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Locum tenens doctors on assignment in the Carolinas will be no strangers to the beach: the sun, the sand, the Outer Banks with an endless expanse of flat shallow water. Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, however, is more than just a pleasant, out-of-the-way destination for a beach getaway. It's also one of the best places on the planet to learn how to kitesurf.
A kite and a board
Kitesurfing is one of the easier water sports to learn. It may look somewhat intimidating between kite, harness and twin-tipped board, but kitesurfing draws inspiration from a variety of sports which you may already be familiar with.
Kitesurfing uses a large board designed to travel safely in either direction. Experienced kitesurfers may use smaller boards, or boards that are tapered like traditional surfboards. However, due to improvements in kite construction, large stable boards that need very little power to ride are perfect for people getting into the sport for the first time.
The kites are the real innovation. Unlike a windsurfing sail, large kites need very little wind to generate power. The kites have inflatable sections that maintain the kite's shape and provide floatation for relaunch from the water.
If you've spent any time surfing, snowboarding or windsurfing, you already have a leg up. And due to the size of the kite, the flat water and low-wind conditions at Cape Hatteras combine to form perfect – and pleasant – kitesurfing conditions.
Getting there
The Outer Banks are a little way off the beaten path, but experiencing Cape Hatteras is worth the effort. The National Park Service recommends visitors coming south to pass through Richmond, Virginia, taking NC-12 south over the scenic bridges of the Outer Banks.
If traveling from an assignment to the west or south, use a set of ferry lines connecting the mainland to Hatteras village, which the North Carolina Department of Transportation maintains. And, of course, check conditions before traveling to make the most of your time on assignment.