Kitebording at Kite Point on the Pamlico Sound in Cape Hatteras National Seashore
The Wright Brothers didn’t come to the Outer Banks for their health; they came because they needed constant wind for their glider experiments. And constant wind is what you get, making Cape Hatteras National Seashore a prime spot for the sport of kiteboarding and windsurfing. For those unfamiliar with the sports, windsurfers are the ones with a sail attached to their surfboards and kiteboarders and the ones being pulled across the water by a big “kite” while on what closely resembles a snowboard. This sport is most similar to water skiing, with the boat being replaced by a kite.
Kiteboarding and windsurfing can be enjoyed in the large waves of the open ocean or in the calmer waters of the Pamlico Sound. Ultimately, all that matters is where the wind is blowing. During my visit, I found that the large majority of these sportsmen choose the Pamlico Sound over the open Atlantic, as there is plenty of wind with minimal waves. I saw a few kiteboarders in the Atlantic, but I get the feeling that gliding across smooth water at high speeds is what’s fun, not getting swamped by six foot waves, which explains the popularity of the Sound.
Kiteboards at Cape Hatteras National Seashore attempt their sport on the rough seas along the open Atlantic shoreline of Hatteras Island
The National Park Service recommends the Salvo or Haulover day use areas for these sports, but each sport seems to have gravitated to its own spot. Salvo is home to picnic tables and grills, and while there are plenty of kiteboarders and windsurfers in the area, there are also plenty of families on the small beach and fishermen along the shore. It’s near Haulover that these two sports seemed to have flourished, and even there the sports have divided the territory further.
The Haulover Day Use Area appears to be more of a windsurfing area than a swimming or kiteboarding area. There were some kiteboarders here as well, but the majority preferred Kite Point, a beach area a half mile south. Haulover has a bathhouse with restrooms, showers, and changing room.
Windsurfing at the Haulover Day Use Area in Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Just a half mile south of Haulover, Hatteras Island narrows into a thin stretch of land where the Pamlico Sound and the open Atlanta Ocean are just a short walk from the Outer Banks Scenic Highway. Called Kite Point, the area now has an official parking lot right on the Sound. There is a decent size beach area, and it is dominated by the kiteboarders. There are no facilities of any kind here.
Kiteboarding at Kite Point in Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Kiteboarding at Kite Point in Cape Hatteras National Seashore
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Last updated on March 10, 2024
