Wilmington,
NC – August 2017 / Newsmaker Alert / Summer brings a palpable
surf vibe to Wilmington
and the island beaches of Carolina Beach,
Kure Beach and Wrightsville
Beach. Surfers of all skill levels are lured by warm ocean waves and paddlers
are drawn to calmer waters in the sound and the river. The surf culture
on these shores dates back to 1909, according to a N.C. Historic Highway
marker that recognizes Wrightsville Beach as the birthplace
of surfing in North Carolina. Today, surfers still fuel their stoke
in Wrightsville Beach, as well as nearby Carolina Beach and Kure Beach.
On any given morning surfers
paddle out past the surf, eager to catch the day’s first waves as the sun
rises over the Atlantic Ocean. Local residents like Jenn
and Tony Butler embrace the surf culture, never taking for granted
that they live (and surf) in a coastal community that non-residents travel
great distances to visit. The active lifestyle of Wilmington’s island beaches
affords plenty of watersports and outdoor activities. Surfers and paddlers
can rent or bring their own boards, or take a lesson to learn the basics.
Around every bend there are surf shops, outfitters and several surf schools,
as well as surf-themed restaurants like SurfBerry and Tower 7 Baja Mex
in Wrightsville Beach, or Hang Ten Grill and Surf House in Carolina Beach.
Coffee shops bear names like Café del Mar, SUNdays and Island Java.
There’s even a Waterman’s Hall of Fame exhibit at the Wrightsville
Beach Museum of History that interprets island history and surf culture.
Surf and SUP competitions take place year-round, including late summer
when a half dozen or so surf contests delight competitors, amateurs and
spectators.
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Summer Surf & SUP
Events:
August 10: “The
Hero Effect” Premiere Party:
6pm-9pm. You can be among the first to preview “The Hero Effect,” a show
that will feature Wrightsville Beach-based IndoJax Surf Charities before
it airs August 12 on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Admission charge. Blockade
Runner Resort, Wrightsville Beach. 910-256-2251.
August 12-13: Wrightsville
Beach Wahine Classic.
Move over boys of summer! Surfer girls ride again August 12-13 when wahines
of all ages and levels compete in an all-female surf event on the South
end of Wrightsville Beach. This beloved Wrightsville Beach surfing tradition
includes several divisions: Pro-Shortboard and Pro-Longboard (all ages),
Amateur Shortboard and Longboard (grouped by age), Tandem, SUP Surf and
the crowd favorite Teenie Wahine (ages 10 and under). Wrightsville Beach
(South end). WahineClassic.com
August 18-20: 12th
Annual O’Neill/Sweetwater Pro-Am Surf Fest.
Contest begins 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: Oceanic Street, Wrightsville Beach. 910-256-3821.
August 21: 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.
September 9: ESA-SNC
Contest #5:
The Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) was founded in 1967 to promote, preserve,
and protect the sport of surfing on the East Coast. Carolina Beach Fishing
Pier (north end), Carolina Beach.
Ongoing: Sunset
Sup Race, 6pm-8pm. Alternating Thursday evenings, August 17th &
31st. All levels welcome; races for adults and kids. Blockade Runner Resort,
275 Waynick Blvd., Wrightsville Beach. 910-256-2251.
Find your summer vibe in
Wilmington, N.C. and its island beaches, one destination with four unique
settings. For summer highlights and specials visit WilmingtonAndBeaches.com/things-to-do/seasonal-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 WilmingtonAndBeaches.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. |