than one-fifth of Hyde County lives beneath the poverty line, and Currituck only has one mental health professional for roughly every 2,000 county residents. Meanwhile, SmartAssets.com announced that Dare’s median income and home values make it NC’s fifth richest county. Put the two together, you get a real ugly — yet accurate — picture of how income inequality is changing coastal life.

HEARD THAT!

Outer Bankers love to brag about our historic sights. But do we ever consider what they mean for the visually impaired?

At least one NPS Park does. In July, The American Council of the Blind honored Wright Brothers Memorial for offering exhibits that feature a “heavy emphasis on universally accessible experiences, tactile models, Braille brochures and expanded audio description of the memorial grounds.” Now that’s what we call visionary design.

THIRTY DAYS IN THE HOLE?

What punishment would you mete out for someone who recklessly endangers human life, emergency vehicles, and threatened sea critters? That’s the question coastal communities are starting to ask as beach goers continue to abandon six-foot sand craters. Now, local leaders are asking the state to consider criminal penalties for any person caught leaving holes unfilled. Some say the solution is a well-placed sign. Others suggest a stiff fine. We say forgo the lip service and wrist slaps and go straight to breaking ankles. After all: one good turn deserves another.

For detailed reports on these stories and breaking local news on a daily basis — plus plenty of local discussion — visit www.outerbanksvoice.com, www. islandfreepress.org, www.obxtoday.com, and www.thecoastlandtimes.com.

SMART-ASS COMMENT OF THE MONTH

“I’m sure this will be as strictly enforced as setting off fireworks.”

— Tri-Village, “Nags Head Mayor Spearheads Push for Criminal Penalties On Beach Holes,” July 17, 2022, OuterBanksVoice.com

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Amy Ilyce, 43 Seahorse Supplier Nags Head

“Beach days here when the sun’s out, the air is warm, and the water is clear and almost tropical.”

Becky Nolan, 76 Boutique Boss Lady Duck

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Mary Ellen Lee, 55 Interpreter of the Human Condition Manteo

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Vada-Lyn Clark, 15 Future Pulitzer Winner Kill Devil Hills

“Journalism. I actually signed up for what I thought was a creative writing camp, but turned out to be journalism — and I fell in love with telling people’s individual stories.”

“Seeing a favorite customer come into my store.”

“Knowing that every day is an opportunity to make a difference for myself and other people.”

WHADDYA RECKON? We got questions — you got answers.

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Photo:

WHAT

STOKES YOU OUT?

“Being here on the beach in the summer — and then being able to go back to the city in the fall.”

Personal Ocular Stylist Manteo

“Going on a cruise ship! I get so excited when I get to go on vacation in the ocean. I’m getting happy just thinking about it right now!”

Interviews and images by Tony Leone

Cynthia Sellers, 58 Sweets Slinger Grandy

Kejsi Zyka, 20 Li’l Miss Shady Nags Head

Matthew Boykin, 28 Purveyor of PWCs Manteo

“A fast-ass jetski! #jetdrive!”

David Maki, 59

“Just trying to live my best life every day, since we aren’t guaranteed tomorrow.”

YOU

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Correctly ID this shady shape — win a free surf lesson from Outer Surf!

gokite milepost

gosurf

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What’s this creepy figure crawling the ceiling? We’d say it’s an octopus’ silhouette, but that would be pulling your tentacles. We can tell you this, though: while it has no suckers, it does sometimes suck. But mostly it blows. (And that’s not a bunch of hot air.)

Set your mind spinning, then send your coolest guess, plus name and contact info, to editor@outerbanksmilepost.com by October 17.

We’ll swirl the correct answers around the room, then pull the correct call from

the rotation. That lucky person wins a private or couples surf lesson from Outer Surf! (Valued at $200. For use in spring or summer 2023.)

PS Congrats to Ann Hair for IDing last issue’s fuzzy flora: dune grass.

Dudespeak. Surf slang. Spicoli patois. Whatever you call it, surfers are legendary for their creative — and often confusing — wordplay. You might even say that they speak their own secret language. And, for once, you’d be right.

“It sounds like [surf jargon] is a cryptolect, since one of its primary functions is to mask what you’re saying,” says Swathmore professor and linguistics expert, Dr. K. David Harrison. “But it also has the effect of defining a social group. You have to master the lingo in order to be considered a fullyfledged member.”

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It all adds up to a highly specialized vocabulary that’s as vibrant and functional as boards, wetsuits and every other piece of ever-evolving equipment. In fact, these days, you literally can’t write about surfing without using any number of highly specialized words. (Trust us, we tried.)

No kidding. In beach towns like ours, most “groms” learn to speak some form of surfing before they even express themselves on an actual wave. Over time, as they progress in the water, they also become fluent in their distinct dialects — as well as the fluid nuances of an everchanging sport.

“Surfing itself has become more complex with a wider range of techniques and equipment, so language must constantly keep up,” Harrison explains.

That’s why nobody says “comber” or “shoot the curl” anymore — unless they want to sound like a total “hodad.”

So, rather than dumb things down with a bunch of land-lubbing verbiage that will likely still elude the masses — and most definitely alienate the hardcore audience — we figured we’d take a crack at including the following glossary. Take a gander before you read on, or simply flip back if you find yourself floundering. Even better, use it to translate work friends when they show up late, hair soaking wet, and breathless, mumbling about “spitting tubes.” — Merriam Shredster

Don’t understand a thing about surfing? Start by learning a few key words.

“READ IT, KOOK!”

Party wave? Or just a bunch of kooks? All depends on the day — and your personal definitions. Photo: Mike Leech

FULLYFLEDGED

a-frame n. a particularly peaky wave shape, reminiscent of an A-frame roof, and highly sought after for their tendency to create punchy barrels in both directions. “Conditions were epic yesterday; there were a-frames spitting up and down the beach.”

air n. a truncation of “aerial”; refers to any maneuver where the surfer’s board leaves the water. “Dawson busts the sickest airs.”

backdoor v to pull into a breaking wave from behind the peak of the a-frame. “Quentin just totally backdoored that barrel.”

barrel n. (syn.:cavern,drainer, pit,shack,tube,etc.) the hollow cylinder of a critical wave; ideally big and open enough for a surfer to ride inside. “The best Outer Banks days are nothing but barrels.”

beachbreak n. any wave zone that breaks over sand as opposed to reef or rock. “The best thing about beachbreaks is we get new sandbars all the time.”

bog the rail v. maneuver mishap where the outer edge of the surfboard sinks too deep in the water and stops forward momentum. “That would’ve been the best cutback, but I bogged the rail.”

bombie n. any wave or surf spot that breaks far off the beach. “Brett and the boys found a sick bombie last swell.”

chandelier n./v. phenomenon that occurs when a tube crumbles on the inside, either because offshore winds won’t open the barrel or because a paddler on the shoulder accidentally pushes it down. “I would’ve come out of that tube, but Herman totally chandeliered me.”

charge v. the act of paddling into serious waves with little to no concern for one’s own safety. “The bigger it gets, the harder Chad charges.”

cross-step v. graceful longboarding technique where the surfer moves up and down the board by placing one foot in front of the other, both forward and backward. “If you’re gonna longboard, you better learn how to cross-step.”

claim n./v. the act of celebrating after a really good wave; generally frowned upon unless it’s a truly remarkable ride. “I had to claim that wave for Nigel, because he’d never do it himself.”

cutback n./v. surfing maneuver where the rider turns in a complete arc around a flatter, non-breaking section of a wave and back toward the peak. “Did you see Sterling’s last cutback? He practically sprayed the pier.”

destroying it adj.(syn.:killing it,slayingit,murderingit) a praiseworthy description of aggressive, high-performance surfing. “Bo was totally destroying it out there today.”

drainer/drained n./adj.(syn. pit/pitted) an excessively long, deep tube ride. “I still think Deannie got the sickest backside drainers of anyone.”

drop in v./n. the act of standing up and riding down the face of the wave. “If you’re gonna paddle on the biggest set, you better drop in.”

eggy adj. grumpy. “If I can’t surf, I get super eggy.”

firing adj.(syn.:pumping) description of a really good wave, session, day or swell. “October 1994 was probably the most firing I’ve ever seen Ferry Signs.”

fish n. small-wave board with a flatter, fatter shape. “Ashley made me the sickest fish.”

flat/flat spell adj/n. description of a completely lifeless ocean. “It was so flat last summer I didn’t see a wave for weeks.”

froth/frothing/frothy n./v./ adj. feeling of manic stoke. “I’m frothing too hard; I keep ruining waves.”

glasser n. short for the professional who fiberglasses the shaped foam core of a surfboard during the production process. “I don’t know who my favorite glasser is, Rascoe or Rohde.”

grom/grommet n. any young surfer. “Can’t wait to see all the new groms at the Throwdown this fall.”

highway surfing n. the act of driving around looking for waves without ever paddling out. “I spent all morning highway surfing, and never even got wet.”

inside bar/outside bar/mid bar n. geographic description for where a wave is breaking in reference to the beach. “We started surfing that outside bar at Avalon, then the mid-bar, then the inside bar — then we went and got a pier beer at the real bar.”

kneeboard n./v. a distinct surfing design and approach where the surfer rides on their knees as opposed to standing up or bodyboarding. “I reckon Jeff has been kneeboarding here longer than anyone.”

kook n. (also:kooking,kooking out) an unexperienced, unskilled and/or uncouth, disrespectful surfer. (Note: tone plays a big role in the intended meaning.) “Nice guy, but he’s kind of a kook” or “I totally kooked that wave” or “Beat it, kook!”

lineup n. the spot where the waves are breaking and/or the group of surfers lining up to take advantage. “Haven’t seen you in the lineup in ages!”

lip n. the crest or edge of a breaking wave. “The lip almost caught me coming out of the barrel.”

longboard/log n. Almost any surfboard over eight feet; designed for greater float, smaller waves and cruiser styles. “It was so tiny, I had to ride my longboard.”

mysto adj. short for ‘mystery’; implies a sense of secrecy and/ or haunting conditions. “We surfed this spot all by ourselves in the fog — it was so mysto.”

noseride/tip ride/ride the tip n. longboarding maneuver in which the surfer stands at the tip of their board as long as possible. “That’s Mary noseriding over the men’s toilet inside Tortuga’s.”

offshore/onshore/sideshore adj. description of the various directions the wind can blow at the beach. “It’s supposed to blow onshore, then sideshore, then offshore.”

party wave n. somewhat questionable phenomenon when a group of surfers forgoes the usual etiquette and mutually agrees to ride the same wave simultaneously. “I dare you to drop in on Delbert yelling ‘party wave.’”

peak n. the part of the wave that breaks first; can also be used to describe individual waves. “The surfer closest to the peak has the right of way” or “There were peaks all over the place.”

pearl v.(syn.wipeout,eatit, ‘gooverthehandlebars’etc.) originally a truncation of ‘pearl dive,’ it means to suddenly fall, headfirst. “I must have hit a piece of chop because I totally pearled.”

pointbreak n. a long, highly groomed wave that usually breaks along a curved sand or rock promontory. ‘The Lighthouse is about the closest thing we have to a pointbreak— except for when the Point comes together.’

quad n.(syn.four-fin) a board with four-fins; known for mixing speed and acceleration with more “bite.” “I never would’ve made that barrel if I wasn’t riding my quad.”

quiver n. a collection of surfboards. “Steve Wise has the sickest vintage quiver; his boards go back to the 50s.”

ramp n. any oncoming section on a wave that is suitable for boosting an air. “There were a lot of shutdowns, but you could still find a decent ramp.”

ride for v. the act of surfing for a specific shop or company. “Patti’s been riding for Whalebone since day one.”

ripper/shredder n. a highly skilled surfer. “Those VB guys all think they’re total rippers.”

set n. a series of waves that arrives in a distinct group. “Seems like every set’s been bigger than the last.”

shape n./v. a surfboard design, or the act of cutting a surfboard design out of a foam blank. “I try to buy locally made shapes.”

shaper n. any person who shapes surfboards. “Mickey McCarthy wasn’t just the Outer Banks’ O.G. surf photographer, he was also one of the first local shapers.”

shortboard n. a smaller, more maneuverable surfboard design, usually used for highperformance surfing. “I hope I can shortboard forever.”

shoulder n. the tapering part in front of the breaking part of a wave. “I had to race around that section and get to the shoulder before I could do a turn.”

shutting down/shutdown adj./n. conditions where a wave breaks all at once, leaving no room to move down the line. “I had to straighten out, the whole wave was shutting down.”

sick adj. really, really good. “That last ride was so sick.”

snap n. a single, sharp maneuver off the lip of the wave. “Noah did the sickest snap on the cover of ESM.”

spit/spitting n./v./adj. the mist that gets expressed out of a particularly hollow wave; or when a hard-breaking wave shoots out said mist. “That barrel spit so hard it stung the back of my neck.”

sponger n. a boogie boarder. “Outer Banks spongers charge harder than anyone.”

sport of kings n. another euphemism for surfing; stems from its beginnings as a pastime for Hawaiian royalty. “‘Sport of Kings,’ my ass — that dude lives in a trailer.”

stinkeye v. giving another surfer a dirty look; usually an outsider. “Who’s that dude think he is stinkeye-ing Barry?”

stoked adj. quintessential description of surfing enthusiasm. “Every time I see the ocean, I get stoked.”

tow-in n./v. using a jet ski to catch waves; normally only seen here on really big days. “It was so far off the beach, we basically had to tow-in.”

upwelling n. phenomenon triggered by hard offshore winds, that pushes warm surface water offshore, allowing colder subsurface water to rise and leading to a dramatic drop in ocean temps. “It blew southwest all night, and now I’m freezing because of the upwelling.”

vibe/vibing v. sending/ receiving negative energy at or from another surfer (opposite of the modern, common connotation of putting off a relaxed sense of well-being). “I had to get out of there, those locals were totally vibing me.”

wipeout n.(syn.pearl,get worked,ateit,goover-thehandlebars,etc.) The act of falling off your board mid-ride. “I just had the worst wipeout. I totally ate it.”

xxl adj. the farthest end of the big wave spectrum. “I bet Diamond Shoals gets legitimately XXL during a hurricane.”

yew! n. exclamation of appreciation and/or agreement.

“See y’all in the water! Yew!” zoo/zooed n./adv. any overly crowded lineup. “Man, First Street was so fun for a second, then it got totally zooed.”

upfront

Discover

legendary

at

Surfalorus Film Festival.

Enjoy surf

Labor Day weekend’s WRV OBX Pro. Photo: Patrick Ruddy

18TH ANNUAL WRV OUTER BANKS PRO • Jennette’s Pier • Aug. 28-Sept. 4

Smooth athleticism. Committed aggression. Fiery heats. Firing surf. If you’ve ever wanted to witness the drama and skill of a top-notch surf comp, you can’t miss the WRV Outer Banks Pro. As a World Surf League Qualifying Series event, this local stop is often the first professional step for future international stars from across the globe — and top regional names with bigger dreams — as they battle for precious points and cash prizes in punchy conditions. It’s also one hell of a party, with plenty of beach day giveaways from sponsors — and nightly Pacificofueled ragers at local clubs. At press time, the full field had yet to be revealed — and, of course, the surf forecast is always in Poseidon’s hands — but the structural elements are firmly in place for another epic event. “We’ve already got a solid field of competitors and alternates,” says WRV’s LG Shaw. “Fingers crossed the Outer Banks provides the solid surf she usually does.” Keep tabs on the daily calls and live heats at www.wrvobxpro.com.

14th ANNUAL THROWDOWN SURF CLASSIC • Chicahauk Beach Access • Sept. 10

Looking for a little less conflict — and a lot more camaraderie? In 2008, a crew of generous Outer Banks families first descended upon Southern Shores to share a love of surfing and raise cash for local families in need. Fourteen years and more than $100k later, the Throwdown Surf Classic remains the feel-good surf event of the season. A day where moms and dads push tykes into their very first waves and ripping teens get to hoist their very first trophies. Meanwhile, the beach teems with long-time local members of the tribe who enjoy a special Saturday of friendly vibes and pumping some well-deserved funds into the Outer Banks Relief Foundation. The only potential bummer? You gotta be 18 or under to compete. “We had to stop running adult divisions because we couldn’t fit all the kids in one day!” laughs co-founder Jason Breiholz. Care to participate? Volunteer? Donate necessary items? Sign-up ASAP at Throwdown-Surf-Classic.Weeblysite.com/competitors. And follow @throwdown_surf_classic on Instagram for updates.

52ND ANNUAL ESA EASTERN SURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS • Jennette’s Pier • Sept. 18-24

There’s a reason that fall lights up with surf comps. Because that’s the best chance for quality surf to fuel epic clashes! And with more than 180 heats to run, the Eastern Surfing Association’s Eastern Championships need every spare minute to cull through a few hundred competitors and crown the top coastal names in divisions from bodyboard to longboard, ages eight to 80. In fact, this year they’ll be “double-beaching” all week to maximize the best days and conditions. That means every day is an opportunity to go cheer on our Outer Banks contingent. Come out the first half of the week to support the old guard — then give it up for groms as they power into the weekend. But as ESA Executive Director Michelle Sommers points out, there’s more to this year’s gathering than just crowning champs. “Of course, we’re always excited to come to the Outer Banks and showcase the East Coast’s best surfers,” says Sommers. “But this year’s Easterns is even more special, as we celebrate Cecil Lear.” Who’s Cecil Lear? Fifty-five years ago, this selfless New Jersey surfer decided to stand-up for a so-called fringe sport by organizing local contests; today, the ESA’s 23 districts and 6000-plus members make it the largest amateur surfing program in the country. Be sure to come celebrate his legendary influence in one of two ways: a Surfalorus-sponsored celebration of life on Sept. 19 at 6:30pm; or a traditional paddle-out ceremony on a TBD date. Find details, schedules and more at www.surfesa.org.

11th ANNUAL SURFALORUS FILM FESTIVAL • Jennette’s Pier • Sept. 18-21

With a thousand-year history built on Polynesian tradition — and a counter-culture rad-factor that runs back more than a century — few sports are as cool, compelling and culturally significant as he’e nalu aka “wave-sliding” aka “surfing.” From Sept. 18-21, the 11th Surfalorus Film Festival picks the year’s most notable cinematic offerings to offer a cross-section of the lifestyle’s many facets. Locals come first, Sunday, Sept. 18, when KDH’s Outer Surf hosts a free showing of Hines — native film-maker Mike Leech’s biopic of the beach’s first international surf star — before moving to Swells’a Brewing at 7pm for a North of Nowhere book-signing with our resident Surfline.com editor, Matt Pruett, and NY photog, Mike Nelson. From there, Jennette’s Pier presents three days of evening flicks, beginning at 4pm. Monday’s Big vs Small documents diminutive Portuguese wahine, Joana Andrade, on a journey to tackle the world’s largest wave — Nazaré — followed by a Celebration of Life for ESA co-founder Cecil Lear, and the first round of short films; Tuesday’s The Waterman pays tribute to surfing’s godfather and “ambassador of aloha,” Duke Kahanamoku, before chasing Maui aerialists Albee Layer and Matt Meola on a Sweet Adventure to El Salvador. And Wednesday runs the second block of shorts before closing things out with For the Dream — which joins online surf star Ben Gravy on a weird-wave odyssey to surf all 50 states. “We’ll also have Q-and-As with a lot of the directors,” says Surfalorus’ Dan Brawley. “Plus music, food and refreshments, so every evening is a great way for competitors and the general public to come cool down after a day on the beach.” $10 unless specified — free for ESA Easterns surfers. See the full lineup at www.surfalorus.org.

3RD ANNUAL WHICHCRAFT SURF GATHERING/1ST OCEAN RHYTHMS ART SHOW • Swells’a Brewing • Oct. 1

Fall in love with weird local shapes — and a world of fine art — with this double-header event at Swells’a Brewing presented by GhostShip Supply Co. The day starts on the beach at 8am with the WhichCraft Surf Gathering, a fun-focused contest where competitors get to ride a range of alternative surf craft — and every penny of the $25 entry fee goes to the Outer Banks Relief Foundation. (Sandbar location TBD; follow @which_craft_surf on Insta for registration details and updates.) Then be at the brewery by 6pm, as local street art legend Andy Howell soft-launches his new GhostShip Supply Co. with an art show that curates an international selection of surf-inspired canvases and photos under the heading of Ocean Rhythms. “We live in a really interesting place where the ocean dictates so much of what we do,” says Howell. “That inspired me to reach out to a number of artists to contribute works under that theme.” With contacts from Atlanta to Spain to LA to London, the invitees include established names (Andy Davis, Thomas Campbell, Greg Mike) and local favorites (Taylor Williams, James Perry, Dawn Moraga) and more than a couple Milepost contributors (Chris Kemp, Chris Bickford, Daniel Pullen.) Plus, there’s a concert with Cor De Lux, live painting by a TBD talent, freshly tapped inhouse brews and best — best of all? — all of the art is original, and it’s all for sale. Miss the grand opening? Don’t get all eggy; just come back later. “The show hangs all month long,” says Howell. “And we really want to make this an annual event.” Keep tabs on the collection by following @ghostship.supply on Instagram.

“FEW SPORTS ARE AS COOL, COMPELLING AND CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT AS SURFING — AKA HE’E NALU AKA “WAVE-SLIDING.”

gokite

getactive

A NEW TAKE ON ‘HIGHWAY SURFING’

gosurf

outthere gohunt rearview

Turtles. State parks. Teachers. Puppies. You can’t drive through French Fry Alley without seeing some NC license plate pushing a pet cause. (Sometimes, literally.) Now, with any luck, surfers — and all beach fanatics — will be able to flex for Carolina’s waves.

“Everyone loves the coast,” says Tamara Warren, chair of the Outer Banks Surfrider Foundation. “So, with a license plate established, people will be able to show their love while generating consistent funding for coastal protection and enjoyment.”

While Virginia and Maryland visitors have been able to rock Surfrider Foundation specialty plates for years, this will be a first for North Carolina locals. Each tag will feature the Surfrider Foundation’s wave logo and name on the lefthand side of a sunrise beach scene. The phrase “Protect and Enjoy” will run across the top.

But the benefits go beyond adorning your car’s rear with an eye-catching design. Each

specialty plate generally costs $30 a year, a fee that is separate from the DMV’s annual renewal fee. Of that fee, $10 goes to the state and the rest benefits Surfrider.

In North Carolina, the four volunteer-led Surfrider Foundation chapters decided that proceeds would be pooled “to help us secure a staff person in the region to elevate our work,” Warren says. “Having a staff person who can devote time to helping our volunteer leaders get new ideas off the ground and amplify the great work we’re already doing will be tremendously helpful.”

Currently, the Outer Banks chapter organizes regular beach cleanups and manages the Adopt-A-Beach program in Dare County, having partnered with the public works departments in Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk and Nags Head. They also fund scholarships for local seniors. In addition, Warren says “the chapter is interested in pursuing policy efforts to reduce plastic pollution and starting a water quality testing program.”

Let the Surfrider Foundation beef up your coastal street cred.

SURF

Volunteers with the Surfrider Foundation’s national Blue Water Task Force program monitor bacteria levels in local bodies of water to raise awareness of pollution problems and bring together communities to solve them. Currently, the nearest task force site is in Virginia.

Of course, the chapter can always use more help with all their efforts. But for those who want to support the cause without doing a lick of work, you can just cut a check to the DMV between now and Feb. 15. (The NCDMV requires 500 paid pre-orders before publicly launching a new plate option.) If the goal has not been met by then, they’ll allow more time to hit the mark.

But why wait?

The sooner you order, the sooner you can show your support for water quality and beach access. For an additional $30 annual fee, you can add a personalized message of four characters. Feeling silly? Go for ‘DUDE.’ Defensive? Try for “MOKE.” Honest? What self-respecting surfer wouldn’t want another “WAVE”?

“SUPPORT THE CAUSE WITHOUT DOING A LICK OF WORK.

But no matter the tag, every plate will help fuel efforts to keep local beaches looking shiny and running smoothly.

— Corinne Saunders

Want a Surfrider Foundation specialty license plate? Eligible drivers can sign up at www.surfrider.org.

PLATE YOUR CASE

Prefer to hike trails? Or plant flowers? Protect wildlife? All told, NC’s DMV has 277 specialty plate categories. Here’s six options that go the extra mile to support Outer Banks causes.

The NC Coastal Federation

Since 2005, North Carolina Coastal Federation’s “NC Coast” plate has raised over $1 million to help protect and restore the state’s shores and waterways. The plate costs $30, with $20 directed to the Coastal Federation and $10 supporting state projects, from highway beautification to handicapped accessibility to visitor centers, according to www.nccoast.org.

“The revenues through the DMV’s license plate program are an incredibly important source of income that we can count on every year,” says Sarah King, the Federation’s development director. “We are grateful that so many people want to show their love for protecting and restoring the coast.”

License plate fees in 2022 will support water quality focused projects, such as protecting and restoring Lake Mattamuskeet and this fall’s living shoreline project at Jockey’s Ridge State Park, says Communications Director Stacia Strong.

The NC Wildlife Resources Commission

The NC WRC first offered a specialty plate in 2013. It’s current design of a Pine Barrens treefrog and the agency’s “Wildlife” logo has been in place since 2019. This Wildlife Conservation plate costs $30, with $20 from each sent to the agency’s Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Fund.

The Commission has led programs that include sea turtle nest conservation efforts on the Outer Banks; management and protection of nesting colonies of pelicans, gulls and terns along the state’s sounds and inlets; and research and surveys on rare nongame fish, freshwater mussels and snails, according to www.ncwildlife.org.

The NC Cooperative Extension Since this plate’s 2013 launch, the NC Extension Master Gardener Endowment has received over $15,000, according to Charlotte Glen, state coordinator for the NC State Extension Master Gardener Program.

“The Extension Master Gardener program in Dare County is a vibrant group of passionate volunteers dedicated to helping others connect with plants and gardening more successfully in the county’s challenging growing conditions,” Glen says.

Specialty plates cost $20, $10 of which goes to the Endowment. Endowment funds are “invested in perpetuity,” with only annual interest income spent, Glen says. Interest has totaled $1,000-$2,400 in each of the past several years and has funded Search for Excellence awards of $200 apiece. Three Dare County programs received these awards recently: the Coastal Gardening Festival in 2015 and the Speakers Bureau and Kokedama Research Project in 2018.

North Carolina State Parks Purchasing a $30 North Carolina State Parks plate gives the driver a year of complimentary North Carolina Friends of State Parks membership, according to www.ncparks. gov. Plate

funding goes toward capital projects, land acquisition and maintenance. Besides Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head, nearby state parks include the Dismal Swamp State Park in South Mills, Pettigrew State Park in Creswell, and Merchants Millpond State Park in Gatesville.

The Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) Since 2013, this license plate has raised over $100,000. The MST runs 1,200 miles across the state, from Clingman’s Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains to Jockey’s Ridge State Park.

Of the $30 annual fee, $20 goes into the general budget of Friends of the MST.

“These funds…build and maintain the trail, advocate for the trail, and help people use it by providing trail guides, websites, etc.,” says Betsy Brown, outreach manager for Friends of the MST. “The trail along the Outer Banks is finished, but funds have provided signage at trailheads on and off the beach. We’re also working on a terminus sign at Jockey’s Ridge State Park.”

Just as important as funding is the visibility, says Brown.

“Every eye that stares at an MST plate while sitting in traffic is another person who learns about this great trail,” she notes. “Unlike many other long-distance trails, the MST does not try to be a wilderness trail. Instead, it aims to trace the diversity that is North Carolina: From ancient mountains and coastal swamps, to colonial towns and barrier islands, it is as much about the culture of the state as it is the natural landscape.”

NC Aquariums

Right at press time, NC Aquariums announced they got all their necessary signatures and were in the final stages of having their own license plate approved. It will likely be a few months before they’re ready, but of the $30 cost, $20 will support their work at Roanoke Island, Fort Fisher, Pine Knoll Shores and Jennette’s Pier. Learn more at www.ncaquariumsociety.com.

questionauthority

HAPPINESS COMES IN WAVES

It can be hard to stay stoked on the Outer Banks From the housing crisis to child-care shortages to substance abuse struggles, it’s definitely not all blue skies and beach days.

Just ask Marie E. Holland. As a mental health supervisor (LCMHS) and licensed clinical addiction specialist (LCAS) at Nags Head’s Holland and Associates Counseling, PLLC, she encounters the full range of local stressors.

“What I’m seeing in our practice is that people are getting hit from every angle. Whether it’s affordable housing, inflation, anxiety, trauma, interpersonal conflict, finances, or access to healthcare stressors. And, of course, there’s always addiction.”

An innate interest in human behavior and a talent for truly listening spurred Holland to earn her master’s degree in education with a concentration in counseling from NC State in 2008. Since then, she has dedicated herself to using research and evidence-based techniques to enhance the counseling process for her clients. She provides direct outpatient therapy, runs the group practice, and supervises other provisionally licensed individuals seeking full licensure.

One thing she’s learned? Treating mental health is never “one size fits all.”

“We, as human beings, because of all of our life experiences, come up with coping skills,” she says. “Sometimes they’re the best things for us, and other times they’re not. There is no one right way to be mentally well.”

The good news? While we can’t control what life throws at us, we can always learn ways to regulate our emotions, even in the most stressful times. We sat down with Ms. Holland to get a sense of how people can handle the worst personal storms — and what local resources stand ready to help keep our heads above water.

— Terri Mackleberry

MILEPOST: What would you say are the most common mental health concerns you see locally?

MARIE HOLLAND: If I could narrow it down, it would be accessing care. A lot of time it’s accessing care with a professional or just care of themselves. Like, maybe they’ve neglected their mental health, or maybe they experienced things in childhood they’ve not resolved and it’s coming up in their adult life. If it’s a kid, we don’t have

enough mental health providers for kids in our area. We just don’t.

Do you think that some people are just born more happy or less happy than others? Or do you think it’s related more to circumstances?

We can always argue nature versus nurture, but what I would like to point out is that it’s more related to “trauma informed” care. In that, if we are not taught ways to

regulate our central nervous system, that usually impacts our ability to regulate our emotions. That is what the literature points to nowadays.

So, to clarify, traumatic events happen to everyone. Those who have learned to regulate their central nervous system would handle that trauma better.

It’s not so much handling a situation better; it’s more or less being able to frame the

photos: John Bliven

situation differently. For instance, let’s say two people witness the same car accident. One person was taught how to regulate themselves; how to de-escalate and self-soothe. They might be able to calm themselves down effectively after a traumatic event. The other person was not taught that; what they do might be completely different.

What are some of the ways — positive ways — to regulate your nervous system?

They say that it takes six deep breaths within one minute to regulate your nervous system. But regulating the central nervous system is highly dependent on what works for the individual. For you, it may be doing some deep breathing and working on resetting the nervous system that way — but for someone else with breathing issues or health issues, that might throw them into a worse situation. Maybe that person needs to use the five senses — they need to feel, touch or smell something. Or make a visual picture in their mind and take themselves to the beach or woods. Or maybe they just need to focus on five blue things in the immediate area to help bring them down. Or maybe it’s exercise.

Is it better to learn these things at a younger age or are they learnable as you get older?

It’s learnable at any age, so there’s hope in that. Is it better to learn this stuff as a kid? Sure. Just like learning foreign languages at a younger age, it sticks with you and becomes easier. But it’s never too late to learn and change.

I guess the irony here is that you don’t really learn it until you have to. Some people got lucky or privileged in that they had someone who knew how to do this and passed it along. Some people already instinctively do it but never knew that they had a built-in coping skill. They say, “This is a coping skill? I’ve always done this.”

Do you think our culture in general — social media, movies, TV, everything else — expects us to be happy all the time?

There are some terms out there, such as “toxic positivity,” that encourage us to only experience positive emotions — like

#goodvibesonly. And the reality is that we have to experience all emotions so we know what it feels like to feel good. Because you don’t know what it feels like to feel grateful or happy or excited if you don’t know what it feels like to be sad, let down, frustrated or angry. It’s a yin-yang approach; we have to have both so that we can really experience true happiness.

How does social media come into play with that? Does comparing ourselves to others make us miserable?

The way that I view it clinically is that stress is an external factor. Anxiety is internal. So, is it possible that using social media for comparison purposes only can be stress inducing, which leads to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, maybe even potential trauma and eating disorders? Yes, it’s very possible — especially if there is a missing component of an individual not knowing who they are, not knowing what their core beliefs are, not understanding the differences of being comfortable with who they are versus comparing themselves.

Are there any upsides to social media for mental health?

Absolutely. A lot of folks put out helpful content. One of the things we encourage folks to do is to look at your feed. What’s coming up for you and how does it make you feel? Is it good to be challenged? Yes.

So, if there’s some discomfort because of something you’re reading or seeing then that might be healthy. But if what’s coming up for you brings shame, guilt, blame, judgment, second guessing who you are as an individual, losing esteem — then that’s not the healthy side of social media. But there are plenty of helpful accounts taking a balanced approach. Social media, when it’s balanced, can be really uplifting and really connecting.

“WE HAVE TO EXPERIENCE ALL EMOTIONS SO WE KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO FEEL GOOD.

So, we need to recognize what we’re experiencing and then do something that makes us feel differently?

It’s about the initial recognition — that was awful, that was traumatic, I’m really annoyed. What can I do to no longer feel this way? There is a lot of research out there that talks about recognizing primary emotions. We use this often in our practice: What you resist, persists. That means the more you delay emotion recognition, the harder it is to actually get rid of that emotion.

And you’ll just stay stuck.

So, what are some of the tools people can use for coping?

Deep breathing for some folks. Guided meditation. Mindfulness — in a myriad of ways, such as focus on breathing, watching thoughts come and go. Checking in with the five senses — what am I tasting, what am I hearing, what am I seeing? Also, finding a support group — and there are myriad 12-step groups. Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous. There are groups for incest survivors, sexual assault survivors. There is a group for everything you could imagine, not all necessarily on the Outer Banks. But with the pandemic, access to healthcare has become more available. There is a group somewhere in the world that you can join and be connected to folks.

What are the benefits of mindfulness and meditation?

It can lower your heart rate, help with impulse control, help with emotion recognition, emotion regulation. It can assist with deactivating that central nervous system. The research is just staggering. It can even reduce chronic pain. People often get frustrated, but my advice is don’t give up. Just starting with two minutes of meditation a day and working your way up is beneficial. There’s no way to fail at meditation.

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Is that for the short-term relief or longterm benefits?

Believe it or not, when you’re in a significant amount of stress and trauma and dysregulation, doing mindfulness or meditation really isn’t helpful. So doing meditation and mindfulness is more like a daily practice, just like a walk or coffee. It has to become adopted into daily life to help maintain your central nervous system from becoming activated. When stuff hits the fan, here are some things to decide: One) Do I need to talk to somebody? A friend, a family member, a crisis contact, something like that?; Two) Do I need to walk away from a situation? Do I need to say, “I can’t do this right now; I need to take some time, go for a walk, do some breathing — I’ll be back.”

We’ve all been hearing about suicides and overdoses in the past few years. If someone is worried about a friend or family member, what should they look for?

I was in a meeting today with Dr. Evan Ashkin of the UNC Fit (Formerly Incarcerated Transition) Program. He was telling us that the reason we’re seeing such a large increase in overdoses is because more substances are contaminated with fentanyl. That culture of recreational drug users — or party using or social use — can’t be a thing anymore, because you just don’t know what you’re going to get.

gosurf

The tough thing with people who are suicidal is that sometimes there are no warning signs. They could be hanging out with friends and family and enjoying life and still be suicidal. One thing I want to say is that it never hurts to ask someone how they’re doing. There’s this misperception that if you ask someone how they’re doing and they’re not doing well, they’re going to harm themselves — and that couldn’t be further from the truth. From the professional trainings I’ve attended, the message is clear: People do not kill themselves because someone asks “Are you OK? I’m worried about you. How is your mental health?”

If someone reaches out to you for help, or says, “I’m not doing well,” what are some tips?

So, the number one tip is: do not try to fix the situation. Say “I’m here for you. I will listen.” Then say, “Do you want me to call

“ IT NEVER HURTS TO ASK SOMEONE HOW THEY’RE DOING.

LOCAL LIFELINES

Feel like you’re going under? These resources will help you stay afloat.

Dare County Department of Health & Human Services

Emotional Support Line: Open Tuesdays & Thursdays from 9am to 3pm 252.473.8216

Helping Women Recover: Meets

virtually every Tuesday & Thursday from 11am to 12pm. For info, email: catishab@darenc.com

Mental Health Helplines

PORT Health: 252.441.2324

Trillium Health: 24/7 Access to Care Line - 877.685.2415.

Integrated Family Services: 24/7 Mobile Crisis – 866.437.1821 Crisis Chat for Youth: Integratedfamilyservices.net, click on Chat With Us

Hope4NC Helpline 24/7 Mental Health Support Line: 855.587.3463

Hope4Healers Helpline: 919.226.2002: Mental health and resilience support for healthcare professionals, emergency medical specialists, first responders and others who work in healthcare settings.

around and help you find someone to talk to?” Because that can be a very difficult thing to do when you are hurting. If they don’t want to do therapy, ask if they want you to go to a 12-step meeting or a listening circle with them. Ask if they would like to join you at a yoga or meditation class. Also, as I’ve said, access to care is limited. And when you finally get up the courage to ask for help, and a practice doesn’t call you back or says, “Sorry we’re full,” that can be detrimental. So, see who’s taking new people. You don’t have to make the appointment, but you can say, “These are some places I found.”

988 Suicide & Crisis Helpline: Dial 9-8-8. Formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, dialing 9-88 offers 24/7 call, text and chat access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing a suicidal, substance use and/or mental health crisis or any other kind of emotional distress. People can also dial 9-8-8 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

Mental Health and

Substance Abuse Task Forces

Breaking Through Task Force: Find counselors, meetings and other resources to help address stigma and other barriers for those who seek help for mental health or substance use issues at www.breakthestigmaobx.com.

Saving Lives Task Force: Find counselors, meetings and other tools to overcome substance abuse, either personally or with family members, at www.savinglivesobx.com.

Are there healthier habits people can adopt that would make them more mentally stable?

There is no one right way to be mentally well. It’s really going to vary depending on what works for individuals. So, to me the most hypocritical thing that I could do is tell somebody how they could make their life better. For me, mental health is so collaborative. My job as a therapist is to listen to you about what’s not working and help you understand who you are so that you and I can problem solve together. And eventually you won’t need me and you can problem solve on your own.

The preceding interview was edited for length, clarity and flow. Find a full transcript at www.outerbanksmilepost.com.

With summer winding down, many visitors are making plans to find their way here after the busy season ends. It is nice to know that the legendary wild horses of Corolla, awe-inspiring remote beaches and iconic historical sites await you and yours this fall, in Corolla. Find your way with the Corolla OBX Mobile App, available on the App Store and Google Play

The Currituck Beach Lighthouse

A beacon helping guide travelers for well over a century, the Currituck Beach Light towers over the Outer Banks landscape. Still serving to aid navigation its light can be seen for over 20 miles. For a small fee, visitors can climb the winding staircase for a wide-open view of both the Currituck Sound and the Atlantic Ocean.

Whalehead in Historic Corolla

In the heart of Historic Corolla, you’ll find the Whalehead Museum. This restored 1920s era Art Nouveau architectural masterpiece is an Outer Banks icon with an intriguing past that is steeped in the roaring ‘20s lifestyle of its original owners. Events are often held on the property, and tours are offered Monday through Friday.

The Currituck Maritime Museum

Located across the park from Whalehead, the new Currituck Maritime Museum tells the integral story of the history of wooden boats on the northern Outer Banks and their craftsmen through interactive exhibits and artifacts. Open Monday through Friday.

Find Your Way to Corolla, NC 877.287.7488 CorollaNC.com

Profiles in surfing passion and perseverance.

Photo: Daniel Pullen. Inspired by Tom Dugan.

HE SURFED HIS FIRST ATLANTIC SURFING FEDERATION HEAT AT FIVE. Joined the Eastern Surfing Association at six, and the National Scholastic Surfing Association at nine. By age 10, Will Deane was traveling the world, and competing in every ESA, NSSA and USA Surfing Prime contest he could get into. The very next year he was winning contests, qualifying for the US Championships, NSSA Nationals and ESA Easterns, and surfing his first pro events. Since then, he’s won four Primes, two Easterns titles and a highly prestigious NSSA National title.

Now only 14, Will’s probably won more heats than every Outer Banks professional surfer to precede him combined. And while he has miles to go before matching Jesse Hines’ photogenic success or Brett Barley’s heavy-water rep, Deane may end up being the bigger name. Because while those guys never really cared about winning — hell, they never really wanted to leave town long enough to do contests — Will surfs with one goal in mind:

“The WSL Championship Tour,” Will’s father Shawn deadpans. “That’s where he sees himself at some point. And he truly believes he’s gonna get there.”

And he’s not even pro yet. Or is he?

The world tour’s most sought-after shaper, Matt Biolos, is already kicking him boxes of …Lost boards. And each one gets stickered up from nose to tailpad with doting sponsors: SunBum, Everett Nautical, Oakley, Pro-Lite, Futures, Surf Ears, and — most notably, Quiksilver, who just inked him a three-year deal.

“There’s almost no line between professional and amateur anymore, because you can be a paid athlete and still surf amateur contests,” Shawn explains. “In fact, Quiksilver has significant bonus structures built in for national titles.”

Keeping all those bosses happy means a lot of time on the road. It might be comps in California or training missions to El Salvador, Nicaragua or Hawaii. Or it might just be surgical strikes Down South to surf all day.

Luckily, as a web development/strategist for digital marketing agencies, Shawn can work remotely. So, while Shawn and Will are hunting vid clips or sandbars, his mom Nikki holds down the fort at home and at Secret Spot Surf Shop, which she owns along with native ripper, Leanne Robinson.

What about school? The Deanes bent the rules as far as they could with the staff at Nags Head Elementary. But when chasing victories led to too many absences, they found Bridgeway Academy, an online private school with an NCAA-certified program that caters to higherlevel athletes aiming to compete in college and beyond.

“He’s an A-B student,” says Shawn. “And as he’s staying on track with his schoolwork, he can continue this path. But it’s not all about the academics and the physical aspects of his development. We also stress the importance of maintaining relationships, communicating with sponsors, and genuinely being a good person.”

Fair enough. Being a good surfer, though, is something his folks and teachers can’t really help with. That can only be achieved via the three T’s: talent, tutelage and technology.

“Will’s progression has come from video, but it’s not out of vanity,” Shawn says. “Every session, he goes through every clip, dissecting turns, watching in slow mo — it’s his main coaching tool.”

recognizes that just surfing well only gets any competitor so far.

“Talent is not enough,” says Asher, “The world stage is so gnarly. There are so many kids coming up from all over, and they’re hungry. So, if you wanna make it, you’ve gotta be able to do it all, in everything from knee-high Virginia Beach to 10-foot Hawaii. You’ve gotta surf through adversity, bring your best moments to heats, and want it more than the next surfer at all times. You’ve gotta live and breathe it.”

Luckily, Will’s been doing that since day one. His parents own a surf shop. He lives on a beach that’s never flat for too long and gets really good sometimes. He has a full-time coach, a brutally honest mentor who films all his waves, and a homeschool program that specializes in accommodating budding pro athletes like him.

In other words, if Will Deane doesn’t become the first Outer Banks surfer to make it onto the WSL World Tour, nobody should. Except, that same formula’s failed time and again, as the surf industry spotlight can also cause top prodigies to flame out. Or just give up.

“Some American kids are spoiled and complain about everything,” says Asher. “But Will’s not like that. He’s easy to be around and fun to travel with. He just wants to surf all the time.”

Shawn says Will’s competitive success also requires a human touch — mainly his coach Geoff Armstrong, who applies a calm head and cool insight to every stage of every event. Together, they read the ocean starting with the several days leading up to his first heat right down to the second Will steps in the water.

“I don’t think Will would’ve won the National or East Coast titles without that strategy,” says Shawn.

The final ingredient is a ubiquitous travel companion, Asher Nolan, a veritable surfing Swiss Army Man who’s filled nearly every conceivable role in the industry: pro surfer, surf team manager, surf photographer, surf coach…

“More of a mentor,” Asher interrupts. “I just teach Will life lessons, give him advice, and make him understand that, if he wants to be a pro surfer, there’s no handouts.”

Asher would know. As a former competitive standout, he helped forge the path that Will’s on today. He also helped coach the Team USA at this summer’s ISA World Juniors. So, Asher

Most importantly, he wants to do it in a jersey. While most groms are frothing over their next after school free surf, Will’s plotting sessions months in advance, stacking his calendar with major comps and serious training missions.

“I want to final at the Nationals and the USA Championships,” Will says, shyly. “Then go on a trip to work on my technique, surf some Junior Pros, and make some heats in the QS here at home. Next year, it’s a full push for the World Juniors.”

This July, Will knocked out one of those goals by taking second in his age group at the NSSA nationals. So, if all goes according to plan, it’ll just be bigger and better acronyms from here on out: QS (Qualifying Series), CS (Challenger Series), CT (Championship Tour) — in that order. Because that is the world order.

“The sky’s the limit for Will,” Asher asserts. “He’s got all the pieces needed to progress his surfing. And once he puts on a jersey, he gets real fiery. He’s a pretty intense competitor for such a quiet, little kid. But I think he really enjoys it; that’s Will’s time to let his surfing do the talking — and show everyone who he is.”

— Matt Pruett

“NEXT YEAR, IT’S A FULL PUSH FOR THE WORLD JUNIORS.”

EVERY STEP PATTI HOOK TAKES LEADS TO THE SEA. From posting up on the Jersey Shore full-time the second she graduated high school, to attending college within striking distance of the Outer Banks, to the career paths she chose after moving here during the heady, halcyon days of the early 90s. (At first, the ECU grad waited tables at night so she could spend all day chasing waves; now, the self-employed accountant schedules work around the weekly forecast.)

Even her competitive career — which includes pro and amateur wins from VB to PR — was always less about collecting trophies and more about stockpiling time in the water, especially after her son, Grant, was born.

“The Eastern Surfing Association events always had tons of families on the beach,” says the 55-year-old, two-time ESA East Coast Champ. “And there was always someone willing to watch him while I surfed.”

So, when you ask what prompted one of the Outer Banks’ most respected shortboarders to suddenly stop standing up, you can bet it was for the same reason.

“It’s simple: I’ve always needed to be in ocean,” Patti says. “Kneeboarding has allowed that to continue.”

The narrative is slightly more complex — and yet all too familiar. Any lifelong athlete knows they’ll have to sacrifice performance for longevity. For surfers, it’s a gradual transition toward floatier equipment that’s kinder to aging muscles and expanding waistlines, usually a longboard or a stand-up paddleboard. Fitness buffs like Patti? They can stay on shortboards well past 50. (Local shaper Lynn Shell still shreds six-foot shapes at the age of 67, and beloved legend Bob Holland actually rode a 7-footer into his 80s.)

But even the healthiest humans can’t outrace every ailment, as Patti discovered five years ago on a trip to the Galapagos.

“I was following this kid down the beach to a secret spot,” she recalls. “It was kind of a far walk, at the top heat of the day, and my right foot just started to drop. Over the next few months, it would start feeling weak when I surfed. People would be like, ‘Why are you limping? And I’d say, ‘I don’t know.’”

Doctors ultimately determined that the cause was multiple sclerosis. As the numbness

increased in her back leg, popping up to her feet became borderline impossible. She was faced with a decision: not just how to stay in the water, but how to stay stoked.

Then one day, the answer came to her from the man upstairs — or, more specifically, the man living in the apartment above her garage.

“I didn’t like the idea of Patti being condemned to a longboard,” says former tenant and veteran surf scribe, Matt Pruett. “Because Patti likes to rip. Patti likes to charge. She’s a shortboarder at heart. Then I went to Mexico while this was first going on, and I saw a group of older kneeboarders just totally destroying it like anyone would on a shortboard. It blew me away. And that’s when it hit me: ‘This is what’s gonna save Patti.’”

The second he got home, Pruett rang up local shaper, Dave Rohde. Then he asked Patti’s son, Grant Tyler, to kick in some bucks. Together, they gave Patti a stumpy 5’2” kneeboard. And after just one session, she wasn’t just saved she was inspired.

again with my full quiver!” laughs Patti. “But he’s probably right. I bet I’ve gotten more barreled in the five years since I’ve been kneeboarding than in my whole life standing up.”

She’s also regained her competitive fire. Last February, Patti headed to Huntington Beach, CA, to compete in the US Kneeboard Titles and came home the women’s champ. As the only East Coaster in the crew, she may have been the odd one out, but she also says her decades of surfing punchy, Outer Banks conditions is what set her apart.

“To be fair, there was only one other woman,” Patti laughs. “But I watched the other competitors, and they’re all more methodical and smooth because they’re all surfing pointbreaks. I don’t have that luxury; I like to smash it.”

That may help her again this September when she heads to Portugal for the Kneeboard Surfing World Titles, where she’ll represent Team USA against countries like South Africa and Australia, where kneeboarding culture runs deep. So what are her chances?

Patti began researching equipment and Googling pointbreaks. Most importantly, she began corresponding with the global kneeboarding community, emailing experts for tips on how to adapt. Ordering boards from the best in the world. And adjusting her waveriding approach to a lower center of gravity.

“Once I learned to drive with my hips and knees instead of my upper body, that changed everything,” she says. “But basically, I just transferred my surfing obsession to another vehicle. That’s why when people say things like, ‘Oh my God, you’re so strong,’ I say, ‘You don’t understand; it’s not because I’m strong. It’s because there is no other option. I’m never not gonna surf.”

If anything, she might just be surfing better than ever. In fact, just 18 months after getting that first board from Rohde, she and Pruett took a trip to his favorite Mexican points. The result?

“I watched her go vert on an eight-foot wall at [CENSORED]. Then saw her get barreled at inside [CENSORED],” says Pruett. “I’d say she rips harder on a kneeboard now than she did on a shortboard in her prime.”

“And he didn’t even see me when I went back

“You’re asking me, ‘Does Patti Hook have a shot?,’” laughs Pruett. “Absolutely. And if there’s something like a Women’s Over40 division, forget about it. She’ll smoke anybody.”

Patti’s a bit more reserved about her prospects in Portugal. Part of it’s modesty. And part of it’s the realities of her condition. Some days, just getting into a wetsuit takes extra oomph. Add cold water — or a bunch of adrenaline — and her leg can be even less responsive. So, her plan for now is to just stay warm and relaxed.

“Some sessions, when my body feels good, I feel like I’m gonna try and win,” she says. “Others, it’s like, ‘Screw it. Just go have fun meeting new people from around the world.’”

Actually, that’s the real reason Patti’s back in a contest jersey. Sure, the lifelong competitor loves to win. And she can’t wait to represent her country. But the real reward is the experience of surfing different breaks with a whole new perspective. Immersing herself in a culture that’s extra-tight, super fresh, and always stoked.

“Because here’s the other cool thing about kneeboarding,” she says. “The average age is like 55 to 60, and they’re all like me — they all still love surfing for the sake of surfing. Those are the people I want to be around.”

— Stu Nahan

“THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION.

I’M NEVER NOT GONNA SURF.”

Photo: Chris Bickford. Inspired by John Grissim.

CODY CRAIG LIKES TO CARVE HIS OWN SURFING PATH. HIS LATEST DEVIATION JUST MAY BE THE BRAVEST.

Photo: Daniel Pullen. Inspired by Bruce Brown.

SOMETIMES STAYING STOKED MEANS SWITCHING THINGS UP. Sometimes it means changing locations. And sometimes it means stopping altogether. At least for a little while. Such is the tale of Cody Craig.

Since last fall, the lifelong surfer’s been living in Asheville. Totally landlocked for the first time in his life. And that’s saying something for a third-generation Californian who first stood up at the age of two. Whose dad and uncle were both sponsored standouts in the 1960s. Whose grandfather pioneered San Onofre in the late 30s alongside surfing royalty like Dorian Paskowitz. A kid born so deeply into surfing that it wasn’t just a way of life — it was the only way.

“We’d go to visit our grandparents in Dana Point, and if you weren’t up at 6am, you missed your ride to San O,” laughs the Cayucos native. “And the rest of my family was real hard on each other. Especially my uncle and cousins. We’d call each other kooks for shuffling on your board or claiming a wave. It was almost military. But it kept our egos in check.”

That’s surfing everywhere. If it’s not some relative barking orders, it’s some older kid. That’s how groms learn the rules — and learn to stay humble. Both are important skills around the Central Cal’s more secret reefs, where the great white sharks aren’t half as scary as the local greybeards.

“Everyone wore black wetsuits,” Cody recalls. “If you had on any kind of color or a sticker on your board, it was like, ‘Who the f*&k are you!?’ And you couldn’t show any weakness, or they were on you like a pack of dogs. But we knew that we had to be tough if we wanted to come back.”

Cody went back. Again and again. In fact, he went harder. With time, he earned a rep for spinning on the most critical waves, and, later, pushing into larger tow-in and paddle-in days on the outer bombies.

Meanwhile, he was earning a bigger rep around California as a longboarding prodigy. At 14, he beat heroes like Robert “Wingnut” Weaver in a legendary classic-design event. At 16, his photos anchored a Pacific Longboarder feature on the Craig family. By his 20s, he was riding for Endless Summer’s Robert August and traveling the world, setting up for surfing’s traditional career path.

“My plan was always to become a company rep if my pro career didn’t take off,” Cody says. “Which I kind of knew it wouldn’t. [Laughs] But, until then, I was going to ride the sponsor wave as much as possible.”

He might be living in So Cal right now slinging trunks. But on a photo trip to Costa Rica he met his true love. A Rodanthe girl named Jaki. In 2008, he chased her east to raise a family and stumbled upon a surfing paradise. “I was kind of tripping out the first day it got good,” Cody says. “It was like the waves I drew on my notebook in school. In fact, it was a lot like the reef back home, where if you backdoored the barrel, you could get super deep and come out. So, I think growing up there groomed me for Hatteras.”

In more ways then one. Where some So Cal pros might have rolled in at full volume, dropping names and drawing attention, Cody

really old school logs — he does it all, and he does it better than almost anyone.”

Back home, the locals might have called him a kook for getting coverage. They might even have vibed him for getting too many good waves. But not here.

“Here, if you get a good wave, the respect level goes up,” Cody says. “It’s not like, say, Santa Cruz, where nobody hoots for anyone. People here are stoked for you. They live vicariously through you, and you’re doing the same. And I think that was always part of my problem: in California, I was surfing angry. Here, I’m surfing happy. That’s the difference right there.”

Today, Cody says he feels more at home Down South then he does out West. Which is ironic when you consider that, by the time you read this, he’ll have spent a year in Asheville. Because, while he was killing it in the water, his personal life was fixin’ to pearl.

“I was drinking too much, basically,” he says frankly. “I needed to come here and clean up my act for my kid’s sake and my own health; to reassess my life and find some balance.”

quietly surfed by himself — or at least down the beach. But you can only stay hidden on Hatteras for so long.

“I remember when he first landed,” says Real Watersports’ Trip Forman. “He was surfing a different peak, but I saw these airs going on, spray flying. He got a million good ones. Then the next time, it was more of a tube day. And he was literally — molecularly — one with the tube. It’s the only way I can describe it.”

With time, Cody earned a rep for being this mysto guy who paddled out, got drained — and then disappeared. Or, on small days, showed up on a log and rode the tip over the horizon. And while he never chased the spotlight, it somehow kept finding him. In 2019, a Buxton barrel bagged him O’Neill’s Wave of the Winter for the southern East Coast. In 2021, he linked up with water photog Cody Hammer on a winter cavern that earned an illustrious Red Bull Illume Image Award.

Both times, he was actively avoiding the crowd. And yet, Forman says Real ultimately decided to sponsor the world’s least attentionhungry surfer for one very good reason.

“Versatility,” says Forman. “Shortboards or fishes, mid-lengths or longboards — even

So, rather then come home after 90 days, he stayed put. At least until June, when he slipped back for the week. Rather than hop right in the water, he went straight to his family and did some much-appreciated “honey dos.” Two days later, he still hadn’t paddled out. In fact, he was worried that he’d totally lost it.

“I’m just gonna start out on a longboard, so I don’t kook too bad,” he grimaced.

Of course, Real’s Insta feed quickly filled with shots of Cody riding the nose with perfect grace and a massive grin. So, does he wish he was back? Did he make a mistake?

“It’s funny,” he says. “At first, I felt like I totally blew it. I was totally ashamed. But now, I’m proud of being in recovery. Nobody should feel weak for asking for help. It’s the exact opposite. You should feel empowered.”

Instead of bouncing around the ocean, he’ll hike trails in the mountains. Work some finedining — and work on himself. He’s definitely coming home eventually, but for now, he’s staying put. And he’s far from miserable.

“I actually think I’m more stoked than ever,” he laughs. “Isn’t that weird?”

— Matt Johnson

“HERE, I’M SURFING HAPPY. THAT’S THE DIFFERENCE.”

don’t drop in

clean up…

out

the

communicate.

turns

everyone! about everything!

surfers you don't know!

share the lineup. paddle wide.

the whole free world!

the pack to steal the next set!

SURFER KNOWS

FEELING...

THE FEELING...

It’s the best feeling in the world. And it’s entirely unique to surfing. It’s a mix of fear and exhilaration and awe —maybe coupled with adrenaline and just pure joy. Right here, though, that look on my face is mainly shock.

This wave came at the end of an 8-hour dreamsession. I was so tired I barely made the drop. Then the chandelier almost got me when I pulled in. But, somehow, I punched through. Suddenly, I was standing up in the biggest, roomiest barrel I’ve ever had at the Lighthouse.

I streaked past Joey [Crum] as the wave ran down the sandbar and stayed in it for a good while —long enough to think, “Oh my gosh, I’mgonna make it!”—but then it snipped me right at the end, and I had to belly out of it. [Laughs] Which is kind of a heartbreak; but it also made it more memorable. Because the ones that get away —those are the ones that haunt you. At the time, it all happens so fast you can’t think about anything except, “Don’t blow it.” But, later, you start to consider all it took to make this moment happen. How far that wave had to travel. The luck of being in just the right place at just the right moment. How many years of surfing it took to be able to handle it. And you realize it’s like experiencing a small miracle. Because no other phenomenon lets you travel inside a natural element like this. It’s so intimate, so rare. And it only lasts for maybe three seconds. But you never forget those tiny little fragments of time.” —Jesse Hines

PHOTO: MATT LUSK

“There’s nothing a good day of surfing won’t cure...

“If you don’t surf, don’t start...

“This is the sensation we all surf for...

And surfing is one of those sports that really binds people together. Because the experience is indescribable, except to another surfer. Some people you may only ever see in the water or in the parking lot —but it doesn’t matter. In those moments, you’re all best friends. In those moments, that’s your crew. So, when Avalon Pier gets good, the parking lot becomes the peanut gallery of all peanut galleries. It’s all laughs and smiles, and if you do something dumb, you know they’ll rag on you, and you’ll never hear the end of it.

But that’s basically half the fun of surfing. And what’s why I’ll always love this photo especially now that I have five kids and a million obligations —because I grew up with all these people. Some of themgave me tips when I was first starting. Some of themstill give me tips today. It’s like an older brother, older sister kind of relationship. It’s like family. Which is just such a sweet, sweet thing. Even now, they’ll rag on me. But it would be worse if they didn’t. Because your family members are always the ones who rag on you the most.” Brittany Duffy

PHOTO: CHRIS BICKFORD

“I guess ,as humans, we all crave connections...

FRIED CHICKEN & SPAGHETTI NIGHTS IN THE

I wanted to try surfing forever, but I was always intimidated. Then, in 2019, I lost my momto Alzheimer’s when she was still in her 50s. I started running everything through this filter of, ‘Will I be happy I did this at the end of my life?’ And though I’ve only been surfing for about a year, I’ve never regretted paddling out. Even when I’ve gotten in over my head.

To be honest, part what kept me away fromsurfing for so long was the ‘cool factor’ around it. Surf culture can be super jaded, and salty, and competitive. I wanted to create a space that was more fun and laidback. So, I decided to start a Girls Club. Every Thursday, we paddle out at the Lighthouse. And we all catch and ride waves. But we also do cannonballs. We have party waves. We cheer for each other. We act silly. Because it’s important to remember that surfing is supposed to be fun. [Laughs]

But there’s this whole other side of surfing that’s very empowering. Because it’s also really, really difficult. I had to work super hard just to not be horrible at it. And people can coach you and help you, but the first time you paddle into an open-faced wave and ride down the line —and then paddle back out and do it again and again it’s a complete personal victory. And that’s helped me to believe in myself in so many other ways. Now I just want to keep getting better. But no matter what, my mantra will always be ‘keep surfing silly.’ Because I never want to stop having fun.”

Brooke Rosell

PHOTO: DANIEL PULLEN

“Any time you pushyourself out of yourcomfort zone, it allows you to grow...

BY PIVOT

Because when you get a customsurfboard, you’re getting a one-of-a-kind piece of equipment, for a one-of-a-kind sport. That board is going to ride the way you want it to ride; it’s going to look the way you want it to look. The word ‘custom’ is exactly what it is: this surfboard is for you and for you alone. Try doing that with a football. [Laughs]

But it’s not just because of the shaper. Every board has to go through the glasser, the sander, the polisher. Maybe an airbrusher or pinliner. Each set of hands leaves their own

little piece of magic. That’s why boards all have their own unique little differences. Their own stories. Their own lives. Good or bad, you’ll never forget them. And when you get one you love, you’ll literally love it to death. And when you order a new one, it doesn’t matter what you ride —longboards, shortboards, fishes, whatever —when you pick it up, there’s no other joy like it. Because you know there’s nothing else like it anywhere on the planet.”

—Murray Ross

PHOTO: DICK MESEROLL

“Surfboards, to me, are the soul of what we do...

“When there’s waves, I run...

I run up the dunes to check it, then I run back to the car to suit up. Just putting on sunscreen feels like it takes two hours. Because waves are a limited resource. The next set might be firing —and then the wind could turn, or the swell dies, and it’s over. And you just don’t know when you’re gonna get it again.

That’s why I laugh at the slacker surfer stereotype. Because surfers work really hard —at least for waves. [Laughs] Even before a swell gets here, I’mglued to the forecast. I’mwatching every single buoy and wind update. I’mlooking at the tides. I’mdriving around scouting sandbars to figure out where might handle it or what to do if conditions change. So, by the time the swell arrives, I’mat the beach with a game plan before the sun comes up. And even though I’mhoping for the best, I’malways prepared for the worst. Because so many times, dawn breaks, and it looks nothing like the models predicted.

I guess it’s like planning the most epic surprise party —but you’re also the person you’re trying to surprise. [Laughs] You put in all this effort, and you want it to be so amazing, but you’re also nervous nobody’s going to show up. So when you come over the dune, and that image in your head lines up with what you’re seeing on the beach —or it’s even better —that’s what you surf for. And that’s where the excitement kicks in. It’s like, ‘It worked!’ Then you have to start running. Because you can’t get out there fast enough.”

Barley

Where you think it’s going to be horrible, and then you get out there, and it’s actually so fun. Because it doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to produce. And it only takes one good turn.

This afternoon at Nags Head Pier looked like total shit. It had been blowing hard onshore all day. The waves were all over the place. There were sets breaking way outside of us and way inside of us. And then there was this mid-bar where a few would reformand hit the same spot. So as soon as I took off and saw this wedge walling up down the line, I built up some speed and decided to let loose.

There’s this feeling you get when you do a good turn. I guess it’s like a mix between a golf swing and a judo chop. Because you know you’re ready to let out some anger on the wave, but there’s a couple of stages to it and you can mess it up at any stage. You can mistime the set-up or bog the rail or your fins slip out. But when you lay into it, and the fins and rail engage and the board wraps through the section with tons of speed, it’s a total release. You can see it in the spray. Actually, you see it even better in my face because my tongue’s totally hanging out. [Laughs] It’s like, ‘Yeah, I was real focused on that one.’”—Max Lingg

JON CARTER

You get amped up beforehand, then you’re absorbed in the actual act, and then as you come out of a session, there’s the afterglow period.

“There’s almost three stages surfing...of

It’s a feeling that’s euphoric and relaxed, like post massage. And the saltwater’s restorative, too —that’s why we live here, right?

So, it’s a definite high. And once you’ve been catching waves in the water all day, you’re sunburnt, you’re happy. Everyone feels refreshed and rejuvenated. Endorphins are flowing. It doesn’t even have to be you on the wave. If your friend catches a wave, you’re all stoked. And that electricity kind of spreads. Like going to a concert where everyone has a great time together and you all share something special, but in your own unique way. So, it’s not just a high —it’s like a contact high that connects everyone.” —Kelly Kenny

PHOTO: KATIE SLATER

gofish

goskim

HOOKED ON MAGNETS

The first thing to know about magnet fishing is that there are no metallic critters swimming around. (Or, if there are, nobody’s caught one yet.) Otherwise, it’s a lot like regular fishing: throw a line in the water and hopefully you’ll pull in something memorable.

“My very first toss, I got a walkie talkie,” says magnet angler, Matt Aaron. “That was one of the best finds in two years of doing this.”

Aaron’s been hooked ever since. So much so that he enlisted his buddy, Charlie Swanner. Together, the two have chucked magnets — and removed metal — all along our shallow sound waters, from Kitty Hawk to Colington.

“We found a rusty anchor once,” says Charlie. “There’s always some crazy junk in the water. Sort of like the closest thing to treasure hunting we have around here.”

On this sunny Saturday, the duo are testing new waters inside Sandy Run Park. Neither has a rod or a reel — just a long, braided rope with a magnet attached to the end. (Plus a cooler for water and a five-gallon bucket to hold their “catch.”)

They wrap the rope around their waists to keep from losing it altogether, then let it fly and watch it sink. There’s no sudden tug or the setting of a hook. Once it hits bottom, they start pulling, hoping they’ll attract something unique, which in magnet fishing can be anything from historical artifacts to a boat motor.

But as any angler will tell you, the catch of a lifetime only happens so often. On this occasion, they only bring in small stuff — some fishhooks, a bobber and the lid from a Grizzly snuff tin. The difference with magnet fishing, though, is you never throw anything back. In fact, part of the fun is cleaning up the water.

“There’s a lot of dangerous metals out there and that’s bad for the water table,” says Charlie. “Even if it’s just little scrap pieces of metal, it’s just good to get that out of there.”

The history of magnet fishing is about as murky as its aquatic environment.

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One man’s trash is another man’s trout. Swanner and Aaron put the real “junk” in fishing junkies.

Photo: Ryan Moser

Wikipedia says it started when a guy dropped his car keys over the side of a boat. But check out The Ultimate Magnet Fishing Guide: Everything You Need to Know, and the history gets pushed way back to the Middle Ages when lords would lower lodestones into lakes and ponds in search of metal objects.

Despite Wikipedia’s predictably dubious assertion, the lords and lodestones story actually holds water. In many European countries, the use of iron reaches back about 3200 years. That’s a lot of time for lakes and rivers to fill with all types of ferrum. Following WWII, the pastime got considerably riskier, thanks to the untold number of unexploded munitions.

Even here in the US, weapons are popular finds.

Back in February, a Florida grandfather and his grandson hauled in two high-powered sniper rifles wrapped in shrink-wrap.

On the Outer Banks, you’re more likely to find a musket ball. Or maybe a bullet shell.

But that’s not what got Aaron fired up on magnet fishing — instead, it was a YouTube video channel called Outdoors Weekly.

“I just started watching the guy having fun out there [on the water],” says Aaron. “And it’s pretty affordable. My first setup all together, with the rope, the grappling hook and the magnet, was like 65 bucks.”

The magnets aren’t the same as your school science projects. They’re made from Neodymium — a so-called “rare earth metal.” (It’s actually quite abundant.)

Mix it with iron and boron and you get a permanent, powerful magnet that can withstand pulls up from around 500 pounds — usually for kids — to over 4000 pounds.

Aaron and Swanner have two: a 1000-pound pull magnet and a doublesided 800-pounder. And as they learned the first time they went out, the larger the magnet, the bigger the haul.

“We got ours stuck to the guardrail of the bridge,” laughs Swanner.

Which begs a sticky logistical question: what do you do when you hook up on something like that?

“What you do is you wrap your hand around the rope,” Aaron explains, “then pull straight back to pop it off.”

They also keep a grappling hook on hand for really big finds — like when the magnet accidentally snagged an aluminum ladder. Then there was the bike they pulled out of the water near a popular diving hole in Colington. That one really concerned them.

“We waited for these kids to clear out,” says Charlie. “And then we went right behind them and found a whole bicycle covered in barnacles that they were jumping right near.”

Still, Aaron and Swanner say most local spots are surprisingly clean. But while that may be good news for swimmers, it’s bad news for magnet fishers. So, they’re already planning trips to more fruitful waters.

“We’re trying to start branching out and going to Elizabeth City and surrounding areas,” says Aaron. “Because, for sure their water is dirtier than the Outer Banks.”

In the meantime, they’ll keep working nearby honey holes in hopes of hauling up 100-pound trophies — while pulling in schools of silvery shards. Big or small, each piece of metal they remove makes the water a little safer. But it’s not a totally selfless act. They get the peaceful days on the sound. And like anyone who loves fishing, what they really want to do is land the big one.

“The main thing I want to find,” Swanner smirks, “is a safe.” — Kip Tabb

THE DIFFERENCE WITH MAGNET FISHING IS YOU NEVER THROW ANYTHING BACK.

fooddrink

HATTERAS GRINDS

WAVES MARKET AND DELI

This one-stop shop is a must after an epic morning chasing waves. Not only are the sandwiches massively huge, the whole place overflows with a funky vibe — much like their painted menu of signs describing colorful, creative hot and cold sandwiches. Lookin’ for a Cuban with swagger? Say hello to the “Tony Montana.” A cheesy roast beef? Let the “Ron Swanson” tickle your mustache. Some extra cool flavor? Try the “Zack Morris” chicken salad. Strictly vegetarian? The “Cosmic Charlie” wrap is nothing but hummus and greenery.

And we haven’t even brought up their bangin’ burritos.

“Actually, the Wake and Bake is our top seller,” says Heather Roxanne, who runs the business with her husband Graham Hunt.

“It’s a breakfast burrito with bacon, sausage, eggs, potatoes. Folks love it!”

Add sides like hand-cut fries — and specials like leg of lamb and smoked pork shanks with kimchi — and it’s no wonder the secret’s out on this tasty favorite, making it a go-to for a booming number of daily workers and year-rounders alike. So, if you arrive at peak hours — between 11am and 1pm — be ready to line up.

The dawn is just beginning to crest over the horizon. The blues and grays melt away through the windshield as you blaze over the bridge, running on nothing but hot coffee, adrenaline and anticipation for the morning’s surf pilgrimage. Somewhere ’round Rodanthe, you stop to check a sneaky sandbar. One firing set gets you out of the car and into the water. Only a couple hours later does it hit you: “I never ate breakfast!”

ISLAND CONVENIENCE

Without a doubt, there is one place that has been on everyone’s foodie hit list for decades: Island Convenience, aka “Marilyn’s Deli” aka “Mac’s.” Once run by the infamous Mac Midgett, Rodanthe’s combo of gas station and food counter remains the OG spot for the year-round surfing community, because at one point it was literally the only option once the offseason hit.

fresh veggies. (Not to mention cold beer for that sunset celebration.) But follow your nose toward the griddle waiting in back, and you’ll find out where all the flavor lies.

“We have gotten so much busier over the years with all of the development going on,” says Roxanne. “But it’s also the reason we are able to stay open year-round.”

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That’s the thing about surfing: sometimes you get so hungry for waves, you forget about feeding your body. Luckily, a whole range of eating establishments has risen up around the Tri-Villages. And while they may seem designed to refuel surfers between sessions, they’ll still deliver breakfast, lunch and dinner for anyone who gets caught empty handed — or empty stomached — on a day trip Down South.

“We’ve been in business since 1982,” says Mira Caldwell. “My grandparents, Mac and Marilyn, started it, and it is still run by our family today. We have definitely served a lot of people over the years.”

This surfing gourmand’s gas-up-and-go stop still stays open seven days a week. Even on a frozen February afternoon, you can stock up on boiled peanuts, hot dogs, and a variety of other grocery items, including

Starting at 7am, they’ll serve up a full range of breakfast options, filling the heated glass with steaming fare, like tasty biscuits with combos of pepper bacon and eggs, sausage and hash browns. By noon, they’re on to lunch favorites like burgers and chick filet sammies.

But whether you decide to go with the pork chop biscuit, a fried chicken basket, or one of the daily specials — crispy fried bluefish and fries sound good? — there’s no way to go wrong. Unless you get there too late.

“Breakfast ends at 11am. And we close the counter at 2pm sharp.”

Luckily, fun tunes and specialty sodas are always flowing while you wait. Maybe play a game of vintage pinball or peruse their selection of ice-cold six-packs. Even better, phone in your order the second you get out of the water. Take time to go scout a few sandbars, walk in, and they’ll have a “Kelly Kapowski” waiting to ring your bell.

TAQUERIA LAS AHUMADERAS

Perhaps a day consuming spicy cylinders has you craving something a little more fiery? Pull into the parking lot next to Neptune’s Kitchen, and you’ll find the Taqueria Las Ahumaderas food truck. This mobile Mexican cocina is so authentic a single bite sends you south of the border.

Beef up your volume between sessions with Waves Deli’s “Ron Swanson.” Photo: Flipper Dugan

We can’t tell you where to get tubed in the Tri-Villages — but we can certainly tell you where to get stuffed.

“Our dad started to teach our brother how to cook at the age of 10 back in Mexico,” says co-owner Alejandra Ramirez.

Now, Ramirez, her mom, sister, and brother all carry on the family tradition. For the past seven years, they’ve been serving their homemade plates through a sliding window with a big smile. So, what gets the biggest smiles back?

“Everybody loves the burritos, quesadillas and tacos,” Ramirez says, “And definitely the homemade guacamole.”

But why stop there? Daily specials, like shrimp Gorditas, make tasty work of local seafood.

And the torta is so huge you’ll need dos manos to eat it (or take half home for dinner). And for those with real bravado, take a crack at something bold, like the beef tongue tacos.

No matter the choice, it’s all 100 percent legit. So, whether you’re enjoying one of the zippy salsas or a perfectly simple taco laced with onion, cilantro and radish, this truck is always worth a pit stop.

LISA’S PIZZERIA

When it comes to crushing hunger pangs, nothing beats tacos — except maybe pizza. Which explains why this Hatteras tradition’s been a staple in the restaurant lineup for nearly four decades. Even better, the past few years they’ve been pushing their offseason hours further and further into fall.

“It all depends on how much our staff gets their ass kicked during the summer,” laughs owner Briggs McEwan. “We always try to make it to Thanksgiving — but Halloween for sure.”

Of course, that’s the peak season for waves as well, making Lisa’s the perfect place to pull up a bar stool after a hollow-wave holiday, carve up your favorite pie, from classic meat and veggies combos to pesto and chicken to BBQ with pulled pork.

Craving something Italian besides slices? There’s always calzones and chicken parm subs or a bubbling dish of lasagna with garlic bread. Didn’t burn that many calories? Try a salad or wrap. Just feeling thirsty? Sip any one of nine draft beers or enjoy a glass of wine — all while you check the surf report through a link on their website. And for those staying on the island, Lisa’s will deliver between 4 and 9pm to homes, businesses or campsites “anywhere in the Tri,” for when you’re so surfed out you can’t move a muscle.

WATERMAN’S BAR AND GRILL

Want a fine cocktail while wrapping up an epic day? Perhaps some panoramic views while you kick your feet up? Waterman’s Bar and Grill in Waves, just south of the Ocean Waves Campground, has a little something to fulfill every craving.

Waterman’s has been churning out good times for the last ten years and it’s easy to see why. Located right on the sound with outdoor dining, you can pop in for a wrap and an espresso and continue with your adventure, or you can drop anchor and recap the day, sipping a “pain killer” as the sun sets over the Pamlico.

But the big draw is a menu that runs the gamut of flavors, offering everything from inventive, marine cuisine (seafood guactail) to land-lubbing sure bets (herb encrusted prime rib) to something in between.

“I highly recommend Tuna or Mahi fajitas with a side of coleslaw,” says co-founder Trip Forman with a hearty smile. “They are so good!”

Still not satisfied? Take a few minutes to go fondle the hundreds of surfboards in stock at the neighboring Real Watersports. Take one to go and you’ll spend the rest of the year getting stuffed. — Fran Marler

YOU GET SO HUNGRY FOR WAVES, YOU FORGET ABOUT FEEDING YOUR BODY.

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HEART OF GLASS

Every surfboard gets finished with a coat of a shiny fiberglass. As the resin pours over the flat surface, it oozes slowly, hypnotically, toward the rails and downward, where it collects in a drip tray below. So it goes with each successive board. In time, what started out as a lava-like substance dries into crystalline layers, leaving a fiberglass fossil record of hard candy colors. Its fate? Usually the landfill. But artist Mark Slagle saw in the cast-off material the potential for still more transformation.

“All of us have to fix surfboards from time to time, out of necessity,” says Slagle, an affable and avid local surfer. “I decided I wanted to make jewelry out of some of the materials. So, one winter I locked myself downstairs in my spare time and just worked on it.”

He emerged from his home studio with “Surfglass.” Instead of gathering beach glass or rocks, he collects dried resin slabs from local shapers. He then cuts, sands, and polishes each nugget of resin by hand,

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creating one-of-a-kind pieces of wearable art, many of them pendants on sterling silver chains. Each captivating cross-section is as unique as its sedimentary layers, a tangible connection to a surfing lifestyle or a souvenir from an amazing vacation spent on the Outer Banks.

“Two years ago, the girls were getting custom pastel longboards in these beautiful colors,” he says. “I called those my ‘colors of summer.’”

They’re also just visually fun and playful.

One might say feelgood. But then Slagle’s an artist who speaks from the heart. In fact, it all started with a heart-shaped beach find.

“I was always praying about it, that I’d like to make something with my hands that I could sell, maybe something with driftwood, something from the ocean,” he remembers.

“And then I found a heart-shaped piece of sea glass. I wrapped it in wire and gave it to my wife Cyndi for Valentine’s Day.”

The next month, Slagle gave another sea glass necklace to his mom for her birthday. Then, some of the women at his church took interest. When local shops started to carry his work, he decided it was time to take the next step. So, in 2018, he enrolled in COA’s Professional Crafts Jewelry program to hone his craft, studying under renowned studio jeweler, metalsmith, and enamelist Kathryn Osgood. When he graduated last year, he emerged with an extra set of skills: how to create a cohesive collection to appeal to his customers. Today, you’ll find other ocean-

IT’S THE CLOSEST THING TO SCOOPING UP A HANDFUL OF SEA, SKY, AND SHELL BED.

inspired jewelry underneath his tent at shows and stocked in shops and galleries from Corolla to Ocracoke.

His line of Surfwood jewelry combines smooth driftwood with bright blue resin, shaped and sanded by hand, oiled to bring out the grain and polished to perfection. It’s the closest thing to being able to scoop up a handful of sea, sky, and shell bed to take with you from a trip to the beach.

He has also recently introduced what he calls Sea Spray art into his collection, integrating resin and acrylics to create pendants, charms and earrings that evoke seafoam and breaking waves.

Now, the former landscaper, musician and co-founder of Surfing for Autism is able to pursue his profession as a jewelry artist fulltime.

Still, according to Slagle, he couldn’t do any of it without the support of his family. His wife Cyndi is his best critic and biggest cheerleader. His son Jake gives him encouragement and ideas for his social media presence. And his faithful yellow lab, Rusty Banjo, rides shotgun in the golf cart around town, providing constant companionship.

““I could never get to where I’m at or achieve my goals without my family and the good Lord giving me the gift to do what I do,” Slagle says, with fair warning that he may tear up. “Sometimes I look back, and I’m like, ‘What made me want to pick up pieces of surfboard and start making jewelry?’”

He asks the question with a sense of wonderment, beaming a contagious smile.

Call it divine inspiration, creative problem solving, or the inherent Outer Banks urge to salvage. Mark Slagle’s work embodies all of it. And his wearable art leaves others feeling the love.

“When people buy a piece of jewelry, it brings back memories of whatever it is that makes them happy,” he says. “And people are just stoked to be on the Outer Banks.”

— Hannah West

Mark Slagle converts a lifetime of Outer Banks love into stunning jewelry.

Three breezy pieces.

Photo: Cory Godwin

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ROCK ’N’ ROLL ANIMAL

Sheryl Fleck’s seen about a million good shows — and not a single bad one.

LOVE LIVE MUSIC? Chances are you’ve bumped elbows with Sheryl Fleck. She was bobbing to Steel Pulse at Festival Park — and moshing with the Dwarves and the Queers up in VB. Grooving to the Old Sadler Band at Jack Brown’s — and rocking to the Simps behind the Brew Pub. And that’s just since April. Add up all the concerts this rocker’s absorbed in her 61 years, and she’s probably seen — what? A thousand shows. Two thousand?

“Oh, God only knows,” Fleck laughs. “I can’t keep track of the concerts I’ve seen this year, let alone in my life. I just love music. Any kind of music. It’s good for your soul and your spirit. It just goes through you.”

No wonder her Instagram feed (@sherylfleck13) plays like a DIY version of MTV’s glory days — “all music all the time” — where the vids cover every style, from classic rock to reggae, the smallest local dive bar to the biggest touring act. But then what do you expect from a Jersey girl who grew up a stone’s throw from the Stone Pony? We figured we’d ask the Outer Banks’ number one music fan what got her stoked on live music — and what local shows you should never miss.

MILEPOST: What got you into live music?

SHERYL FLECK: Probably my uncle. We used to steal his albums and play them when he was at work, and he’d come home and chase us around the house. He didn’t want us ruining his records. [Laughs] And later, when I was a kid, we were too young to get into clubs, but we’d walk up the boardwalk and listen outside of Convention Hall. I remember hearing George Thorogood and Edgar Winter. Springsteen used to show up every Saturday night and play with this local band called the Cats. But my first big concert was at JFK in Philly. It was Jeff Beck, J. Geils, Lynyrd Skynrd, and Peter Frampton. I bugged my parents to get me tickets for my birthday. I was 14 or 15.

That’s a weird mix. But you have pretty eclectic tastes, right? Yeah. But everyone walked out on Frampton. He came out about five minutes after Skynyrd left the stage and opened up with “I’m In You” — which is the slowest song to play after all that that foot-stompin’. The whole place was like “Screw this!” [laughs] But, yeah, I pretty much love it all.

What was the first concert you saw when you came down here? I don’t know. When I moved here in 1995, I worked at the Fish House, so I met all the bands. But I’m sure it was either Manday Huge or Fujiwara. I guess my heart’s kind of punk.

What’s cool is you can still see Manday.

Yeah, I remember the year they got back together to play Boozeapalooza at McHorney’s with Splatterblast and a bunch of other old school bands. I was supposed to go to Carolina Rebellion out in Charlotte that same weekend. When I found out about Manday, I said,

“Screw Charlotte.” But one of the main reasons I wanted to go was because Pennywise was playing. Well, it turned out, that week before, Pennywise was playing three albums, three nights in a row, up at Peabody’s in VB. So, I went to those, instead.

That’s punk rock, right?

That’s right! Plus, I’d rather see them in a club than with 20,000 people. Any show, I have to be up front. I have to get that live music fix, the sound just going through the amps and all — that electricity. Plus, I’m too short to see over all the people. [Laughs] So, any show, look for me, I’m on the rail.

Do you get there super early?

Oh no. I just plow my way through. Maybe it was all those years working in clubs up in Jersey and learning how to navigate the crowd, but I always get up there. I just go.

So, who are your favorite Outer Banks bands?

It’s hard for me to pick a favorite because I love them equally. It’s like, I don’t have a favorite band — I have lots of bands that are favorites. Does that make sense?

Yeah. Especially if they’re really good players. And we have a lot of good players. Oh my god, we are so fortunate with all the good musicians we have on this beach. What kind of kills me is that we lost a lot of the old venues. Like Port O’Call, Kelly’s, Atlantis, the Carolinian. Even Chilli Peppers used to have live music every Tuesday. But you had to watch out, because the bathrooms had these shower curtains separating the stalls and some drunk girl could fall in your lap. [Laughs] Those were the days. But now, other places are stepping

Of course she’s got a bad motor scooter.

Photo: Ed Tupper

up to fill the void, like Avalon Pier and Jack Brown’s. And I’m so excited they’re finally utilizing Festival Park. It’s such a great venue.

We almost have more music than we can see. The other night, you had Stick Figure at Festival Park. And then at the Tap Shack, you had… Stanley Jordan! I was so upset. Why schedule two amazing shows on the same night?! It’s like, I wish I could split myself in two. But I do my best. I saw all three shows in Manteo this week; and I’m going to see three shows tonight![Laughs]

So, who are your favorite young buck bands coming up? Well, like I said, they’re all my favorites. But Hot Sauce are all amazing, and they’re really young kids. They’re maybe 21, but they play such good, old school rock, like Hendrix. And there’s this band VSTLTY out of Greenville that blows me away. Zack Mexico have been around for ten years now, but they’re still young bucks to me. And then, at the other end of the age spectrum, you’ve got Trick Fly — they’re all my age. Actually, their lead singer, BJ, [McAvoy] was my first lawyer! [Laughs]

Well, let’s say someone’s reading this who’s down for the week. What show shouldn’t they miss?

I don’t know. I really miss Harrison & Wentz Presents… But all those Hound Dogs/Yacht Dogs projects are so good. I remember they were playing the Brew Station when Bumpin’ Uglies and Fortunate Youth came through town. They’re from out in Cali. And the lead singer and manager were hanging in the backyard that night before their show, and they were going on and on about how talented that group of guys is.

They’re not just talented. They’re gifted. Because they can play anything. And what blows me away is the group of songs they come up with. Good classics, but they’re not all played out. They’ll be playing a Bob Dylan song, but it’s not “Rainy Day Woman” or something you hear on the radio all the time. It’s a great song that you kind of almost forgot about, because it’s little obscure. Every time they do that, it blows my mind away.

Do you play in a band? Or play any instruments? No. I wish I did. I played clarinet for a minute in maybe 5th grade. And I was in the parade once. And I can play a little bit on the piano. But I was never really musically inclined other than being an avid… what would you say? Fan?

I don’t know. What would you say?

A fan, I guess? Music lover?

There’s a question: have you ever met anyone who loves live music more than you?

I don’t know. I think everyone loves live music to an extent. Maybe I’m just a little obsessed with it, but it just brings me such joy and release. It takes away my anxieties. It just soothes the soul.

Does anything else make you as happy?

Other things make me happy. Like my kids and grandkids. But music just invigorates me. I could sleep eight hours and go to work at 6am and be totally dragging. Or I can go to a show, and have two hours of sleep, and be totally energized. And people will say, “How do you do it?!” Well, that’s how I do it! [laughs]

Have you ever seen a bad concert?

No. Not really. I can’t remember seeing a bad concert. Or if it was, I’m sure I made the best of it. [Laughs] — Leo Gibson

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I don’t have a quiver. I have a harem.

Twenty-two perfect, painted ladies. A Sultan’s selection of curves and points and hips and tails, all carved from alabaster polyester, then carefully handpicked for my own personal pleasure. In return, they pass their days wrapped in the finest cloth, caressed like precious glass, worshipped as princesses.

A select few I see every day. The others often wait years for their time in the sun. But no matter our time together, each one remains priceless, shaped more of favorite memories than foam, making even the most overlooked beauty almost impossible to live without.

That is why very few will ever escape. And if I do decide to pass along one of my prize jewels, I choose carefully. A new master must prove worthy. They must worship her every nuance. For I’d rather see the most battered bride ride my walls for eternity than go unappreciated — unloved.

A quiver? A quiver is a tool of warfare, something you empty with pointed rage, relentlessly spending each arrow to punish some enemy — then refill with a dozen more.

A harem you consciously piece together over a course of years and decades, sharing alltime sessions and passions until you are one. A harem, you hold onto. For life.

— Stu Nahan

Board: Murray Ross Glass: Rascoe Hunt

THEY PASS THEIR DAYS WRAPPED IN THE FINEST CLOTH.

Participating

Beth Burns (Fiber)

Inger Seitz (Fiber)

Sandy West (Fiber)

Fred Vallade (Clay)

Kathleen Redman (Clay)

Terry & Esi Ostovar (Clay)

Jim & Shirl Parmentier (Clay)

Marcia Cline (Painting)

Jefferson Glover (Painting)

Carol Meese (Painting)

James Melvin (Painting)

Holly Nettles (Painting)

Kinga Rojek (Painting)

Margie Sawyer (Painting)

Rick Tupper (Painting)

Taylor Williams (Painting)

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Latin Ballet of Virginia

Flight High School

Veterans Drive

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Stoked on fall festivals? Live music? Living history? Straight-up ragers? Then you’ll be frothing for this season’s clean-up set of events, starting with the final two stops of VUSIC OBX’s Summer Concert Series at Roanoke Island Festival Park. On Aug. 26, it’s the So Cal reggae styles of Slightly Stoopid (with Pepper, Common Kings and the Elovaters) followed by the searing guitar rock of Gov’t Mule and blistering brass of Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue on Aug. 28. Score deets and tix at www.vusicobx.com. • Make your “I dos” the most rockin’ day ever when OBX Wedding Fest returns to Keeper’s Galley in Nags Head on Aug. 28. From 10:30am-3:30pm, jam nuptial ideas with a polished ensemble of professional hit-makers like Cake Baker, Master Caterer & the Palate Pleasers, FotosNFocus, and Not Your Average Wedding Band… But, seriously, find all the legitimate deets and full liner notes of actual participants at www.obxwa.com. • Then say “yes” to the surf fest, when the WRV Outer Banks Pro transforms Jennette’s Pier’s southside sandbar into a 5-day beach party. From Aug. 31-Sept. 4, this Labor Day Weekend tradition sees daily heats with world-class talents whenever the waves are firing — and world-class parties with Pacifico at local watering holes nearly every damn night. Heat schedules and live action at www.wrvobxpro.com. • Don’t get caught weaving on the bypass — unless you’re taking a recycled textiles class with Endless Possibilities at the Hotline Too in Nags Head. Every Thurs. at 1pm, instructors show you how to turn donated fibers into dazzling fabrics. Just call 252-441-1244 to schedule your lesson. $25. All proceeds benefit the Outer Banks Hotline Crisis Intervention and Prevention Center. • Or Make Your Own Rag Doll at Island Farm. Every Fri. in Sept. from 9:30-10:30am, the historic interpreters add this centuries-old craft-making tradition to the list of self-guided house tours, cooking demonstrations, farm animals, and other depictions of 1850s life on Roanoke Island. Free with the cost of admission. Head to www.obcinc.org for the latest, plus updates on other seasonal mini programs that cover blacksmithing, hearth cooking, traditional crafts, and more. • The inside of Roanoke Island Festival Park gets a fresh coat of creativity when COA’s Creatures of Comfort Art Exhibit hangs through Sept. 24. The show is created by fine art students under the direction of professor Christina Weisner, who encourages each entrant to push their respective boundaries and create bold new works. Discover the finer details on this free show at www.roanokeisland.com • Late shopping, live music and smiling faces make Downtown Manteo’s First Friday a happy medium for all ages on Sept. 2. Plus, step into the Dare Arts Courtroom Gallery to see Awaiting Further Transformation, the latest mixed media exhibit by Suzanne Scott Constantine and Lynne Scott Constantine (hangs through Sept. 17), with an opening reception for Hatteras Island painter Joseph Caroppoli at 6:30pm. (Hangs through Oct.1). Learn more at www.darearts.org. • Rather paint your own masterpiece? Try one of Catherine Hamill’s Artist Workshops, covering Land/Marsh/ Lighthouses (Sept. 3); Birds (Sept. 10); Sand Dunes (Sept. 17); and Bring Your Own Still Life (Sept. 24.)

Complete deets at www.DareArts.org/ workshops. • Two weekly programs stand ready to provide help for local families dealing with dementia. Starting Sept. 3, GEM’s Saturday Harmony Café offers support and caring methods for patients, their care partners, and relatives. (11am-2pm; more info at www.gemdayservices.org.) And every Mon., the Outer Banks Dementia Friendly Coalition’s Caregiver Day Out entertains qualifying seniors with hands-on activities so primary caregivers can run necessary errands or just take a breather. 9:30am-1pm. To

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Black-necked stilts are among the Pea Island Bird Walk’s Friday sights.

Photo: Becky Harrison/USFWS

apply or ask questions, call 252-489-9508. Learn more at www.outerbanksdementiafriendlycoalition.com worries flutter away on colorful wings when Gardens hosts Butterfly House Releases

Sept. at 10:30am & 1:30pm and Fri., Sept 2, 9 and 16 at 11am. $25 includes a keepsake certificate, a handheld butterfly feeder, and entry to the gardens. Pre-registration required. Find full deets at www.elizabethangardens.org. your sorrows in sweat and suds, Sept. 4, when the Banks Brewing Station team up for another Check-in behind the pub from 10-11am, then get to chugging! Costume prizes for the finest show of holiday spirit. (More at www.obxrunning.com.) Then keep rocking in the free world with a monthly barrage of live shows by and Of Good Nature & Mishka (Sept. 29.) (Get covers and tix at www.obbrewing.com.) And the Brew Pub’s free, 5:30pm backyard boogies continue through mid-Sept with the Yacht Dogs playing every Thurs., while Devin Frazier jazz up select Sat. evenings. (Except Sept. 3, when down the stage.) • Every evening, from Wed. to Sat., is a chance to tune up those legs — and beef up your gray matter — on the Let local guides Rex Etheridge and Greg Smrdl with adventurers from pilgrims to pirates to aviation pioneers. Leaves Co. at 6pm; step over to www.manteowalkingtour.com for more. wordsmiths read epic tales — or spin a few yarns of your own — when Night meets at Glenn Eure’s Ghost Fleet Gallery all genres to read and give feedback in an open, supportive setting, every second Thurs., 6:30-8:30pm. Updates at www.darearts.org by Sept. 17 if you want to consume their glossary of green produce, handmade crafts and organic goods. 9-1pm. Delicious deets at and artisan-made items, like home baked bread, sweet preserves, organic meat, and more at Wanchese’s Secotan Market every single Sat. all the way to 8am-12pm; 9am-12pm starting in Oct.) Find more tasty morsels at • Wanna grow your own? Not sure how? through Nov. Just bring your questions, samples, and photos to the 9-11am. (Weather permitting.) • Cross paths with cool critters every Sat. through the offseason, when Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge’s Open Air Tram restart Sept. 3; 9-11am. ($10; call 252-216-9464 to secure your seat.) And find out if “to every season there is a tern” when the Bird Walk every Fri. from 9-9:30am. (No reservations needed or taken.) bridge, the Town of Duck Nature on the Boardwalk bona fide biologist on TBD dates. (Head to www.townofduck.com to register your spot.) Or see the outdoors from the safety of inside Exhibit lines the walls with landscapes through Oct. 27. Mon.-Fri., 9-4:30pm. (Excluding holidays). • The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum’s Salty Dawgs Speaker Series delivers deep, nautical knowledge every Tues. in Sept. at 11 am. On Sept. 6, local diver Marc Corbett reveals Shore Wrecks of the Outer Banks prof. Nathan Richards follow the story of Confederation to a Carolina Shipwreck Coquetta Brooks present Freedmen, Surfmen, Heroes: Keeper Etheridge and the Pea Island Lifesavers; and Sept. 27 brings back Banks Shipwreck Diving. And every day’s a chance to see favorite artifacts and exhibits, including the Facebook Followers Juried Photography Exhibit Drumbeat, which documents German U-boat attacks on merchant ships during More at www.graveyardoftheatlantic.com unfathomably creative finds when The OBX Arts & Craft Festival 10am-5pm, this free exhibit of 25 local artists features painting, pottery, jewelry, photography, glass, fiber arts, collage, wood, and more — plus a portion of artists’ fees

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benefit two local charities: Network for Endangered Sea Turtles and Beach Food Pantry See Facebook for a list of participants. • Then swim your way down to Hatteras Village for Sept. 8-10’s 2022 Invitational Surf Fishing Tournament, where 6-person teams battle for catches and bragging rights. Interested in fielding a team for the 37th annual event? Email hatterassurffishing@yahoo.com to see if you can hook a spot. • The sky over Jockey’s Ridge feels like a fluttering seascape, Sept. 9-11, thanks to Kitty Hawk Kites’ Outer Banks Kite Festival. From 10am-4pm, watch slippery stunt designs dart between 100-foot floating, fabric sea creatures, all while families enjoy free kite lessons, world-class pilots, and synchronized performances. Full itinerary at www.kittyhawk. com • Sept. 10 is also Girl Scouts Love State Parks Day at Jockey’s Ridge. Not only will participants enjoy the kite show, they’ll also take soundside canoe adventures while working on a Jockey’s Ridge Jr. Ranger patch. Spots are limited to 36 scouts; sign up at ncparks.gov. Also, stay tuned for more activities into Oct. and beyond, such as a Fall Hawk Watches, Night Hikes With S’mores and Ghostly Tales Soundside Campfires. Email jockeys.ridge@ncparks.gov for details. • Rather join a troop of tenors? The Outer Banks Chorus is accepting new members for their 36th season. No auditions necessary. Just email kylejacobcook@icloud.com ASAP, ‘cause the singing starts Sept. 13 at Kitty Hawk United Methodist Church. 5:30-7:30pm. Find the full score at www. obxchorus.org. • Chicahauk Beach overflows with frothing families, Sept. 10, when the 14th Annual Throwdown Surf Classic gathers surfers in every age range for a feel-good competition —all to stoke out the Outer Banks Relief Foundation. Follow @throwdown_ surf_classic for more. • “Fiber, Clay & Paint” are the themes for the Bryan Cultural Series’ 6th Annual Invitational Exhibition. Head to Glenn Eure’s Ghost Fleet Gallery, Sept. 13Oct. 6, to see work by 16 local standouts, including Beth Burns, Sandy West, Fred Vallade,

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• Everyone’s favorite working waterfront festival — Day at the Docks — dishes deep knowledge and delicious fare, Sept. 16-17. Fri. night kicks off the party with a Seafood Under the Stars chef’s dinner full of locally sourced critters. 6-8pm. And Sat. is jam-packed with activities from 10am-4pm, including educational exhibits, community and artist vendors, food, and demos — plus a Seafood Throwdown makes local cooks battle using a mystery marine item. And it’s all capped with the annual Blessing of the Fleet at 7pm. For more information, visit www.dayatthedocks.org. • Go overboard on athletic feats, Sept. 16-18, when the Outer Banks

Triathalon swim-bike-runs over two distances: Olympic & Sprint. Get full deets at www.obxse.com. • And the LGBTQ+ community and its fans flex their strength when the 11th Annual Outer Banks Pridefest returns, Sept. 16-18. It all starts Fri. night with a 10pm Drag Show and DJ KO at the Outer Banks Brewing Station. Then Sat.’s Family Fun Day fills Roanoke Island Festival Park with a diverse mix of music, food and art vendors, a kids’ arts and crafts zone and lots of inclusiveness. And finish things off Sun. with the Drag Brunch at Lone Cedar from 11am-2pm. A rainbow of info awaits at www.obxpridefest.com. • Hello, sailors! The Outer Banks US Coast Guard

Auxiliary Flotilla will host a one-day Boat America Boating Safety Class, Sept. 17. Location TBD; $20. ($10 for each additional family member.) And on Oct. 10, a Boating Safety and Seamanship Class will cover safety, navigation, seamanship techniques, and information regarding local waters. Location TBD. Learn more at www.cgaux.org • On Sept. 17, set a course for the first-ever Island Farm Open House, where from 9am- 3pm folks get a free peek at the working 18th century farm, including homeplace tours, cookhouse demonstrations, blacksmithing, and more. Visit www.obcinc.org for the freshest info. • Or

Marcia Cline, James Melvin, Holly Nettles, Rick Tupper, and Taylor Williams. Find a list of artists at www.bryanculturalseries.org

peruse a modern fleet of souped-up rides when Sept. 17’s Sumospeed Beach Bash burns into Soundside Event Site for a revved-up day of shiny cars, slick music and roaring raffles, plus plenty of sweet local vendors and food trucks. 1-6pm. Race over to www.sumospeed. com for more. • Cruise south with the NC Beach Buggy Association, Sept.17, and help beautify your favorite access or mile of road as part of their Operation Beach Respect/Adopt-A-Highway event. Spend the morning cleaning up — then clean your plate after at the annual picnic. Head to www.ncbba.org for details. • Or hop a ferry and fuel up on fresh junk when Sept. 17’s Ocracoke Island Wide Yard Sale sees local homes and businesses unload new-to-you items at rock bottom prices. More at www.visitocracokenc.com. • Jennette’s Pier sees more shredding action, Sept. 18-24, when the Eastern Surfing Association Eastern Championships draws the top amateur talents from Maine to Miami for wave-riding brawls — and beach time bro downs. Get the latest at www.surfesa.org • Don’t surf heats, but love the culture? Check out the full range of Surfalorus Film Festival events running the first half of the week. It all starts Sept. 18 at KDH’s Outer Surf with a 5pm showing of Hines — the story of local pro Jesse Hines and created by native filmmaker Mike Leech At 7pm, move over to Swells’a Brewing for a North of Nowhere book-signing with NY photog, Mike Nelson, and local scribe Matt Pruett. Then be at Jennette’s Pier any eve, Sept. 19-21, as they show more movies, from quirky shorts to legendary documentaries,

starting at 4pm. And, whatever you do, don’t miss Sept. 19’s extra special Celebration of Life for ESA Founder Cecil Lear at 6:30pm. Find flick descriptions and scheduling at www. surfalorus.com. • Wheelie over to the Soundside Event Site, Sept. 22-24, as the OBX Fall Bike Fest goes hog wild with three dizzying days of mad rides, live tunes, poker runs, toy runs, and more — all to help the Dare County Motor Sports Charity Group raise dough to buy lots of toys for needy kids come Christmas. See their Facebook page for more. • Who says there are no free rides? On Sept. 24, Wright Brothers National Memorial will waive its entrance fee in celebration of National Public Lands Day. (And they’ll do it again on Nov. 11 for Veteran’s Day.) • And more than 700 local students will get a free, one-of-akind cultural immersion when the Bryan Cultural Series, Dare County Schools and Dare Arts team up to bring the Latin Ballet of Virginia into all elementary schools’ dual-language programs, Sept. 26-30. Don’t worry: the general public can get in on the action — and support the cause — by purchasing tickets to see the Sept. 29 performance at First Flight High. Get deets at www.bryanculturalseries.org. • The delicate dance between man and fish, boat and water, paddle and rod, takes center stage, Sept. 30-Oct. 2, as Kitty Hawk Surf Co.’s 2022 Outer Banks Kayak Fishing Tournament brings a virtual catch-and-release format to the whole state, with proceeds benefiting the NC Coastal Federation. Hook the latest specs at at www.kittyhawk.com. • Chase down a school of

The Latin Ballet of Virginia thrills dance fans, Sept. 29.

Photo: Dave Parrish

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shimmering machines, Sept. 30-Oct. 1, when the OBX Rod and Custom Fall Celebration brings their passion for cars to the Soundside Event Site and parking lots across town. Head to their Facebook page for the latest on cruise-ins, static displays, special events, and more. • Wanna test-drive a new fiberglass whip? Be at Swells’a Brewing on Oct. 1 as they host the WhichCraft Surf Gathering, where local shapers provide a range of weird shapes, and surfers spin a wheel before each heat to see which one they’ll ride. (Starts across the street at 8am — sandbars permitting.) Either way, the afterparty continues back at the brewery and it all benefits Outer Banks Relief Foundation. Stick around, too, because that night is the unveiling of Ocean Rhythms — an international surf art show curated by graffiti legend and board sports branding guru, Andy Howell. And keep tabs on the fall calendar for monthly fun, including: First Fridays, celebrating a single local artist; Makers Market First Sundays, featuring local artists selling wares in the beer garden; music every Wed. and Fri. evening; and Sunday Sunset Cabana Sessions on the top deck with local DJs spinning beach lounge music. Follow their social feeds for more. • Think that’s lit? Come out and celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Bodie Island Lighthouse with a special National Park Service event on Oct. 1. (Deets to TBD.) Or, if you just wanna climb the damn thing, head to www.nps.gov/caha and book a ticket for any Wed.-Sat. up to Oct. 8. • Jack o’ lantern season officially flares up with Island Farm Pumpkin Patch Saturdays Come out Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 9am-3pm, and choose a carvable pumpkin, taste some cider or popcorn over an open fire, make a candle, enjoy historic games and fall crafts, or participate in “pumpkin chunkin” and launch a big orange gourd across a green pasture. Deets at www. obcinc.org. • Are you one of Dare County’s many food-insecure families? Could use some help paying for holiday gifts? Applications for Roanoke Island Woman’s Club’s Thanksgiving Assistance Program will be available at Dare Health & Human Services’ Manteo campus, Oct. 3-31, from 8am-5pm. And come back Oct. 12-Nov. 3 to get applications for the Outer Banks Woman’s Club Angel Gift. 8:30am-5pm. Call 252-4755566 with questions. • Did someone say, “free shots”?! The Outer Banks Hospital is offering flu vaccines at no charge to community members ages 18-64. Clinics will take place starting in Oct. and run through Nov. Visit www.theobh.com/flu for the latest list of vaccine clinic dates and locations. Appointments are required. Call 252-449-4529.

• Give someone a fish, they’ll eat for a day. Teach them to fish, they’ll rustle up a six-person team and spend Oct. 5-7 battling their fellow anglers for bragging rights and prizes as part of the Nags Head Surf Fishing Tournament. Find fresh deets at www.nagsheadsurffishingclub.org

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Let’s light this candle! Join the NPS, Oct. 1, as they celebrate Bodie Island’s150th birthday. Photo: Mark Buckler

Not big on fishing — but all about the beach driving? The OBX Jeep Invasion returns to the Soundside Event Site on Oct. 7-9. Join the CAT 5 Jeepers for a poker run, scavenger hunt, beach cruises, and more — plus food trucks and live music by The Ramble and Jonny Waters. It all benefits Outer Banks Special Olympics and Wounded Warriors in Action. Learn more and register at www.obxjeepinvasion.com. • Wanna sink your choppers into a tasty good time? Motor out to Jarvisburg’s Sanctuary Vineyards on Sept. 24 for the return of CrabDaddy. From 12-5pm, attendees enjoy AYCE crabs and BBQ while tasting select local beer and wine — with plenty more for sale — all while Trae Pierce & The T-Stones and The Daniel Jordan Band steam up the joint with killer tunes. Plus, the CrabDaddy Olympics lets kids of all ages compete in crab crawl races, crab pot shot put, grape stomps, and more. $60. (PS Come back Nov. 26, when Currishuck adds bushels of oysters to the endless buffet.) Get all the buttery goodness at www.sanctuaryvineyards.com.

• Hold on to your seats for the Theatre of Dare’s 32nd Season by booking VIP season tix for 2022-23. Just $90 buys early admission to all five shows, including Oct. 7-16’s epic thriller, The Mousetrap. Or play it cheap, spend $75, and fight for your spot with rest of the groundlings. For more pricing, a full list of performances and audition dates for future plays, see www.theatreofdareobx.com • Late shopping! Live tunes! Lively arts! The thrills never cease at Downtown Manteo’s First Friday, especially on Oct. 7 as Dare Arts hosts the opening reception for this year’s fundraising silent auction, The Great Art Heist, plus crazy cool sculptures by Chrysler Museum glassblower, Kelsey Finnie. Both hang around through Oct. 29. Get the latest at www.darearts.org. • On Oct. 8, help clear the glass, cig butts and other litter off Corolla’s ORV beaches — and send some bucks to the Corolla Wild Horse Fund — when 4x4 clubs converge at MP 21.5 for the 15th Annual Carova Beach Cleanup. 9am-12pm. Learn more at www.ncbba.org • Or let some hot horns clear out your ears when the Duck Jazz Fest blows through town, Oct. 8-9. This annual free event begins Sat. with a free, 4-6pm Community Concert on the Green, followed by a full day of music on Sun. Starts at 10am, but be there early to snag a spot — or guarantee you’ll get in by volunteering. Just contact Betsy Trimble at btrimble@townofduck.com to see how you can help. • Sizzling shrimp-and-oyster combos more your style? Find a full ensemble of tasty marine life when the Outer Banks Seafood Festival returns to Nags Head’s Soundside Event Site, Oct. 15. From 10:30am-6pm, savor flavors from local menus and learn about our local waterman heritage while Buffalo City Moonshiners, No More Room Band, Partly Crowdy, and the Main Event Band serve up fresh tunes. $20 for ages 13+. (Includes $10 back in beverage/merchandise coupons.) Get complete deets at www. outerbanksseafoodfestival.org • On Oct. 15, come celebrate four decades of successful philanthropy — and help give more cash to local non-profits — when the Outer Banks Community Foundation’s 40th Anniversary Backyard Bash fills the Outer Banks Brewing Station with generous souls, jamming music, cake, ice cream, and a few cold beers. More at www.obcf.org • Come Oct. 17-19, it’s time for everyone’s feel good event: the Lion’s Club VIP Fishing Tournament. Every year, 350+ visually impaired persons from across the country come to enjoy angling off all the Avalon, Nags Head, Jennette’s, and Kitty Hawk Fishing Piers, plus the Crystal Dawn and Miss Oregon Inlet. But they can’t do it without nearly an equal number of volunteers, so drop your rod and go sign up at www.ncvipfishing.org. • Nature nerds of every species swarm regional refuges, Oct. 18-23, for the 25th Anniversary Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival. Tours and experiences include everything from Buxton Woods Hikes to Roanoke Island Nighttime Kayak Tours to a Nags Head Woods Amphibian & Reptile Hike plus a whole flockload of birding adventures. Find a full list of options at www.wingsoverwater.org. And come back for a WOW Encore Weekend, Dec. 9-11. • All you want to see is a big fish? And maybe a bigger prize? Sign up for the NCBBA Red Drum Tournament, Oct. 19-22, where individuals and teams angle for 60 hours in a battle for $10k in prizes. Learn more at www.ncbba.org. • Exchange whirring lines for twanging strings when the Bluegrass Island Music Festival fills Roanoke Island Festival Park with blistering acts, Oct. 20-22. It all starts Thurs. at Bluegrass Island

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Trading Company, where a free Halloween-themed Boograss event features bands like Sideline and Town Mountain — but the costume and pumpkin carving contests steal the show. Come Fri., the party boot-scoots over to Festival Park at 10am for a full day of top acts — like Rhonda Vincent and Step Canyon Rangers — followed by an 11pm Late Night Jam on the Docks behind Tranquil House Inn. (Bring your instrument!) And on Sat., music starts at 12pm with Songs from the Road Band and finishes up with We Banjo 3. (With lots of fine acts — and a cornhole tournament in-between.) Find the whole dang schedule at www.bluegrassisland.com. • Rage against the melanoma — and a bunch of other cancers — when the Outer Banks Hospital’s Get Pinked & More Party comes to Jennette’s Pier, Oct. 21. From 6-9pm, food and beverages, and great raffle and door prizes, all work together to fund free programs and services for local patients, including: cancer screenings, support groups and the hospital’s wig program. Table sponsorships are available and individual tickets are $40 each. (Learn more at www.theobh.com/pinkparty or call 252-449-5933.) And, on Oct. 22, stroll over to Dowdy Park for the Cancer Walk and Wag, where locals can take a stroll to commemorate loved ones and support these very same programs — plus activities for families and Fidos, as well as free flu vaccines for 18+ participants. Registration at 9:30am; walk starts at 10:30am. For more, visit www.theobh.com/walkwag or call 252-449-5933. • Then do laps around the sound with a bunch of rabid sailboarders, Oct.

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22-29, when the Hatteras Island OBX-Wind Competition draws in hundreds of enthusiasts to create one of the country’s largest windsurfing events, including a wide range of races — long-distance, slalom, and freestyle — and a whole bunch of fun and camaraderie in-between. Blow over to www.oceanairsports.com for current news. • Halloween fun howls into KDH, Oct. 22, as the annual First Flight Elementary Fall Fundraiser brings a whirling mix of trunk-or-treat, games, live tunes, food, and a bag full of fun. Follow the First Flight PTO Facebook Page for updates. • Talk about throwing a party. On Oct. 22, OBX Brewtag will draw teams of would-be aero engineers from across the coast to see who can make a 1/6 keg fly the farthest — meanwhile, a crowd of thirsty spectators enjoys live tunes, local and regional beers, hot food, and family activities. Proceeds support the Rogallo Foundation’s dreams of building a museum to honor hang-gliding’s godfather/flexible wing inventor, Francis Rogallo. More at www.kittyhawk. com • Seeking a more sophisticated soiree? Head north to the Whalehead — and take a trip back in time — as the fabled mansion celebrates The Knight’s 100th Wedding Anniversary on Oct. 22. From 4-9pm, enjoy a ’20s themed dinner, dancing and cake cutting with a champagne toast to the former owners. Dig into www.visitcurrituck.com for details. • Then it’s the groms turn to tango, Oct. 22-23, as Jennette’s Pier hosts the National Scholastic Surfing Association’s Mid Atlantic Regionals, where top talents from NC and neighboring states battle for a spot

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Unspoken Tradition brings the strings to Manteo’s Bluegrass Island Festival, Oct. 21. Photo: Sandlin Gaither

in next year’s Nationals. Float over to www.nssa.org for more. • Pick up dazzling art from nearly every discipline — pottery, crafts, crochet, and more — when The Cody Dough Show posts up at Island Farm, Oct. 23. 1-4pm. Google her work for eyepopping examples. • Roanoke Island Festival Park feels a touch like The Ryman, Oct. 25, when Branson’s Ozark Jubilee: Stars of the Grand Old Opry channels the likes of Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Charlie Pride, and more. Shows at 11am & 3pm. $32. Get the full score at www.roanokeisland.com

• Then open your ears to every Earth tone, Oct. 28-29, when the Outer Banks World Music Fest brings fans of every style to the Soundside Event Site for two days of reggaeton, rock, country, funk, and soul — plus art, fashion, food, and family fun. More at www. sebi-music.com. • And Elizabethan Gardens will be awash in glowing orange, Oct. 29, as they attempt to light about a gazillion jack-o-lanterns for the firstever Night of 1587 Pumpkins — with a little help from you. Attendees are asked to bring a couple pre-carved gourds and wear a cool Halloween costume, for a night of flaring festivities. 5-8pm. Find more illuminating tidbits at www.elizabethangardens.org • Prefer swashbuckling to pumpkin carving? Grab your pegleg and eyepatch and head to Ocracoke for Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree. From Oct. 28-29, the whole island abounds with would-be buccaneers, from amateur fans to professional re-enactors, who’ll produce everything from an accurate pirate encampment to a redo of Blackbeard’s last battle. Charrrggghhe over to www. visitocracokenc.com for the latest. • On your way home, hobble by the Hatteras’ Village Haunted Trail, Oct. 29-30, for a Blood Moon-themed stroll down maim-ery lane. Meet at the Hatteras Civic Center from 8-10pm both nights to be transported to the trail. $5; kids under 6 are free. More at www.hatterasonmymind.com • Wanna enjoy some sweet shopping — while the kids safely score free candy? Head to Downtown Manteo’s Trick or

Treat, Oct. 29, as participating merchants make a huge deal out of Halloween from 1-3pm.

• The freaks come out at night, Oct. 31, for everyone’s favorite 21+, tantalizing terror-fest: the Outer Bank Brewing Station’s Exotic Erotic Ball. There were no details available at press time, but we promise you’ll see plenty of body parts. And with live music all night — and cash prizes for both categories — it’s guaranteed to be a scream. $10 in costume, $15 not in costume. Get all the gory details at www.obbrewing.com.

• And word nerds will shriek with excitement to hear that Manteo’s Downtown Books is hosting a We Are The Light Book Release Party with author and resident Matthew Quick on Nov. 1. See www.duckscottage.com for the latest. • Scared you won’t be able to afford Thanksgiving dinner? Starting Nov. 1, food insecure families can secure a free feast — and a Christmas tree — courtesy of Twiddy & Co. by going to www. BFPSelfCheckout.org and ordering a Beach Food Pantry Holiday Meal Bag. (Contains perishable items, so be prepared to schedule a pick-up the week of Nov. 24.) And for those who cannot perform online ordering, in-person, nonperishable shopping will be available between 2-4pm, Mon.-Fri., starting Nov. 10. Learn more at www.beachfoodpantry.org. • Do words like “meals,” “occupancy” and “visitation” make you drool? On Nov. 3, join your fellow tourism professionals and partners at Haven on the Banks for the 8th Annual OBX Tourism Summit. Learn about marketing trends, network with local colleagues, catch up on the current topics facing our vacation market — and enjoy a killer lunch. $50. (Book early to avoid a $10 price hike.) Speakers were still TBD at press-time, so stay tuned to www. outerbanks.org for updates. • On Nov. 4, Downtown Manteo is an endless buffet of happy vibes when First Friday fills streets with smiling faces, late shopping, live music — and fresh mixed media by Kathy Cawthon at the Dare Arts Gallery. (Exhibit hangs through Nov. 26.) And it’s also the start of Outer Banks Veterans Week, where, from Nov. 4-13, creativity

endnotes

becomes a vehicle to serve service members and their families, plus special events, writing workshops, concerts, and ceremonies. Follow www.darearts.org for the latest. • And Abstract Acrylics by Jackie Tury will adorn Duck Town Hall beginning sometime in Nov. The opening reception date was still not set, but you can enjoy a DIY showing any Mon.-Fri., 9am-4:30pm — excluding holidays — well into Jan. More at www.townofduck.com. • Stuff your face with fresh seafood — and feed the coffers of the Outer Banks Center for Dolphin Research — by diving into the 13th Annual Shrimp Cook-Off, Nov. 5-6. This year’s event will perpetuate the “crawl” format, where local chefs try to out-perform each other with unique apps — and foodies visit each restaurant to sample the mindblowing results — while the ticket sales help keep our Flipper population afloat. Check out www.obxdolphins.org for tix and participants. • Or load up on tasty land mammals — and raucous good times — when the Currituck Bulls & BBQ stampedes into Powells Point’s Currituck County Rural Center, Nov. 5. From 12pm-6pm, witness pro bull riders rodeo around, while the pit masters try to grill circles around each other as part of the Kansas City Barbecue Society’s People’s Choice Barbeque Cookoff & Tasting. Plus, there’s an Anything Goes Craft Market, music by Glen Shelton, petting zoos, bevvies, and a living, breathing mechanical bull! (Sort of.)

they call the Outer Banks Fur Ball. Buy a ticket — or just cough up some dough — at www. obxcoastalhumanesociety.org. And if you need help caring for your pet, call 252-261-7417.

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Tickets will be available at the Moyock Welcome Center. Call 252-435-2947 for details. • Got beef? Better vote on Nov. 8. Even better, cast a ballot early at any number of one-stop voting locations between Oct. 20 and Nov. 5. Just make sure you follow the League of Women Voters for the latest news on candidate forums — www.lwvdarenc.org — then find a full list of local polling places at www. darenc.com. • Or just run your own race when Outer Banks Marathon Weekend returns Nov. 12-13, offering a full ticket of dashing distances, from 1 mile to 5k to 26.2 miles. Research the different candidates at www.obxse.com. • Avoid bolting around town for last-minute Christmas gifts by heading to the Dowdy Park Holiday Market, Nov. 12, where you can find a herd of local artisans from 9am-12pm. Miss it? You have two more chances on Dec. 1 (4-7pm) and Dec. 10 (9am-12pm.) Follow the park’s Facebook and Instagram feeds for updates. • SPAM? Minced clams? Vienna sausages? Who knows what mystery meat will become the winning main course when the Beach Food Pantry’s Holiday Chef’s Challenge comes to the The Pavilion at Pirate’s Cove Marina, Nov. 19. We do know this though: every year, local restaurants turn nonperishable items into tasty masterpieces — and a bit of dough also helps feed food-insecure families. 5:30pm. Call 252-261-2756 to learn more — or even better — to join the cause. • For more than a quarter century, The Coastal Humane Society has helped put kibble and litter into needy homes in the wake of community-wide emergencies — and provided lowcost spaying/neutering, vaccinations and medical assistance to pets who need it. On Nov. 19, they’re inviting everyone to Jennette’s Pier to celebrate such good work with a big party

• On Nov. 23, see how 19th century Roanoke Islanders saved holiday memories when Island Farms’ Garden to Hearth serves up winter preservation demos, like cooking over the hearth, preserving vegetables in crocks, smoking meats, and more. 9am-3pm. Find details at www.obcinc.org • Or get a little pickled — and put some steps on your pedometer — when the Tipsy Turkey Beer Mile chugs behind Outer Banks Brewing Station, Nov. 23. Late registration and check-in start at 10am. Prizes for most creative holiday fashion. Learn more at www.obxrunning.com • Then the usual lineup of Thanksgiving races stands ready to help you pre-shed those holiday pounds. You can start by spending Nov. 24 running around a different island with the Ocracoke’s Annual 5k Turkey Trot 8am. And stick around for Nov. 25’s Parade of Boats, where holiday themed vessels do laps around Silver Lake. 5pm. See www.visitocracokenc.com for complete info. • Or dash down to Nov 24’s 11th Annual Surfin’ Turkey & Puppy Drum Fun Run in Avon, where the proceeds support the Hatteras Island Youth Education Fund’s work providing educational and enrichment opportunities for local students. 8am start. Visit www. hatterasyouth.com for pricing and deets. • Or blaze north to Corolla, where Nov. 24’s Thanksgiving Day 5k/1 Mile at The Whalehead starts at 8:15am — which buys you fifteen minutes of sleep while leaving plenty of time to make the big feast. More at www.obxrunning.com • And Corolla’s Whalehead is wasting no time kicking off the holiday season. On Nov. 25, the 7th Annual Christmas Village fills the historic grounds with festive arts and crafts, handmade cosmetics, baked goods, and other unique treasures. (11am-5pm.) And Nov. 25-26 marks the first of Whalehead’s Candlelight Christmas Tours, where every Fri. & Sat. through Dec. 17, the mansion gets decked out in 1920s holiday decor and greenery — plus luscious food, fruit, candy and nuts — and a live performance on the vintage Steinway piano. 5pm; $20. Call 252-453-9040 to reserve your spot. • Then skip over to the Corolla Christmas Village, where lights and holiday sites make strolling the historic settlement a perfect way for families to feel the festive spirit, every Fri. & Sat. from Nov. 25-Dec. 24. 5-9pm. Details at www.visitcurrituck.com. • Twinkle bulbs soar — and kiddos score — with the return of Kitty Hawk Kites’ Hangin’ with Santa and Kites with Lights. On Nov. 25-26, meet St. Nick at the Nags Head shop to share wish lists and photos. And, come Sat., head to Jockeys Ridge from 4-7pm as they illuminate huge floating kites with holiday flare — plus a 5pm ceremonial lighting of the Solar Christmas Tree. More at www.kittyhawk.com. • And the greatest spectacle of all begins to glow with the start of Elizabethan Gardens’ WinterLights. From Nov. 26 to Dec. 30, illuminated walks, crackling fires and holiday décor transform the 10 acres into a holiday favorite every Tues.-Sun. (Weather permitting.) Make reservations at www.elizabethangardens.org.

Jackie Tury adorns Duck Town Hall with amazing, abstract acrylics starting in Nov.

FIRST IN FLIGHTS.

LIFT OFF AT AMERICA’S FIRST WIND-POWERED BREWERY.

AND BEER DESTINATION SINCE 2001.