By Ellie Chase
Exploring the kiteboarding culture in North Carolina’s barrier islands.
A kiteboarder skims across the ocean surface. Harold Granados. Pexels.
The rags-to-riches plotline of Netflix’s 2020 hit “Outer Banks” captivated audiences and introduced millions to North Carolina’s barrier islands. So much so that following the release of the fourth season, searches for "Outer Banks vacation homes" skyrocketed by 10,547%. Although the spike in Google searches and tourism spending indicates that travelers have ‘discovered’ the Outer Banks, there is a community of extreme sport seekers that had been flocking to the islands years before their Netflix fame: kiteboarders.
This summer, I was given the opportunity to travel with an incredible group of Outer Banks regulars and experienced kiteboarders. While it's a challenging sport, it was amazing to learn and experience the tight-knit culture of the kiting community in North Carolina.
“It is a destination for kiteboarders; people come from all over the world. People even come out there just to watch the kiteboarders,” kiteboarder Doug Purcell said, who has been visiting the Outer Banks for the last 15 years.
Kiteboarding is a relatively new sport. The first patent for kitesurfing was granted in 1977, but it rose to popularity in the 1990s when riders in Hawaii demonstrated wave riding with kites and attracted international attention. The first major kitesurfing competition was held in 1998, establishing kiteboarding as a competitive sport, and it was later included in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
To participate in the sport, athletes control a large kite using a control bar and harness. Using the power of the wind, riders maneuver the kite to pull themselves across the water on a board, allowing them to perform tricks and jumps and travel vast distances. The Outer Banks are popular among the kiteboarding community for their consistent wind and variety of surfing terrain.
“You can go oceanside or have a completely different experience going bayside, and there's a lot of channels and islands you can kite in, which offers a lot of variety,” Purcell said.
The Outer Banks stretch about 200 miles along North Carolina’s coast, with the east side facing the Atlantic Ocean and the west side made up of shallow waterways. The waves and open ocean on the east side make for challenging kiteboarding, but the west side is a beginner’s paradise.
Beach view in the Outer Banks. Lance Martin. Pexels.
The shallow water stretching for miles allows beginners like myself to practice navigating the kite and board in waist-deep water. Because the sport can seem so daunting, I found it incredibly helpful to be able to learn in an area where the elements felt more manageable, because I could stand.
Beyond the excellent conditions for beginners, the Outer Banks’ kiteboarding culture revolves around bringing new athletes into the sport. There are countless businesses with experienced guides to teach newcomers lessons, and a general camaraderie in helping other kiters while out in the water.
“The Outer Banks has a unique kiteboarding culture. So many people travel there, but there is also a group of locals, so it's a unique mix of people, and everyone is so friendly. Everyone just enjoys kiting, and they want to see other people enjoy it too,” kiteboarder Sara Shirk said, who just spent a month kiting in the Outer Banks.
I was lucky enough to be taught by friends, and I would highly recommend learning from a fellow kiteboarder or purchasing lessons. It’s definitely not a sport to experiment with on your own. Though I didn’t go through a kiteboarding school, I became well acquainted with Kitty Hawk Kites, which has a strong reputation for teaching first-time riders. It is a difficult sport with a steep learning curve, so it’s important to dedicate yourself to the process if you want to become a skilled kiteboarder.
For those who are not thrill seekers, the Outer Banks also offers stunning lighthouses and impressive sand dunes. The national seashore offers countless opportunities for swimming and fishing, and wild horses roam the beaches of Corolla. The Outer Banks is not just for kiteboarders, but make sure to at least watch the brightly colored kites on the horizon for the full island experience.
Ellie Chase
Ellie is a second-year journalism student at the University of Colorado Boulder. She loves to travel and has visited 29 countries. When she's not in class or booking her next trip, Ellie likes going rock climbing or bagging another Colorado 14ner. She hopes to be able to combine her love of travel and her love of storytelling to report on stories across the world.