Here's a basic description of how it works: throw your board in the water, get out past the shorebreak with your paddle tucked under you, and pop to your feet with your paddle in hand. Standing with your feet parallel, you can then balance on the board and begin paddling around. Once you get the feel of it, try propelling yourself into the waves.

To properly practice the sport, you can't just jump on your regular longboard and grab a canoe paddle. Stand-up paddle surfing requires a special surf board and paddle. The board is approximately 10 to 12 feet long, 27 to 31 inches wide and four to five inches thick, and the paddle should be about six inches taller than you.

Part of stand-up paddle surfing's appeal lies in its outstanding fitness benefits, including a strong core body workout, upper body strength and cross training. The sport also challenges one's balance as it requires you to use your leg muscles and core to maintain your board position.

The sport's enthusiasts are also drawn to the way the standing position allows surfers to have a clearer view of incoming waves, enabling them to catch waves earlier. Beginners usually practice the sport in flat water first before braving the ocean current. This can be done on any lake, river, sound or other waterway, similar to the waters commonly canoed or kayaked. Sometimes even more skilled surfers choose to perfect their sport in flat waters.
 

Beginner surfing lessons are conducted weekly from June through August. The three-day classes are for advanced ocean swimmers age 10 to adult and are limited to six students per session. The course covers surfing etiquette, paddling, wave-catching, maneuvers and basic surfing principles. Pre-registration is required, fees are charged, and you must provide your own surfboard. Call for more information and a schedule.

Surf Camp, Inc.
530 Causeway Drive, Ste. B-1, Wrightsville Beach
(910) 256-7873 

Surf Camp offers high-quality learn-to-surf camps for kids, teens and adults with well-trained, certified and fully insured professional instructors. Founder/Director Rick Civelli brings a passion for surfing to all his instructional programs, along with a background in marine science education and ocean safety. You’ll learn where waves come from as well as how to ride them. Classes range from a two-hour lesson to a full week of Surf Camp. Spots are limited and usually sell out each summer at this popular school, so call early.

Ocean Isle Surf Academy
4141 Babson Rd. NW, Ash
(910) 352-6579 

Reese and Cayce Patterson, owners and instructors of the Ocean Isle Surf Academy, have a wealth of experience between them that includes professional surfing, certified lifeguarding and CPR, first aid, physical therapy and exercise consulting. The academy provides individual and group lessons, week-long and overnight surf camps for different age groups, and surf retreats. Camps include all necessary equipment, tents, snacks and drinks as well as instruction, an awards ceremony and a group photo.

Alley Oop Surf Shop, 424 Sunset Boulevard, Sunset Beach, (910) 578-7728

Boomer's Rentals, Causeway Plaza, 3468 Holden Beach Road, Holden Beach, (910) 842-1400, (800) 287-1990

Holden Beach Surf & Scuba, 3172-4 Holden Beach Road SW, Holden Beach, (910) 842-6899

Bert's Surf Shop, 310 N. New River Drive (N.C. Highway 210), Surf City, (910) 328-1010
 

On Shore Surf Shop, 409 Roland Avenue, Surf City, (910) 328-2232

Spinnaker Surf Shop, 111 N. Shore Drive, Surf City, (910) 328-2311

Pleasure Island Rentals, 2 N. Lake Park Boulevard, Carolina Beach, (910) 458-4747

Wheel Fun Rentals, 107 Carolina Beach Avenue N, at the Boardwalk, Carolina Beach, (910) 458-4545

Beach Fun Rentals, 132 Ocean Boulevard W, Holden Beach, (910) 842-9600, (888) 355-4446
 

Swimming

Except for the threat of rip currents, the surf is generally moderate. Several beach communities employ lifeguards during the summer, but the beaches are not staffed otherwise. Swimming in a few areas is hazardous, such as at the extreme east end of Ocean Isle Beach and along the Fort Fisher Historic Site, because of either strong currents or underwater debris. All hazardous areas are well-marked. See our chapter on Sun, Sand and Sea for more on beach swimming. Check the facilities listed below if pool swimming is more to your liking.
 

Write-up coming soon...
 

When the beach is cold and windy, you can still enjoy a refreshing swim at Wilmington Athletic Club. Their competition-size outdoor pool is heated for year-round swim lessons, aqua aerobics classes and fun. Here you'll find a full range of group, semi-private and private lessons for infants to adults as well as exercise classes offered throughout the day. For serious lap swimming, there are always lanes available.
 

The YMCA boasts two indoor pools to accommodate its many members year round. Water fitness, swim lessons, swim team, triathlon clubs and life-guarding classes are among its many offerings. Membership is required to enjoy general use of these facilities, which are open seven days a week. Some classes are open to the community with discounted fees for members. Call the YMCA for current individual or family rates. 
 

The YWCA offers therapeutic and fitness programs for all ages and levels, including water aerobics, swim lessons (private and group), pool rentals, swim team (winter and summer), lap swim and recreational swim. The facilities have chair lift and ramp accessibility. They also offer Red Cross Lifeguard and CPR/PR Certification and Recertification. The pool is open year-round and requires a membership to the YWCA.

In this land of waterways, ocean and rivers, water tours of various sorts abound. Depending on your interests and boating preference, you can choose from the formal Henrietta III Riverboat or casual Capt. J.N. MAFFIT, both located on the riverfront in downtown Wilmington (see our Attractions chapter). There are also guided adventure tours offered by most of the local kayak companies. Some fishing charters double as tour boats, too, especially out of Wrightsville Beach, Southport and Carolina Beach Marina, where Winner Fishing & Cruise Boats, (910) 458-3474, operates a variety of popular waterway cruises (see our Fishing chapter for a list of charter boats).
 

Cape Fear Eco-Tours
1605 1/2 Hawthorne Rd., Wilmington
(910) 409-1378
 

Trained biologist and ornithologist Joseph Abate offers exceptional ecological tours of the area's tidal creeks, state park wetlands and the Intracoastal Waterway with a focus on local birds and birding. Bradley Creek and Masonboro Island are his favorite tour destinations. For $40 you can enjoy a two-hour guided tour by kayak or catamaran, and you'll learn about the history and habitats of local birds, environmental issues and native plant life. Joe is also a certified guide for the North Carolina Birding Trail locations and offers both hiking and boating tours in New Hanover and Brunswick counties.

The Naturalist Company
1605 Hawthorne Rd., Wilmington
(910) 763-9418

Trained biologist and ornithologist Joseph Abate offers exceptional ecological tours of the area's tidal creeks, state park wetlands and the Intracoastal Waterway with a focus on local birds and birding. Bradley Creek and Masonboro Island are favorite tour destinations. For $40 you can enjoy a two-hour, guided tour by kayak or catamaran and learn about the history and habitats of local birds and environmental issues and view native plant life.
 

Windsurfing & Kiteboarding

One of the best and most popular windsurfing and kiteboarding areas is The Basin, the partially protected body of water off Federal Point at the southern end of Pleasure Island (Carolina and Kure beaches). Accessible from a public boat ramp down the road from the ferry terminal, The Basin is enclosed by The Rocks, a 3.3-mile breakwater that extends to Zeke's Island and beyond. Motts Channel and Banks Channel on the sound side of Wrightsville Beach are popular spots, but you'll have to contend with the boat traffic. Advanced windsurfers prefer the oceanside of the jetty at the south end of Wrightsville Beach, where action is fairly guaranteed.

Around Topsail Island, the choices are the Intracoastal Waterway and the ocean. The inlets north and south of the island are not well-suited to uninterrupted runs. Along Oak Island and the South Brunswick Islands, the ocean is your best bet, although limited stretches of the ICW are OK for beginners (near the Ocean Isle Beach bridge when it's not busy, for example). Shallotte Inlet and River are narrow but worth a shot.

Kiteboarding is one of the hottest, up-and-coming watersports. Similar to wakeboarding, kiteboarding uses a large kite to pull you instead of a boat. It requires less wind than windsurfing, the gear packs up much smaller than windsurfing gear, and you don't need a boat to do it. Riders can jump 10 to 40 feet in the air while performing amazing tricks. Since they need less wind to have fun, kiteboarders get more good days in the Cape Fear area than windsurfers do.

The sport uses the principles of sailing in that you tack against the wind and can travel upwind or downwind. The boards are specially designed for the sport, and the kites can re-launch you if you crash in the water. Different-sized kites are available for different wind conditions and different weight riders. You can kiteboard in flat water and waves. The most popular spots to kiteboard around here are the south end of Wrightsville Beach, the Fort Fisher Basin and the north end of Carolina Beach. Riders go where the wind conditions suit them. Kiteboarding is a thrilling sport, but like any extreme sport, it can be dangerous. You are strongly urged to seek expert advice or take lessons.
 

Wind Toys LLC
614 N. New River Dr., Unit D, Surf City
(910) 328-5483