Kiteboarding
Go Kiteboarding on Hatteras Island
Ever since kiteboarding surfaced in the Outer Banks, it has taken Hatteras Island by storm. This growing, high-energy sport attracts thousands of kiteboarders to the Pamlico Sound and Atlantic Ocean every year. With gear and equipment in tow, these visitors can often drive right onto the beach or sound, set up their kites, and launch into some of the East Coast's best wind and water conditions.
Spring and fall attract the largest number of kiteboarders, thanks to the seasons' ideal wind conditions. Spring, in particular, is known for warm southeast winds. The geographic layout of the island creates a rare opportunity for downwinders.
Kiteboarding Launches on Hatteras Island
With its range of water conditions that create miles of open water as a playground, Hatteras Island is a top vacation destination for kiteboarders of all skill levels.
Located between Avon and Buxton, Canadian Hole, once known as the most popular windsurfing spot in the United States, is also known as the Haulover Day Use Area, and has a public soundside beach with plenty of parking and bathhouses. Another excellent option is the Salvo Day Use Area, with a picnic and parking area on the southern border of Salvo. These kiteboarding areas offer wide sandy beaches for rigging and shallow Pamlico Sound waters.
Also known as "The Cove," Kite Point is a sandy beach a quarter to a half-mile south of the Canadian Hole, accessible by walking or 4WD with a beach driving permit required. Credited as being the birthplace of kiteboarding on Hatteras Island, this spot is a veritable oasis for kiteboarders from around the world. Just a hundred yards to the east is the Atlantic Ocean, which can be a challenging platform for advanced kiteboarders to practice their skills.
Another popular kiteboarding launch site is Sandy Bay Day Use Area in Frisco. This access point features a parking area and a wide sandy beach, convenient for rigging.
There are numerous soundside launches throughout the seashore, and some are marked by a path off NC-12. Many Surf or Sound Realty rental homes offer great launch opportunities for kiteboarding vacationers. When searching our inventory, look for a soundfront home with a sandy beach or a semi-soundfront or soundside home near a public sound access.
Hatteras Island Kiteboarding Lessons
Several nationally known kiteboarding outfitters on Hatteras Island include:
- Kitty Hawk Kites in the Waves Watersports Resort, located in Rodanthe, is the only Kitty Hawk Kites location that offers kiteboarding lessons. You can start with a two-hour lesson or spring for the four-day private instruction ending with a 24-hour rental to test your gear preferences.
- Rad Kite and Jet Ski Rental in Rodanthe utilizes three-hour private lessons with a one-to-one student to instructor ratio.
- Real Watersports is located in Waves. From full immersion camps to fast-track private lessons, they will have you up and going in no time! You can rent gear from them, or even buy your own from their large inventory.
- OceanAir Sports in the north end of Avon starts lessons at two hours long, and they range up to three-day camps. Emphasizing the rigging of the kite, launching, landing, and safety, they recommend at least three lessons.
- Kite Hatteras in Avon offers lessons, camps, and even a new development called "Tower Time," which offers you the chance to perfect skills without the need for wind. Using a custom kite boat, you can get lessons on the water that offer both instruction and comfort.
- Outer Banks Kiting in Avon offers a wide range of lesson options. From a half day to three-day lessons, you can learn the sport or learn new skills. They also offer lessons to hone skills with new-to-the-sport gear such as wings or foils.
See for yourself why kiteboarding is taking off on Hatteras Island by hitting the water of the Pamlico Sound, maneuvering through the breakers of the Atlantic, or launching from your own backyard at a soundfront rental home.
