At Kitty Hawk Watersports, our business is so many things to so many people. It can be an emotional outlet, an adventure, a time to stretch boundaries, entertainment, or it can simply be play. Some people come out just to get away from the daily ho-hum, while some want to give their kids a new experience. Others come out for the excitement, and many customers just want to relax.
Watersports vary in pace, energy, and in the adrenaline rush they evoke. They all have their own special rhythm and type of music that goes perfectly with them. I sometimes hear songs in the wintertime, and they immediately take my mind to a moment in the summer when we were on the water having fun. In reverse, some songs are triggered when I see the activity, such as parasail chutes off in the distance. Finally, other songs start in my brain the second I get into the rhythm of an activity. For example, when I start pulling a water-skier at Kitty Hawk Watersports here in the Outer Banks, I instantly hear the Rolling Stones in my mind.
While it may not be a new watersport, we’ve seen a rise in people loving stand-up paddleboarding in recent years. Perhaps you too have seen these SUPs along the Outer Banks, and you’re intrigued. And why not? SUPs combine the best of both the surfing and kayaking worlds, creating a fun and relaxing way to explore the coast. At Kitty Hawk Watersports, we recommend that all visitors to the greater Nags Head or Kitty Hawk, NC, areas give it a try.
Relaxing on a North Carolina beach is a day well spent in our book. There’s nothing wrong with a little sun bathing. However, if you’re ready to experience a change of pace and amp up the fun, then our crew at Kitty Hawk Watersports has a few suggestions. Here are three of our favorite activities, available to anyone in Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, and the greater Outer Banks region.
The last few weeks of summer are upon us, but that doesn’t mean we have to just sigh, shrug our shoulders, and say, “Well, maybe next year…” You can still end summer well with Kitty Hawk Watersports of Nags Head, NC. In fact, we can help you go out on a high note with these exciting water adventures.
The paddle board—otherwise known as a stand up paddle board, or SUP—is a relatively new phenomenon in the watersport world. Despite being new to the scene, many of our Kitty Hawk Watersports customers are already catching the paddle-board excitement! We think you will too.
The stand-up paddleboards are going off! I just ordered 7 more from Starboard and I’ll be excited to try out the new models. The customers are doing a lot of weekly rentals and the clinics are doing well. Women love them. The next progression will be the tours. Once customers see some of the cool spots we have right behind our store we’ll really have a big time with it. FYI- if you haven’t tried it yet, start on the sound side in flat water to get your sea legs, then go over to the ocean if you want to try some waves. I started surfing waves last year at the age of 44 and I had never surfed before.
The stand-up paddleboarding is really starting to take off. We just sold our second board and the clinics are gaining interest. The clinic is where the renter gets an instructor to teach them the finer points while paddling on the sound. This allows the student to gain confidence quicker. We’ve found that paddling on the sound first gives you more success and then, if you want, you can get out to the ocean. Speaking of the ocean, I went to a secret surfing spot in Duck on Sunday and the waves were really fun. The water is still a little chilly but on a SUP you stay above the water most of the time and the warm air balanced it out.
As we take care of our customers we’re slowly getting ready for the season. May weather has been pretty cooperative and hopefully that will hold through Memorial Weekend. Yesterday was great! 85 degrees, sun, good breeze. Just got some Michael Dolsey SUPs and can’t wait to try them out. He’s got a pretty cool set-up. He has a warehouse in Norfolk, he travels oversees in the winter to make sure his boards are being manufactured just right, then he spends about 1/2 the year in Costa Rica trying out the boards that he makes. That’s my kind of R and D. His boards are very affordable and I don’t have to pay to get them shipped across country. In fact, the sales rep, Ainslee, was nice enough to drive them down herself and drop them off. Thanks!
I took this picture around mid-May and thought it might be a bad omen. By the way, that’s a snapping turtle looking inside the entrance of our shop. He had to hike up the entire wheelchair ramp to get to this point. He was still standing there when I had to leave so I lassoed his shell and pulled him out of the way so I could close the door.
Fortunately, business has been good. My banker told me yesterday that June is a little soft with rental home reservations but July and August are slam-packed.
Next Monday night we plan to start our weekly SUP races. Come out and watch or grab a board and tag-along.
Also, we just got our inflatable SUPs in. Made by Sevylor these “boards” are amazingly stiff and light. They come with a pump and a backpack which also has a place to strap on your paddle. The $650 price should make it more affordable for people to get in to the sport.
