Ocracoke village's surf and beach gear stop, steps from Silver Lake Harbor
Ride The Wind Surf Shop sits along Irvin Garrish Highway in Ocracoke village, a short walk from Silver Lake Harbor and the cluster of shops and docks at the island's south end. It's a straightforward stop for surf and beach gear — boards, wetsuits, sunscreen, hats, and the kind of apparel that gets used the moment you step outside — serving both day-trippers off the ferry and locals restocking before a trip to the beach.
The setting matters here in a way it wouldn't on the mainland. Ocracoke has no bridge or road connection — visitors arrive on the free NC ferry from Hatteras village, about an hour across the sound, or on the longer toll routes from Cedar Island or Swan Quarter, each around two and a quarter hours. Once you've made that crossing, a shop like this one covers whatever got left behind: a swimsuit, a rash guard, a beach umbrella, a pair of sunglasses.
It keeps long hours for a small island shop, open every day of the week and into the evening on weekdays, which makes it easy to duck in after a day on the water or before catching an early ferry back.
142 reviews
3 months ago
Rachel was a knowledgeable, engaging guide on our kayak tour around Springers Point and through the marshes of Ocracoke. We learned fun facts about the island, and gained new appreciation for the spirit and culture of this magical place! Not even cloudy skies put a damper on our adventure!
3 months ago
Great Experience Kayaking. Easy booking, helpful and kind staff, and had everything you need to hit the water quick! I really liked that they had accommodations for my 3 year old to kayak with us on a tandem kayak. I highly recommend! Great prices too!
3 months ago
This was our second eco-kayak tour with Ride the Wind. Rachael was knowledgeable, funny and engaging while also training two other guides. Our group had a great time and will rent kayaks from them again next time, if we don't do a threepeat on the guided tour!
3 years ago
We signed up for a paddle board yoga session with Savannah and it was a great experience. Definitely the highlight of the trip. She was a great instructor and tailored the session to our skill level. She even took photos of us during the session so we could walk away with a memory of the experience. We also rented kayaks and paddle boards with Ride the Wind and it was a wonderful experience. Everyone was friendly, accommodating and provided us with great equipment. Highly recommend!!
2 months ago
Great store and super easy place to rent Kayaks. They dropped the Kayaks off and picked them up. Hope to rent a surf board next time we are on The Ocracoke!