Huge Surf for 2017 Cape Hatteras Wave Classic!

Jason Slezak, on an FCD kite custom.  Photo: Ryan Osmond

Thanks to a Hurricane Jose-induced week of pumping swell and NE winds, the 2017 Cape Hatteras Wave Classic will go down as one of the more challenging, carnage-inducing kite competitions we've ever seen. With swell in the well overhead+ (we don't even know how big it was outside all of the sandbars), wind in the mid-20's, and a very pleasant air temperature, conditions were perfectly spectator-friendly and (mostly) contestable. 

Competitors pulled into massive closeouts, played chicken with the overhead shorebreak, outran building-sized exploding whitewater, and launched and landed kites in between sets when the beach wasn't flooded. Jason Slezak, FCD Board Tester and all-around insane athlete, took 3rd place for his barrel endeavors and giant power hacks.  All competitors this year, though, deserved the win just for charging the challenging the conditions and pushing the limits of strapless kitesurfing. Hats off to the 24 men and 6 women who competed!

A huge thanks to Real Watersports for hosting us and putting on this event year after year.  We always have a blast meeting new friends, riding with old friends, and spreading the kitesurfing stoke. If you are in the Outer Banks area or on the East Coast, consider joining us at this event next year!  

Undercover brother.  Photo: Ryan Osmond