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Canadian Hole

Wide-open sky, unobstructed by trees and skyscrapers, hovers over a ridge of sand. The wind blows from every direction, sweeping sometimes gently, sometimes with excited fury, across the island from sea to sound or sound to sea. Welcome to Canadian Hole. Long before windsurfers and kiteboarders arrived in droves at Canadian Hole, Hatteras Island's local fishermen toiled night into day, day into night, plying fish from the salt- and freshwater sound. Arriving upon the shore, they toted their boats and fishing equipment, crossing the island at one of its narrowest locations to the Atlantic's beach. Some days their journey took them from the ocean to the sound at this place, dubbed "The Haulover." The crossing was frequently made at this place between Avon and Buxton, where the ocean has met the sound in past storm rages and will do so again one day. For now, Canadian Hole is available for wind and water lovers to use. It is a privilege granted by the National Park Service, which holds jurisdiction over the land as part of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Americans, Canadians, indeed people of the world, come here to sail across the shining seas known as the prime windsurfing and kitesailing spot on the United States' East Coast.

The place has a smell of its own, dusted by wind, sun, and island brush, wetted with rain and salt spray. At times, windriders wait in a quiet hush, lazily aware, keen to every movement of the wind. When the wind picks up, the scurry begins. Dashing across the parking lot, board over head, squeezing between cars, trucks, and vans, windsurfers in wetsuits head to the shallow sound while new arrivals find a parking space, scope the scene, assess the wind speed, and follow suit.

The spot attracts visitors from Canada seeking warm water and air often accompanied by steady wind. The drive is accomplished in a day or two, consuming 16 to 20 hours from eastern locales, with eager anticipation pushing the wind lovers south. A few resident windsurfers remember when the sport was new and first brought to the island in the early 1970s. One or two wet-behind-the-ear windsurfing pioneers ventured into the shores meeting the Graveyard of the Atlantic where shoals and unpredictable shifting conditions wrecked over 1,000 ships.

The fact was soon assured that windsurfing in the safer sound is fun, not only for beginners but for intermediate and advanced windsurfers as well. At times, hundreds of sails flit about, dancing upon the sparkles.

Some brave and skilled sailors carrry their board and sail across the highway, over the dune, and ride the waves into the Atlantic. The experience, if successful, is surreal, intoxicatingly beautiful. Jarring to the nerves, once accomplished, the ride is soothing. Many an inexperienced, or experienced, daredevil has been smashed by the surf and “denied” entry or has been swept along in a wicked current or lost equipment and pride, which is renewed in the next great session. More and more dedicated enthusiasts become wavesailors, enticed by the never-ending challenges and thrills.

Now, kiteboarding has found its perfect spot. Those with kites rather than sails, park along the sound in the sand and sail where the water is definitely shallow, away from the crowd of windsurfers, at Kite Point. Kite Point is just south of The Hole but part of the same park.

Despite the rise of windsurfing, followed by the rise of kiteboarding, the water is the same, and so is the wind. It's beautiful, and free. Whether holding a sail or a kite, sailors smile, tasting freedom, keeping the feeling forever and ever.Back to Watersports