New Park To Open Saturday!

Finally after many months of delays, the brand new Ocean Isle Beach Park is scheduled to open this weekend.

The $2.9 million, 5-acre park located on Old Georgetown Road will be officially opened Saturday, August 21st.

Originally the county’s plan was to be finished with the park by last by October, but construction on the park came to a standstill when the contractor on the project, Weaver Co. Inc., of Conway, S.C., went bankrupt, leaving the park’s fate hanging in the balance.

Liberty Mutual, the bonding company for the project, took over with Boggs Paving Inc., of Myrtle Beach, chosen to finish the job.

The park’s amenities  include eight tennis courts, playground equipment and a 300-seat amphitheater and more.

According to Ocean Isle Beach Mayor Debbie Smith a town staff member recently met with the new contractor about the park’s wastewater connection linking its restroom facilities to the Ocean Isle Beach treatment plant, an important step in the project. Smith said she was happy the project now has a completion date in sight.

I think it is certainly going to be an asset to this end of the county. It’s got wonderful tennis courts and a wonderful playground for children,” Ocean Isle Beach Mayor Debbie Smith said. “Of course, with the amphitheater and event space it should add some activities in our end of the county.”

The county received a $500,000 Parks and Recreation Trust grant for the $2.9 million project.

FALL GOLF $99 All Inclusive!

This fall the best golf value at the coast is at The Winds Resort Beach Club!

This all inclusive package offers premier accommodations, Hot Southern Breakfast Buffet each morning, daily housekeeping, greens fees for golf on over a dozen great area courses, carts and even free lunch at some courses -  there is no better golf value around!

FALL FORE GOLF 9/1/2010-10/31/10

$99.00 Per Person All Inclusive – Package includes:

• Lodging
• Daily Hot Southern Breakfast Buffet
• Daily Round of Golf On Great Courses (See list below)
• Cart Fees
• Greens Fees
• Daily Housekeeping
• Rates based on 4 golfers in a 2 bedroom/2 bath suite, 8 golfers if a 4 bedroom/4 bath Resort House or 2 golfers in a one bedroom/one bath Camilla Guest Room.

Courses Include: The Pearl East, The Pearl West, Carolina National, Brierwood, Carolina Shores (Free lunch at course), Eagles Nest, Lockwood Folly, Farmstead, Meadowlands, Palmetto Greens (Free lunch at course), Sea Trail Maples, Sea Trail Byrd, Valley at Eastport

Lions Paw, Panthers Run & Magnolia Greens available for $10 more.

To book this golf package please call the The Winds Golf Desk Toll Free: 800/334/3581 or visit the The Winds Golf Package website: http://thewindsgolf.com Email:

GolfDesk@TheWinds.com

International Tee Party

The 23nd Annual North Carolina International Tee Party Golf Tournament, hosted by The Winds Resort Beach Club on Ocean Isle Beach NC, Read more

Surf Mag Features Local Surfer

Local Surfer Knox Harris is profiled in the September issue of Transworld Surf Magazine (the current issue).

It seems Ocean Isle has come into its own in the surfing world! First the Powell brothers bring home 1st Place (Mike) and 3rd Place (Ben) in the NSSA Nationals Mens Division in Dana Point, CA! Then Mike Powell Powell wins first place in the pro division of the sixth annual Reef/Sweetwater Pro-Am Surf Fest at Wrightsville Beach on Sunday See related post). Now another great local surfer, Knox Harris,  is in the spotlight!

Knox is the son of Sharky’s Waterfront Restaurant owner Ray Harris and his wife, Sarah Harris an Ocean Isle Real Estate Broker, The following is an excerpt from the article:

“At the age of 14 most kids have fun and goof off in the water. They might be a talented surfer, but heats don’t necessarily seem all that important to them. That used to be Knox Harris.”

“Knox is a natural surfer loves the water and can put a board on rail or bust the fins out with ease. And he’s always had a great attitude and exemplified sportsmanship, but he almost had too much fun in heats and couldn’t quite focus on the task at hand.”

“Allstar Coach Pat Emery worked with him a bit on this early this year, and it’s starting to pay off”

“As Coach Pat noted, “Knox was one of those kids who has always been incredibly talented but goofed off a bit more in the water instead of focusing on his heats. But this year his focus before and after heats has been right on target.”

“Focus and determination are facets needed to complement ability to get big results in surfing”

“With a few notable results already chalked up this year, it’s obvious that Knox is beginning to put it all together. And when he does, watch out.”

“Knox is a natural surfer who loves the water and can put a board on rail or bust the fins out ease.”

HOMEBREAK: Ocean Isle Pier
ESA DISTRICT: Southern North Carolina (SNC)

SURF CREW: Michael, Ben, Nick, Owen, and Cam

RESULTS: Second, Boys’ 2010, Mid-Atlantic Regionals; Fifth, Open, Shortboard 2010 Mid-Atlantic, Regionals; ESA Allstar 2009/10; Second, Boys Under 16 2010 Surfing America Prime East (New York)

As this is being posted Knox is arriving in Fiji in pursuit of some of the worlds best waves!

Cape Fear Sailfish Classic

This weekend (8/12 -8/15) Cape Fear Sailfish Classic comes to Ocean Isle Beach.

The CFSC was started by dedicated recreational fisherman for recreational fisherman.

This event is designed to promote fun and those who want to pursue the challenge of locating these beautiful species and practice the art of proper bait presentation, the use of “teasers” top attract and locate the fish, and the art of “drop back” with circle hooks to promote a effective hook up and safe release of the fish.

Sailfish are perhaps the fastest species of fish, they are known to “free jump” and to “ball baits” as well as to “slap the baits” with their bills in order to stun their prey. When the fish picks up the bait, typically the angler wants to see the bite, optimally you want the reel in free spool or very light drag.

When the fish picks it up, one should feel the speed of the reel pick up and apply gently pressure with the thumb to the spool. Once the fish has sped away for 5 seconds, it’s time to “lock up” the drag and watch as the sailfish makes an acrobatic leap in an all-out attempt to throw the hook.

A proper circle hook-set will occur in the corner of the sails jaw. After a 10-30 minute fight, the sails, which all generally measure about 35-70 lbs and somewhere around 72-88 inches in length, should be boatside ready for the mate to work the leader to the boat. This is truly “hunting for fish”, with current, temperature change, and the presence of large schools of bait being very important.

These fish are known to come inshore during late summer and congregate in the areas around the Tower, the Horseshoe, the Jungle, and anywhere which holds bait.

Because of the rig you will be fishing, there is less chance of other predator’s fish, such as sharks, barracuda, or kings taking the bait. Dolphinfish, however, are frequent acrobatic visitors and great eating!

Thursday the 12th

Registration opens at 3.p.m. at Ocean Isle fishing Center, 65 Causeway Drive. OIFC is the tournament site and a major sponsor. Captains bags delivered with paid registration. Includes 4 official tee shirts, cameras will be purchased at cost for each day.

5:00 pm. Circle hook rigging demonstrations and bait prep. 3 methods will be demonstrated by 3 experienced anglers (mates)

6:30 Pig Picking for all registrants and their crew (4). Additional plates may be purchased at the tournament office.
Friday the 13th

Fishing lines in at 8:30 within boundaries and lines out at 3pm.

4p.m. Weigh In opens for dolphin

5p.m. Release tallied and results reported via the web and at OIFC. Daily winners announced.
Saturday the 14th

Fishing lines in at 8:30 and lines out at 3p.m.

4p.m. Weigh In opens for dolphin

5p.m. Releases tallied and daily winners announced, preliminary overall totals announced via web and at the tournament site.
Sunday the 15th

1p.m. Official results announced at OIFC. Burgers and hot dog cooked out for tourney participants at OIFC. Prizes awarded. Prize winners need not be present; checks will be mailed if not present.

For more info visit the official site for the event at: http://www.capefearsailfishclassic.com

OIB Surfers Rule In CA Again!!

Local Ocean Isle Beach surfers Mike and Ben Powell have once again ruled the waves the in the NSSA Collegiate Surfing Championships in Dana Point, CA!

Michael Powell took 1st Place and his brother Ben Powell 3rd Place NSSA Nationals Mens Division! What a way to represent the Ocean Isle Beach / Brunswick County NC area!

OceanIsleBeach.com salutes the Powell brothers significant accomplishment.

Mike and Ben Powell came to the NSSA Collegiate Surfing Championships in Dana Point, CA with the hope of proving to the California-dominated contest that East Coasters schools could surf too. Instead, the brotherly duo from Ocean Isle Beach (surfing for UNC-Wilmington) almost took the whole thing!

Last year the brothers took second and third place and they ruled the national contest again this year,

Brothers Michael and Ben Powell together operate The Carolina Surf School which offers private and group lessons.

With more than twenty years of surfing experience combined they are semi professionals that can really are help you push your ambitions to the next level as a surfer.

Contact Michael and Ben Powell: 910.233.8908 or 910.233.4004 http://www.carolinaschoolofsurf.com

Learn To Surf!

Ocean Isle offers several options for those wanting to learn to concur the waves! Ocean Isle Beach’s gentle rolling waves are perfect for beginner and intermediate surfers of all ages. Read more

Water Zumba!

Zumba Fitness is sweeping the country like wildfire but what is Zumba? is like no other workout you will ever experience!
Zumba Fitness was created in the mid-90’s by Colombian native Alberto “Beto” Perez, a celebrity fitness trainer and choreographer for International pop superstars. Inspired by the traditional cumbia, salsa, samba and merengue music he grew up with, Beto paired his favorite pulsating Latin rhythms with the red-hot international dance steps his clients loved and Zumba® Fitness (Spanish slang for “to move fast and have fun”) was born!
Since Beto brought Zumba® Fitness to the US in 1999, it has become one of the fastest-growing, dance-based fitness crazes in the country, with people of all ages falling in love with its infectious music, easy-to-follow dance moves, and body-beautifying benefits.

When some participants of the popular new dance-exercise class called Zumba found all that aerobic dancing hard on the joints, their instructor found a way to accommodate them.

She took it to the pool. Now Water Zumba is offered at The Winds Resort Beach Club, an oceanfront resort on Ocean Isle Beach NC, where it has become a splashing success. The Winds Resort  is working with the County Parks & Recreation Department to offer Water Zumba to the public along with guests of The Winds. The classes are open to the public but guests of The Winds can participate for free!

The program runs from May 4 —August 31, 2010 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 pm -6:30 pm at The Winds Resort Beach Club, 310 E 1st Street, Ocean Isle Beach, NC

The cost is  $35 a month, $10 per session for Drop-Ins and guests of The Winds Resort are free

Water Zumba incorporates all the fun of Zumba – high-intensity dance movements – with the gentle support of the water.

Kick your legs forward. Pump your fists in the air. Wiggle your hips. Run in place. Jump. Crisscross your feet. Do a ski movement. Hop from side to side. Squat. Roll your shoulders. Now put it all together to the beat of music like reggae, salsa, meringue, or cumbia.

Shake it, baby! Shake it! Tired yet?
Zumba feels like you’re dancing and it’s a fun workout but a lot of people quit doing it on land because it is sometimes hard on the joints. Instructors improvised and started another class in the swimming pool.

Students of all fitness levels range in age from 12 to 87. They simply move at their own pace. Another bonus for the self-conscious: no one can see what your hip movements look like in the water.

While the Zumba craze has really taken off at fitness centers, there aren’t many teaching it in the water. Taking it to the water was a whole new experience.

This method of teaching allows students to observe the moves and the teacher to test the intensity of the workout in the pool.
While some students take the class to keep pressure off the joints, others just like the option of a different form of exercise.

“I took it the first day,” said Jamie Barber, 19, “It’s a lot of hip movement. It’s more like dancing. It gives you a good workout with the water resistance. The water is easier for those who can’t do it on land.”

She wanted to add a new dimension to her exercise regimen.
“Exercising in the water is better on your knees and joints. I like it because you can get a workout without getting hot and sweaty. Exercising in the water is also like using weights because you get that water resistance.”

For other fitness programs at The Winds click here: http://oceanislebeach.com/summer-fitness-programs/

For more information contact:

Ruthie McHugh
Fitness Coordinator at Brunswick County Parks & Rec.
910-253-2583

Video – Surfing Ocean Isle’s Waves

Surfers at Ocean Isle Beach had some of the best waves ever on March 29th, 2010. It has taken us a little while to get this video up but 10 out of 10 surfers will agree it was worth the wait. This video was shot and edited by Micah Stanley!

FREE SUMMER GOLF!

The best golf value at the coast is at The Winds Resort Beach Club! Read more

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