Wind swell creates Chesapeake Bay surf

The Great Neck area could be considered the crossroads between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean so surfers are not an unusual sight. However, Virginia’s coastline is hindered by a significant distance from the oceanic shelf which prevents swells from providing quality surf.

The sheltered “Bay” is even less prone to receiving these waves than the ocean because the “Bay” is not designed to handle the swell that creates ride-able waves.  Thus, surfers find it difficult to locate safe, organized surf when the opportunity arises.

Juniors Hunter Collier, Nate Edwards, and Cody Minter are some of the Bay Coast residents who watch the surf closely and were ready this past weekend when a rare, but significant wind swell provided the conditions necessary for surfing the “Bay”.

The few surfers who have taken the time to get to know the Chesapeake Bay’s waters though, were rewarded with less crowded line-ups and a bounty of waves.