Focus North Carolina » Water and waves

Banks surfers carry dental floss in their cars to clean out the sand from their teeth after barrels like this ... Rob Brown.© 2009 - Kenny Onufrock/Transworldsurf

If you’re a fan of big, round barrels and you don’t mind picking sand out of your teeth, the banks are a no-brainer destination. “It’s always really fun and punchy,” says Myers, “and there’s so much deserted coastline you’re pretty much guaranteed a solo surf with you and a few friends.”

Pack a fullsuit even in August. Offshore winds can cause upwelling off the coast, and the water temps can drop drastically over the course of an afternoon. It’s not uncommon to be in trunks in the morning and a 3/2 in the evening. If you’re bold enough to try a winter trip, bring as much rubber as you can find. It’s cold—really cold.

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