We make new riders every day
The world’s premier watersports destination for kiteboarding, surfing, foiling, winging, and life on the water. Based in Cape Hatteras, REAL combines retail, lessons, travel, rentals, and waterfront accommodations into one connected experience.
REAL Pro Support
Mon–Fri · 9 AM–7 PM ET
Sat–Sun · 9 AM–6 PM ET
Store Hours
Daily · 10 AM–6 PM ET
REAL Watersports
25706 Highway 12
Waves, North Carolina 27982
(252) 987-6000
Retail. Lessons. Rentals. Travel. Food. Waterfront accommodations. What started as a small shop has grown into one of the world’s premier watersports destinations.
Retail, lessons, rentals, food, and expert gear advice — all in one waterfront destination.
World-class kiteboarding, surfing, winging, and foil instruction on the Outer Banks.
Waterfront accommodations steps from the REAL Flagship Store, Lesson Center, and sound.
Fresh food, cold drinks, and sunsets on the Pamlico Sound.
Ride the latest kite, surf, wing, and foil gear on the Outer Banks.
A destination built around kiteboarding, surfing, foiling, and life on the water.
We make new riders every day.
Our team of REAL Pros includes our sales team, marketing team, coaches and support staff. Whether you are adding another surfboard to your quiver, learning to kiteboard or just ordering a pair of sunglasses, our REAL Pros are here to help.
Join our team and live in one of the best locations for wind and surf in the world. If you excel in a team environment, like to learn something new every day and love taking sessions, then working for REAL is for you.
Built by lifelong watermen, riders, and coaches, REAL grew from a small kiteboarding school into one of the most respected watersports destinations in the world.
Founders Trip Forman and Matt Nuzzo helped shape the early evolution of modern kiteboarding while remaining deeply rooted in surfing, foiling, and ocean sports culture.
Trip and Matt were named among the “Top 10 Most Influential People in the History of Kiteboarding” by Kiteboarding Magazine, while Outside Magazine compared REAL and its founders to the early days of Burton Snowboards.
Epic winds. World-class waves. Unlimited beaches. Beautiful sunrises and sunsets, both over the water. Not many destinations in the world can match this.
REAL Pros travel the globe following wind, waves, and good times. These carefully chosen destinations are our top picks for your next kite, surf or foil adventure.
The REAL Experience. Ready to book your lesson or camp? Need more information? Send us a message or call 252-987-6000.
We are proud to have an extraordinary group of pro riders that represent REAL all around the world. Our team riders are not only outstanding riders they are also superb ambassadors for REAL and the sports they love.
Jason was our first team rider, is the co-founder of the Triple-S Invitational and a talented kitesurfer.
Brandon is continually pushing the limits of what’s possible on the water. As a multiple Triple-s champion, Brandon also started out as a REAL kite coach helping hundreds of new riders get out on the water!
Eric’s signature style sets him apart on the water and his love the sport is infectious.
Brett is our resident Surf Pro, if he's not getting the best waves on the OBX he is travelling the world chasing perfect surf.
Josh travels the world in search of perfect waves but loves nothing more than jumping on a plane to come and get barreled with us in the Outer Banks! Josh is one of a growing number of professional surfers to really embrace kitesurfing as a second sport.
Matt Keenan is an East Coast surfing legend who has also recently taken up kitesurfing! Matt is hands-down the most stoked person on earth!
James spends much of the year guiding for Surfari Charters in Nicaragua, the other portion is balanced between school and OBX strike missions.
Kai Wescoat is a Cape Hatteras grom who's surf skills are far beyond his years, keep an eye on this up and coming phenom!
Jessie splits her time between flat water and wave kiting, while traveling the globe representing REAL. When she’s not competing, Jessie is also the Head Coach at REAL, as well as an experienced first responder on land and in the water.
Camden Hoover is a REAL team rider who has loved playing in the ocean for as long as she can remember. She competes in shortboard and longboard surfing. She’s also passionate about singing and training Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.
Austin is always looking to pair the right discipline to whatever the conditions have to offer. When there’s waves he will surf foil, when there’s wind he will ride freestyle/park and waves with the kite. On the 30mph+ days you will catch him on the wing but kite foiling is his go to when the wind is light
Esben is a North Carolina native, and between kite-surfing, foiling, & surfing you can always find him with salt in his hair. A member of the local Chicamicomico Banks Fire Department, he splits his time between serving his community and spreading stoke.
Whether on Cape Hatteras, or Cape Town, Nick is always charging. Mega Loops, surfing, park riding, he does it all.
