The Day of Days: Virginia Beach on 2/16/16

Photos by Brian Kelley. Words by John Streit.

Now that we’ve officially entered spring, it’s only fitting that we look back at the winter that was. In the way of swell, it was certainly one for the record books. While more wave-rich regions like New Jersey and the Outer Banks churned out barrel after barrel of incredible form on each swell, Virginia Beach was left in the shadow – both figuratively and literally. But there was one day when VB was the spot: February 16, 2016. As the swell maxed out and washed out down south, the winds, tides, moon and stars aligned to deliver what many described as the best conditions Virginia Beach has seen in years. Possibly ever. Not the biggest, but the cleanest, most consistent and well-formed in recent memory. While we’ll leave the hyperbole up the the boys to discuss, here is the photographic evidence as captured by Brian Kelley at and near First Street Jetty during the late afternoon of 2/16/16.