Rider: Evan Netsch
Location: The Outer Banks
Photographer: Nicole Laiben
After spending decades of my life kiting in this exact location, it’s extra special to see a cover shot come out of my home riding spot. This location is responsible for a lot of progression for riders worldwide and has played a major part in shaping the sport today.
The butter flat water in Hatteras is known as a destination for some of the best wake style or freestyle kiters in the world and first-time beginners alike. The consistent wind and flat water is a world-class combination that very few places offer, and somehow I was lucky enough to end up with it as my backyard growing up through all my phases of kiting.
Without a doubt, the riding conditions in Hatteras have formed who I am as a kiter today. I spent years slowly working my way through nearly every discipline from freestyle to wake style hitting rails and kickers, big air, and gradually came full circle back to my windsurfing and surfing roots on a surfboard. Few places worldwide offer variety at such a high quality of flat water and waves. While the dead flat water is as good as it gets for twin-tip riding, it can also be a lot of fun and a great place to get in many consistent reps on a surfboard working on new tricks. In the summers at home, I now split my time equally between riding a twin tip, surfboard, and foil. The beauty of Hatteras is that it lends itself to all disciplines and keeps every session unique and fun, which for me is what has kept me motivated to ride every day after over 20 years of kiting.— Evan Netsch
