Hurricane Arthur Swell

Virginia Beach’s Austin White drives through a dark pit and into the light in Kill Devil Hills, N.C. Photo: Devine.

Words by John Streit. Photos by Shaun Devine, Justin Reinerth, Allen Harcourt, Jon Breedlove & Jill Thomas.

Let’s face it, the Fourth of July isn’t exactly synonymous with pumping surf on the East Coast. Neither is the entire month of July, for that matter. The usual M.O.: break out the grill, pop some brews, hang on the beach and watch the fireworks. Maybe you’ll score a knee-high longboard session, if you’re lucky.

But thanks to an early season hurricane with a name that ironically rings of British royalty, surfers along the Mid-Atlantic coast were able to celebrate America’s independence in style. Hurricane Arthur made landfall in the wee hours of the morning on July 4 near Beaufort, N.C. before exiting across the Outer Banks for it’s rapid jet stream ride out to sea. The result was a short-lived-but-powerful shot of swell for the normally placid region.

Sure, the fireworks were cancelled for the Fourth; but you can bet the guys in these photos and behind the lenses weren’t complaining one bit.

Corey Hanks loads up on a meaty insider in Kill Devil Hills. 1 of 2. Photo: Devine.

Corey Hanks, 2 of 2. Photo: Devine.

A royal moment courtesy of Arthur. Photo: Devine.

VB-to-OBX transplant Justin Reinerth flies like an eagle on Independence Day. Photo: Devine.

A grinder goes unridden. Photo: Devine.

Better than watching the fireworks. Photo: Devine.

Shaun Devine’s one of Party Missile Handplanes co-founders. Here he is working on a little R&D before dark.

Where we all want to be. Photo: Devine.

The lefts were dominant as the backside of Arthur sent northeast swell to the Outer Banks. Photo: Devine.

Shaun Devine caught partying from the beach. Photo: Reinerth.

“This can’t be July!” Photo: Reinerth.

Shaun with a stylish backhand sweep. Photo: Reinerth.

Meanwhile back in Virginia Beach, Blaine Walck takes flight at Croatan. Photo: Breedlove.

Ryan Leopold makes Arthur pay. Photo: Breedlove.

Zach Beals, in control. Photo: Breedlove.

Ryan Zmuda, set to explode. Photo: Breedlove.

There’s nothing more American than a father-son split peak with mom snapping the photo. Craig and Hunter Thomas share a moment in Sandbridge. Photo: Thomas.