Book Now

Surf School. Outer Banks, NC

Sharing the Art
of Surfing.

Building confidence, connection, and community through the ocean.

Book a surf lesson Explore summer camps

A long line of Girl Grom campers and instructors in pink tie-dye shirts standing with colorful soft-top boards on the beach

EST 2018

Rooted in the Outer Banks. Locally owned and operated since the start.

Experienced Instructors

Large team of well-trained coaches with deep ocean safety roots.

Duck to Nags Head

We meet you at the best sandbars up and down the beach.

All Ages

We welcome kids, teens, adults, and families visiting and local to the OBX.

More than surf lessons.

Outer Surf combines professional surf instruction, extensive ocean-safety experience, personalized coaching, and a genuine passion for surf culture. We create meaningful experiences that build confidence, connection, and a lifelong love for the ocean.

An Outer Surf instructor coaching a group lesson on the sand by the dunes

Surf Lessons

Private and group lessons for every age and ability, from beginner surfers to intermediate coaching. A favorite for families visiting the Outer Banks.

Book a lesson →

Campers catching waves on pink and teal soft-tops, seen from above

Surf Camps

Summer camps for girls, boys, teens, and women, kept intimate so every surfer gets real coaching.

See camps →

A women's surf crew in wetsuits smiling under a rainbow after a session

Women's Camps & Retreats

Adult women's surf camps and getaways like our Hatteras retreat, built around confidence, connection, and self-care.

Learn more →

An instructor teaching kids about waves and sandbars at a whiteboard surrounded by surfboards

Events & Classes

Classes, workshops like Surfing is Self Care, and free community events that bring local surfers together.

Surfing is Self Care workshop →

Stay tuned!

Summer Surf Camps

Summer 2027 surf camp dates are coming soon. Spots are limited to keep camps intentional and high quality, so join our list to hear first when booking opens.

More camp info Get camp dates

Ages 8–12

Girl Grom Camp

Where it all begins: water skills, ocean safety, and new surf sisters.

Learn more →

A smiling teen surfer in an Outer Surf tee on the beach

Ages 13–17

Teen Wahine Camp

Level up with real coaching, more confidence, and a crew of girls who get it.

Learn more →

Ages 8–12

Boys Surf Camp

Paddling, pop-ups, reading waves, and a whole summer's worth of stoke.

Learn more →

A group of women striking goofy poses on the beach at sunset

Women · Ages 18+

Women's Sunset Session Surf Camp

Evening surf sessions for women 18 and up: learn something new as the sun goes down.

Learn more →

Women carrying bright orange and white longboards through the shallows at golden hour

Our why

Our mission

To share our love for surfing and the ocean while building confidence, teaching skills and safety, and having fun.

We believe surfing is an art, a form of self-expression, and a way to connect with others. Through surf lessons, camps, retail, and events, we inspire people of all ages to embrace surf culture, build community, and respect the ocean.

Our vision

A happier, healthier, and more inclusive coastal community, where the ocean brings people together.

We're cultivating a culture where kids, teens, and adults feel seen, supported, and inspired; where creativity and courage are encouraged; and where surfing becomes a lifelong source of belonging, empowerment, and personal growth.

What We Stand For

Community

Surfing is better together. We foster a supportive, inclusive space where voices are valued and everyone belongs, in and out of the water.

Respect

For the ocean, for one another, and for ourselves. It shapes how we teach, how we operate, and how we care for the place we call home.

Fearlessness

Catching a first wave, trying something new, showing up authentically. Growth lives on the other side of fear.

Empowerment

Through skill-building, encouragement, and trust, we help people discover their own strength, on a surfboard and in life.

Creativity

Surfing is an art form. We celebrate self-expression, individuality, and imagination in the water and in our community.

Outer Babes surf club girls cheering with their surfboards on the beach

The start

Outer Babes

Free surf club

Outer Babes is what started it all. Back in 2017, we started meeting once a week in the off-season, during the school year, to surf and hang out together.

Today it's a free surf club for local middle and high school girls who love to surf: a safe and creative space to grow, and to be encouraged, in their surfing and their friendships.

Join the club @outerbabes

Surfing That Gives Back.

We use surfing to invest in our local community through mentorship, outreach, and meaningful relationships.

Free surf meetups

Outer Babes surf sessions and meetups, always free for local girls.

Local giving

We are blessed to be able to give back to our community through opportunities like sponsorships, donations, local charities, and events.

Camp scholarships

Sponsored surf camp spots for local kids, so more of our community gets in the water.

Ocean safety first

We're integrated with Outer Banks Water Safety and provide high-quality ocean safety training for our instructors. It's a main pillar of everything we offer.

An instructor and a camper sharing a big hug on the beach

Bri Young dropping into a big grey winter wave

Bri Young sitting among a rainbow of soft-top surfboards

A chapter in our book

“OuterSurf | How a mother turned a surf shop into a home on the Outer Banks”

A mini documentary by Logan Hall · Watch on YouTube

Rooted in Kitty Hawk.

I'm Bri, a Kitty Hawk native. Outer Babes, the free girls' surf club I started in 2017, planted the seed for Outer Surf.

Today my husband Riley and I run Outer Surf with a large team of instructors, sharing the art of surfing all along the Outer Banks from Duck to Nags Head and building a community where everyone belongs.

Riley and I are also the owners of Outer Banks Water Safety, so ocean safety runs deep in everything we do.

Bri Young

Founder & owner

Read our story →

Outer Surf badge: Outer Banks, NC, established 2018

A surfer in a checkered long-sleeve one-piece carrying a green longboard on a tropical beach

Shop small, surf local

Our Shop Lives Online.

Swim, apparel, wetsuits, grom gear, sunscreen, beach towels, hats, and jewelry from Outer Surf and the brands we love. Need a board for your beach week? Rentals are available too.

Shop all Sale bin Rent a board

Join the Crew.

We're building a dependable core team of seasonal instructors and camp leaders. Love the ocean, love people, and want to grow with us? We'd love to meet you.

Apply to teach