Wilmington,
NC – July 2015 / Newsmaker Alert / Surfers and standup paddlers
can experience the “salt life” in Wilmington
and the island beaches of Carolina
Beach,
Kure Beach and Wrightsville
Beach. Though the area’s
surfing history dates back to 1909, a renewed interest in surfing emerged
about 10-12 years ago as a handful of surf schools began offering lessons
and camps. The local surf culture now includes a bevy of surf shops, outfitters,
and schools—most of which also offer standup paddle [SUP] gear and lessons.
With ocean and sound-side
waterways, it’s no wonder that Wilmington and its island beaches have gained
notoriety as a premier surf and SUP destination. Recent Surf/SUP accolades
include: Outside
Magazine (April 2015) named Wrightsville Beach among its list
of top “Stateside SUP Hubs.” Men’s Health (June 2015) also included
Wrightsville Beach among its roundup of “Summer Hot Spots,” citing the
island’s harbor as a great place for SUP. Thrillist.com
recently named Wrightsville Beach one of the “Best Small Beach Towns in
America.” And last year, National Geographic included Wrightsville
Beach in its roundup of “The
Last Best American Beach Towns” (July 2014), a nice addition to the
magazine’s 2012 designation of Wrightsville as one of the world’s top 20
surfing towns.
Visitors can learn more about
local surf history at Wrightsville Beach
Museum of History’s Waterman Hall of Fame exhibit, which was created
in 2014 to honor surfers who have made a positive impact on the local surf
community. On October 19, the state of North Carolina will officially honor
its surf history with a North Carolina Historic Highway marker that recognizes
Wrightsville Beach as the birthplace of surfing in the state.
|
|
Surfers of all skill levels
are welcome to bring a board (or rent one) to hone their skills or learn
the basics at Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach. Surf and
SUP contests and events are held throughout the year. Following is a roundup
of summer surf & SUP events that exemplify the “salt life” in Wilmington
and its island beaches.
Summer Surf & SUP
Events:
Ongoing: Weekly Sunset
SUP, 6pm-7:30pm. Thursday evenings through August 6, the Sunset SUP
Series features free clinics and races for adults and kids. Blockade Runner,
274 Waynick Blvd., Wrightsville Beach, www.facebook.com/BlockadeRunnerSurfToSoundAcademy
Film Screenings:
-
July 16: “Beyond Sight” Screening.
This film conveys Brazilian pro surfer Derek Rabelo’s dream to surf in
spite of his visual impairment. Rabelo will be in attendance as part of
a Visually Impaired Charity Surf Camp, July 13-17. Blockade Runner Resort,
Wrightsville Beach. www.Indojaxsurfschool.com
-
July 16: Wect Sounds of Summer
Concert & “Surfalorus Shorts” Pop-Up Cinema. 6:30pm: Reggae concert
by Selah Dubb, followed by an 8:30pm screening of Surfalorus Shorts (short
surf films). Free. Wrightsville Beach Park. www.surfalorus.com/wilmington
July 15-16: South Atlantic
Regional Lifesaving Competition. Wed. 12pm-6pm & Thurs. 8am-6pm.
This year’s competition will be held at the Hamlet Ave. surf break in Carolina
Beach. Watch as lifeguards from Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, and
Kure Beach compete against teams from Virginia to Florida in ocean and
beach races. Spectators are welcome to cheer and support their teams. For
details: www.salausla.org/competition.html
& www.salausla.org/2015SALACompetitionItinerary.pdf.
July 17-19: 10th Annual
O’Neill/Sweetwater Pro-Am Surf Fest. 8:00am each day. The O’Neill/Sweetwater
Pro-Am Surf Fest is the 2nd largest surfing contest on the East Coast.
Dozens of amateur surfers and an average of 96 professional surfers from
around the world participate. Past professional winners include Rob Machado,
Fisher Heverly and Avon Cormican. Location: Birmingham Street, Wrightsville
Beach. 910-256-3821. Details: www.wblivesurf.com;
www.sweetwatersurfshop.com.
July 18: O’Neill/Sweetwater
Surf Art & Music Festival: 5pm-9pm. This year’s Surf Fest includes
an Art & Music Festival at Wrightsville Beach Park with live surf and
Reggae music. Food, beverage and raffle proceeds benefit local charities.
Wrightsville Beach Park. Details: www.sweetwatersurfshop.com/news/this-just-in
August 1: ESA-SNC Contest
#5: The Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) was founded in 1967 by East
Coast surfers to promote, preserve, and protect the sport of surfing on
the East Coast. Carolina Beach (location TBA). www.esa-snc.com
August 15-16: Wrightsville
Beach Wahine Classic. Move over boys of summer! Surfer girls return
August 15-16 when wahines of all ages and levels compete in an all-female
surf event on the South end of Wrightsville Beach, continuing a beloved
Wrightsville Beach surfing tradition. Divisions include: Pro-Shortboard
and Pro-Longboard (all ages), Amateur Shortboard and Longboard (grouped
by age), Stand Up Paddleboard and the crowd favorite Tiny Wahine. Details
at www.wrightsvillebeachwahineclassic.com;
910-465-9638.
August 17 & 18: Surfer’s
Healing. Day camps that enrich the lives of people living with autism
by exposing them to the unique experience of surfing with local surf volunteers.
Wrightsville Beach. Details: www.surfershealing.org.
Go with the flow…and see
where the water takes you this summer! Wilmington, N.C. and its island
beaches offers an abundance of year-round outdoor recreational opportunities
in a classic coastal setting. For Summer highlights and specials, visit
www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/season/2015-summer-highlights.
For a free Official Visitors Guide for Wilmington and the island beaches
of Carolina Beach,
Kure
Beach and Wrightsville
Beach, please call 866-266-9690 or email visit@wilmingtonandbeaches.com.
For online visitor information and a complete Calendar of Events, please
visit the website www.GoWilmingtonAndBeaches.com.
Media
Contact:
Wilmington
and Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau
Connie
Nelson
Communications/PR
Director
910-332-8751
866-266-9690
ext. 120
|
The
New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority d/b/a Wilmington and Beaches
Convention and Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing organization
of New Hanover County, North Carolina that stimulates economic development
through the promotion of travel and tourism.
|
|