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Once a secret spot, sound access hits critical mass
A kite boarder off the Jockey's Ridge access earlier this year.
“The secret is out,” said Park Superintendent Debo Cox of the Roanoke Sound access off Soundside Road in Nags Head.
Because of the shallow water, lack of wave action and mild current, the bathing area is a popular place for families with small children. In recent years, it has also become a prime launching spot for kiteboarders.
Nags Head leases the access from the state and is responsible for maintaining the walkway and grass as well as picking up the trash. Park rangers open and close the gate.
While Cox said kiteboarders have done a good job policing themselves, its popularity among both groups of users has resulted in critical mass and has punctuated the need for similar accesses.
A recent complaint brought to town officials sparked concern that the dual uses don’t mix.
Cox says the two groups have been getting along fine for the past 10 years or so. But the number of users has increased significantly, he said.
“We’ve had millions of bathers and thousands of kiteboarders there over the last seven or eight years and have had zero documented incidents in which someone was hurt because of a conflict between the two uses,” Cox said.
The superintendent also said there is a designated launch area for kiteboarders on the north end of the beach. They are also required to stay 100 feet away from bathers.
The state park can issue a citation if those rules are not followed. However, the park only has jurisdiction over what happens on the beach, Cox added. Its jurisdiction ends at the water.
The superintendent said he has had great success working with kiteboarders on keeping the access safe for both groups.
“And they have responded well,” he said. “We have asked them to police themselves and they have and they have spread the word through the kiteboarding community.”
Nags Head commissioners discussed the access at a recent meeting and the possibility of placing buoys to separate kite surfers from bathers, similar to what the town does to keep surfers from getting too close to piers.
The area is particularly popular for families with small children on days of northeast winds when the ocean surf is rough and the risk of rip currents is higher. Town manager Cliff Ogburn said, however, that even on calm days parking can overflow onto the adjacent residential street.
Police Chief Kevin Brinkley told commissioners that a nearby resident had asked about no-parking signs.
Nags Head Commissioner Renee Cahoon said later that the town will continue to monitor the situation and open a dialogue between the two groups if need be.
“We want to take a soft approach,” added Cahoon, who said a key component would be education.
“We need to educate the kiteboarders and educate the children so that they do not go near the kiteboarders.”
Kiteboarding has grown in popularity along the Outer Banks in the past 10 years. Riders use a board similar to a wake board and a large controllable kite to harness the wind and propel the rider and the board across the water.
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charlie says:
Instead of buying up land for a “conference center” perhaps the tourism board should be buying up water access points and improving them for the enjoyment of visitors and locals alike?
Soundbeach user says:
I like the idea of buoys. Then there would be no question of a person wandering out too far, or a kiteboarder surfing to close.
Bubba says:
We used to use that access when our son was little. We had no problem with the kiteboarders. But it seemed every time we used that access the next day or two our boy would have stomach issues. The real enemy is all that run off from our septic tanks.
I’m surprised there was no complaints about the parking on the street.
Island Safety says:
Could they please address this problem at the Salvo Day Use Area? It has been completely taken over by kiters. They move picnic tables, take up the whole beach and all the parking. Anyone who wants to visit the Civil War marker or cemetery is out of luck, don’t even consider taking your small children. We used to go all the time because it was safe for the kids–no more. The kiters are arrogant on the beach and dangerous on the water…they come in close showing off for photos and endanger anyone in the water. They should also be kept out of the Pea Island Refuge. For one, it seems the kites would scare the birds…huge predators in the sky… but aside from that, what was a safe and quiet launch(New Inlet) for kayaking becomes a speed zone for kites. There must be some controls on these guys, it’s the wild west down here, they even take out our power with their kite lines sometimes. You know how happy businesses are at losing their credit card machines and registers in the summer. Most of the money brought in by these guys stays right at the all-inclusive kite resorts. Same outcome for the county but not the local businesses. The major players are well-heeled though so I don’t expect to see a change anytime soon.
Roger says:
Water quality at this spot is often an issue.
KDH Rezident Evil says:
I agree with Charlie. The Sound is an under-utilized resource here. Plenty of reasons why visitors and locals might want to avoid the ocean, but still want to be out on the water.
The quality of the water is an issue, but I thought it had more to do with runoff from the mainland than with septic tanks on the Outer Banks.
Bob O says:
The Town has been testing near this site for years with consistently good results through the Septic Health initiative.
Also, there is additional public sound access at the Harvey soundfront site, close to Windmill Point.
beachornot says:
Hmmm, I would think that the restaurants, gift stores, rental companies are all beneficiaries of the kite boarding/windsurfing community. All one has to do is look at Kite Pt. by the haulover to see that there are a fair number of kiters not associated with the kite resorts. Lets be careful throwing stones at an industry that does support the entire island.
Bill says:
Yea, the soundside beach is quite nice there behind JRidge, but the water is “nasty” this time of year…. Would not want my young kids spending too much time in the sound water there.
Better to remain ocean side and look for beach spots with “tidal pools” during high tide where the water runs up the beach and forms the small pools and streams that the kids love to play in.
Let the kiters have JRidge. Its a great spot for kiting and they spend most of their time “above the water.”
Bryan Lowe says:
Huge predators in the sky. Really??? Get a grip. I am a business owner in salvo and a kite surfer. We generate our power with wind. No pollution. We leave the sound as we found it. Banning us will not work.
Island safety is off her rocker. Bring up the birds seems to work every time. Prohibit and ban, what a stupid way to deal with a issue that can be alleviated by a few more accesses. Thousands of kiters spend lots of money on our island. Let’s run them off. I am so fed up with environmentalist, the park service, and people like island safety. Try and stop me from kiting. Lol. I’ll just jump over you and keep on kiting
Bryan Lowe says:
I agree with Charlie. The town could use the area at windmill point for both a conference center and a access to the sound. All kiters and people need is a beach, like behind jockeys ridge. No need for property off the beach. Bring in a couple of trucks of sand, dump it. Problem solved. Oh yea, EPA., defenders a. Holes from Raleigh won’t allow it. Same crap. So, let’s do nothing but talk , ban and prohibit. It’s all the government does. I’m fed up. I will kite where ever I want. Come try and stop me!!!!!’
Tax payer/business owner says:
@island safety- God forbid you call a ranger and report the problem officially. It kills me the longer I’m here (20 years) that ANYTHING NEW the so called locals fight it for all it is worth. FYI kiteboarders bring this stuff to the island called money and spend plenty of it. These are not day trippers from va beach. These are professional people who love the water and all the sound side acess’ on windy days are where they want to be. I don’t like white caps or sand in my face when I go to the soundside. Next time one of the show offs does something dangerous please call the rangers these kiteboarders have forums and websites devoted to not shutting down acess due to stunts.
Jockys ridge parking problem. I think the problem is that the park closes a perfectly good parking lot at 7 pm every night. Why can’t it stay open there isn’t a building to vandalize or a hang gliding school to mess with. The only thing back there is a port a potty. Don’t get it jockys ridge stop fighting acess to a park that we the tax payers pay for every day.
skiffguide says:
Yes Roger that one Roger, Roger? Water quality at this spot is often an issue.
Ex Kiter says:
I am a local business owner who use to live on soundside road. I learned to kite at that beach over 10 years ago and was one of at least 5 kiters who lived in on that same road. We always policed visiting kiters and educated them on where to lauch and teach them respect of the people on the beach and it is the same way to date. The majority of people come to that beach during NE winds and the kiters are there during SW winds when most of the people are on the ocean side. The northern soundside access is very restricted for kite boarders, now it looks like it will become more restricted. Many have commented on how kite boarders bring alot of money in this area and restricting it more will reduced the tourist income. Let remember people when the tourist stop coming we can all look for a new place to live! I believe that tax dollars pay for the upkeep of that access and the ones who pay for it will now be restricted? Doenst make sense to me but what political desision made in this area do.
Bill says:
Good point on JRidge Sound Side Gate Lock Hour set at 7:00pm. Heck, during the summer it does not get dark until near 9:00pm. At the minimum the lot should be open until 9:00pm for folks who want to enjoy the sunset on the beach back there.
I remember the good ole days when it was only a sand road and some old lady’s house on the sound back there. We used to camp on the sound beach and had good times back there. No signs, no pavement, no porto johns, etc… eh sometimes less is better.
Brenda says:
I long for those good old days . . .
obxdad says:
They should expand the beach area to make room for everyone – we are a vacation spot after all! Let’s give some priority to those having fun rather than the stinkin birds or whatever other excuse the human hating enviros will use.
really says:
Late last summer I had my grand children at the sound side beach at Jockey’s Ridge. We had to leave because of our concern for our grand children’s safety, due to the proximity to the children in the water and where the kite boarders were sailing and launching/landing.
We had a similar problem this pass Memorial Day
I am in favor of the buoys, and moving the Kite Boarding a few hundred feet either north are south of the walk over to the beach, before someone get hurt.
junkman says:
I agree the area needs more sound side access and the Windmill Point area is a good place to start. The “Harvey” site is grossly inadequate and the convention center concept is an absolute pipedream. Turn it into place we can all use and enjoy.
Yomom says:
Everyone knows you can park outside the gate and walk in as long as you leave at sunset.Which defeats most of the purpose for the gate.
Jason says:
I agree with everyone on the Windmill Point site. However, that area is marshy and isn’t as suitable for swimming/kiteboarding as the sandy “mini-beach” at Jockey’s Ridge. Hopefully they can fine a good use for it.
KHer says:
The town’s Harvey Access (right beside Windmill Point) is an excellent sound access rarely used.
AnotherLocalKiter says:
6 year resident and longtime kiter (2 years instructing in Rodanthe). I have no issue with adding some buoys at Jockeys to ensure separation of kiters and bathers. Otherwise Jockeys works pretty well. Salvo Day Launch could use a similar setup. There is an access spot on the far south side of Salvo away from bathers that could be widened for kiters. I’ve seen newbies launch at the park in the middle of swimmers in a direct onshore wind, and that’s an accident waiting to happen. Not looking for a bunch of rules and restrictions, just some basic separation at the busy locations during high season.
The second one bystander gets hurt we will get banned from these sites…….
Kiters bring serious money to the area and the kite retail/mailorder/instruction business adds plenty to the tax base. Would be nice to see the county add some sound access spots from Rodanthe to Hatteras. Kite point getting too crowded at times
Island Safety says:
Comment was asking that similar attention be paid to SDUA–separation and safety measure like the buoys. There are two beach areas, one should be for families, preferably the northern one since that is where the marker and the cemetery are located. The bird part of the Pea Island comment was a purely speculative aside,I have no skin in that game. The point was that it is not a safe launch for boats or kayaks when kiters are there as they concentrate near the ramp.
Tourist says:
Island safety, it is the ignorance which you are showing that makes people like myself choose different vacation destinations. Why not just ban all access to everyone, except you, then no one would bother you.
charlie says:
More easy access to the sound and the ocean from Ocracoke to Va. with adequate parking sounds like a no-brainer.
And a good story. Yesterday at the beach some young skimboarders searched for an opening among the swimmers and little kids so they could also enjoy the beach. The skimboarders knew their abilities and did not want to injure anybody but themselves. We moved a little north on the beach to give them more room. My grandkids enjoyed the show of the boarders crashing into and flipping over the waves. They also learned a lesson in sharing and enjoying the beach.
Bear says:
There is an simple antidote here. More sound access points and a few buoys. Clear demarkation lines to seperate us kiters from the general population sounds easy. Stop hatin on everybody. Don’t worry, be happy!
skiffguide says:
Anyone who’s been around since the old days misses the old days. Hell yes it was better for people who live more in the natural world rather than the information age. Yep, Soundside Road was one of the most peaceful spots on these Banks- also the pre development Eptein Tract was a coastal paradise with secret surf spots, all sunny and sparkly, and rarely, if ever crowded. The problem with the Soundside Road beach is the same as it is everywhere, there are just too many people- more rats in the cage than the cage can hold, and when there are too many rats in the cage, they kill one another. In this case, unfortutately it’s become just another thing that gets regulated to the point where it eventually becomes unappealing to the people who came before. Nothing can change that, so to stay here and not become totally jaded by the massive over development and influx of people, it’s better to hold onto those memories as hard as you can.
jack says:
There are reasons why the Harvey Access is rarely used. The “beach” is five yards wide, mosquitoes eat you alive and the smell from Millers during the summer takes your breath away. If the area was expanded to include the property owned by Nags Head, with adequate parking and insect control, it could become a nice Soundside park.
nags head bob says:
I think the state should acquire more land the same way they got the sound access behind Jockeys Ridge. In cooperation with the town of Nags Head they found a piece of land that had been owned by a local family for many generations and condemned it. Then burnt down the 90 year old house that was on the property. I’m thinking Colington Harbor Park or Mother Vineyard would make great public accesses. Oh, how about the south side of the causeway?
Sue says:
Skiffguide, I know some people may get tired of hearing it, but yes, weren’t the good old days on Hatteras Island paradise on Earth? “Time it was and what a time it was. It was….a time of innocence, a time of confidences. Long ago it must be. I have a photograph. Preserve your memories. They’re all that’s left you!” I still love the Outer Banks and kids will be kids, but they could be healthier adults to find a kind spot here and there in their travels and remember its uniqueness, beauty, and peace. How thankful I am for the memories!!
Observer says:
Larry Ellison, the weird zillionaire of Oracle software fame, just came to a sensible solution few of you could manage. He’s buying a Hawaiian island all for himself.
Greyson says:
Kite boarders are the new skateboarders. The ones who get harrassed. Keep your chins up. Focus on staying positive. Keep leaving no trace when you leave the sites. We visit Hatteras Island several times a year and have never had any concern with kite boarders. They are a well educated group that does not want access lost so they will make sure to do right by the access and it’s visitors. It is important to maintain open communication. Rise above the negative.
Native banker says:
@ Tourist, There you go! Trying to insult everyone because they don’t agree with you. The fact of the matter is the kiteboarders are trying to run everyone else out of the beach access and the cove area so they can have it to themselves. There was action by the “designer” of the kites used, to have all boats that are moored in the cove area banned. With the boats banned, the cove could be used and used soley by the kite boarders for launching and then end up on the beach area.
It is my opinion that this beach area should be determined as a swimmer only area and the kiteboarders be re-located to another area. Boats and jet skis are prohibited from this site and I think kiteboarders should be also. The facilities are not large enough to handle the users and the state park service has failed miserably at managing this rescource. The abuse by the kiters has caused a safety hazard for fire trucks and ambulances to transit sound side road as the kiters often park on the street and walk to the beach area after the gates are closed.This has gotten out of hand by ignoring the issue, someone needs to act now and make not only the neighborhood safe again, but the access a joy to use again.
The comment that the boarders police themselves is almost laughable. On one occasion recently when the access was visited, the on-site ranger was trying to track down the “designer” of the kites to ask him to move everyone back to the designated area. They had taken over the whole access prohibiting anyone else use.
There is room here for everyone to use and enjoy this land and all it has to offer, but let’s be wise about it, let’s make sure people don’t get hurt just so someone else can have fun and make money.
VILLAGE IDIOT says:
Kite boarding is a relatively new sport and the population is growing leaps and bounds.
Remember, the kites are 90 ft. up in the air, take up alot of space, go as fast as the wind that propels them, and not all kiters are experts.
Don’t worry, there will be a new sport invented soon that will take it’s place and be even easier for the masses to take up……….
Terryisthat you says:
Terry is that you “Native Banker”?
Bill says:
Is “Special Use” Permitting available is Jockey’s Ridge, similar to what the NPS utilizes? Perhaps future organized kiteboarding/other activities there could be permitted with direct coordination similar to hosting activities in on Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
KiteFlyer says:
As a local kiteboarder who frequents Jockey’s Ridge, I know for a fact that all of the local kiteboarders appreciate the Jockey’s Ridge access and always place public safety/comfort at a premium. We are people who live here and love this place, just like everyone else, and the last thing we want is to cause any disruptions.
We DO self-police and try to help out-of-towners follow the rules that are in place. The fact that the ranger was looking for the “designer of the kites” shows that. He is a local and a recognizable, respected figure to out-of-town kiters and someone who knows the importance of kite safety. Just a month ago, I arrived at Jockey’s Ridge to find “the designers” young son asking some out-of-towners who were pumping up to move their kites into the kite area even though no one else was on the beach. I would have done the same thing if he hadn’t.
That being said, I’m not sure why Native Banker feels that the State Park Service has failed miserably when there have been no incidents…I think the park rangers do a fantastic job patrolling the beach…I see them there all the time. I also don’t understand why Native Banker insinuates that kiteboarders are trying to run other people off the beach…that is not the case at all! We think everyone can and should be able to enjoy the beach… I know I have never once harbored any ill will toward any other beach-goers. We are only on the beach briefly-we pump up our kites and then we’re out on the water.
The Outer Banks is famous as one of the best places in the United States to kiteboard, along with South Padre Island and Hood River, Oregon. Kiteboarders travel from all over the world to come here, and 95% of them are very respectful of beach rules. Our main demographic is between the ages of 40-55 and we are contributing citizens of society, parents, and fellow neighbors. We are not terrorists, ruffians, or hooligans. Everyone is just grateful to be here and to share the beach with all of the other folks. For anyone who strays, we are there to remind them.
As for the parking situation, I think leaving the parking lot open later would solve everything!
nags head bob says:
I don’t know if any of you remember, but back when that was a private driveway the Midgett’s who owned it would allow the hang gliders to access the back side of the ridge. At that time the parking area was the size of a football field of hard packed sand. If the point of it is that it’s supposed to be a recreation area, well they have planed poorly. The parking area needs to be expanded and the existing area could be left for beach goers while the Northern end of the property could be utilized for the kiters to access the sound.
Ron Snow says:
Pave those pesky dunes! More parking will solve the problem by getting more people packed into this beach! Now that’s some old testament stewardship I’d like to see more of.
Steve says:
The trouble with kiting is anyone can do it. Does not require skill or ability until you progress to a higher level.
Kite in the ocean where the action is. The sound-side is boring.