Beach Road Banter - The Outer Banks Podcast

Waves, Faith and Froyo: Jessie Hines a Fixture on the Outer Banks

Jesse Hines has spent most of his life chasing waves, but his story is about much more than surfing. I'm really thrilled to have him as my guest today because Jesse is one of those people so many of us know from the water, from the community, or from Surfin' Spoon, but there's a lot more to his story than most people probably realize. After moving to the Outer Banks at nine years old, Jesse found the place that would shape his faith, friendships, family, and future. What started as a childhood passion eventually became a professional surfing career that took him to Hawaii, California, major surf trips, magazine covers, surf films, and some of the best waves in the world. He also had a stretch of modeling work with brands like Abercrombie, Ralph Lauren, and Polo, so Jesse has lived a pretty remarkable life in and around surfing culture. But Jesse is honest about the pull of surfing and how hard it can be to let that identity shift. We discuss the selfish side of chasing every swell, the turning points that brought him back to faith, and the close-knit group of Outer Banks surfers featured in Noah's Arc. Those friendships have lasted for decades, rooted in a shared love of the water and a deeper sense of purpose. Jesse also shares the story behind Surfin' Spoon, the beloved Outer Banks business he built with his wife, Whitney. We talk about family, community, business, faith, and why the Outer Banks still feels so special even as it continues to change. In This Episode: * [02:17] Surfing has been a huge part of Jesse's identity, but he talks honestly about how it can also become selfish when life, family, and work responsibilities begin to grow. * [04:00] The transition from professional surfer to business owner and father required a real mindset shift, especially after years of chasing every good swell. * [04:45] Moving to the Outer Banks at nine years old changed the direction of Jesse's life, even though leaving Richmond after his parents' divorce was painful at the time. * [06:40] Looking back, Jesse sees how a difficult family change ultimately brought him to the beach, to surfing, and to the faith and friendships that shaped his future. * [07:55] The story of Noah's Arc begins with Jesse's friendship with Noah Snyder and a close group of Outer Banks surfers who became lifelong friends. * [10:24] Surf culture exposed Jesse to partying at a young age, and by his mid-teens, he could feel himself heading down a road that did not feel right. * [12:14] A ride home from a surf contest became a turning point when Jesse and Brant talked openly about quitting drinking, returning to church, and changing direction. * [14:37] Jesse's professional surfing career started with early sponsors, surf trips, magazine coverage, and the decision to move to Hawaii and California. * [17:15] Free surfing, photos, and video clips became a better fit for Jesse than contests, where he struggled to find the same level of success. * [19:12] An unexpected modeling opportunity came through Noah's Arc, eventually leading to work with brands like Abercrombie, Ralph Lauren, and Polo. * [21:17] Modeling income helped Jesse and Whitney put a down payment on their lot, setting the stage for the life and family they would build on the Outer Banks. * [22:29] The idea for Surfin' Spoon came after Jesse and Whitney saw the self-serve frozen yogurt concept and imagined how well it could work in their community. * [23:36] Friends, creativity, a memorable logo, and help from a UNCW business student all played a role in getting Surfin' Spoon off the ground. * [25:06] Even with opportunities to expand, Jesse and Whitney chose to protect their family life and avoid growing the business faster than they could handle. * [26:46] Surfin' Spoon's ice cream sandwiches started with recipes purchased from a local woman who had built an allergy-friendly dessert business. * [28:46] Growth into stores in Raleigh, Wilmington, and beyond brought exciting opportunities, but also showed Jesse where the business needed healthy limits. * [30:13] Beyond surfing, the Outer Banks stands out to Jesse because of the small-town community and the way people genuinely look out for each other. * [31:45] Family life on the Outer Banks includes simple adventures like driving to Carova, visiting lighthouses, camping in Frisco, and spending time in Ocracoke. * [32:47] Randy and Jesse reflect on how the Outer Banks has changed with more people and traffic while still holding onto the character that makes it special. * [35:51] The Outer Banks can be a wonderful place to grow up and settle down, but housing costs and limited opportunities make it harder for young adults starting out. * [36:30] Surfing here is uniquely challenging because of shifting sandbars, strong currents, rip tides, and the lack of predictable channels found in other surf destinations. * [39:11] Favorite surf spots include the Lighthouse, Avon, Buxton, Rodanthe, and especially Pea Island, where Jesse loves being able to find his own peak. * [40:17] During the COVID bridge closures, uncrowded waves and incredible sandbars created some of Jesse's most memorable Outer Banks surf sessions. Resources: * Beach Road Banter Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beach-road-banter-the-outer-banks-podcast/id1779793702] * Surfin Spoon [https://www.surfinspoon.com/] * Surfing For Autism [https://www.surfinspoon.com/sfa] * Surfin Spoon - Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/surfinspoon] * Noah's Arc [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=421CngNZKG0] * The Nine Lives of Jesse Hines [https://www.legendsofthesandbar.com/blog/2016/5/10/the-nine-lives-of-jesse-hines]

Keeping the Outer Banks Cruising for Over 30 Years: Chip Cowan

Some people come to a place with a plan. Others arrive by accident and end up building something they never saw coming. Chip Cowan's story is very much the latter, and it is one that anyone who loves the Outer Banks will recognize. Chip is the owner of Outer Banks Bicycle, a shop he has run for over 32 years. It has quietly become a cornerstone of the local community. What started as a recovery trip from back surgery with a cheap room, a tight budget, and no real agenda turned into a life rooted in the coast and the bikes he has loved since he was a kid. We get into the unlikely chain of events that led Chip to open a shop with less than $500 to his name, what it takes to survive in a seasonal beach town, and why genuine care for your customers is the most underrated business strategy there is. We also talk about the legendary early morning cycling group that became as much about brotherhood as fitness, his love of fishing, and what it means to raise a family in a place most people only visit. Chip found his people, planted his roots, and built a life that looks exactly like the one he wanted. That is a harder thing to pull off than it sounds. In This Episode: * [02:00] Chip shares what brought him to the Outer Banks, a back surgery recovery trip from Baltimore that was only supposed to last a month. * [03:00] A friend offers a room for $100 a month in September, and Chip arrives with his girlfriend and very little else, just living cheap and enjoying the place. * [03:33] How dramatically Outer Banks real estate prices have changed and the what-ifs that haunt anyone who has lived here for decades. * [05:20] Chip recounts a major missed business opportunity involving a commercial property in Kitty Hawk that was pulled from him at the last moment through a real estate law clause. * [06:00] The story of how a one-month visit quietly turned into a permanent life decision with no jobs, no agenda, just bagels, cheap food, and a growing attachment to the place. * [07:14] Spring arrives and the decision is made to stay, leading Chip to take a job at a local bike shop called Beach Bikes and Blades. * [07:56] Chip reveals his first employer turned out to be one of the biggest crooks he has ever personally encountered, running a web of fraudulent businesses across the Outer Banks. * [09:23] Left on his own to run the shop for nearly a full season, Chip unknowingly builds the foundation for what will eventually become his own business. * [11:31] With less than $500 and a borrowed space, Chip opens Outer Banks Bicycle — friends hang bikes on the wall just to make it look like a real shop. * [12:03] The early struggle to get bike suppliers to extend any credit to a young, unknown shop owner, and how a $2,000 line from Specialized changed everything. * [13:36] Chip connects his lifelong history of aggressive BMX riding to the back surgery that originally brought him to the Outer Banks with over a thousand crashes by his own count. * [15:43] The beach cruiser market and how BMX culture helped make cruisers cool again, which became a cornerstone of the Outer Banks Bicycle business. * [17:00] Chip talks about his deep community involvement and how the bike shop has always been about more than just selling bikes. * [17:44] The origin story of the legendary 5:30 AM cycling group, started by Charles Hardy, which Chip admits he was not immediately enthusiastic about joining. * [19:33] The Lance Armstrong era fueled a cycling boom, but the early morning rides became something far more meaningful. It was a form of friendship and therapy disguised as exercise. * [21:34] Chip reflects on how genuinely happy people are when they get a bike they truly love, and how that joy has been one of the most rewarding parts of the business. * [22:46] The story behind Randy's custom Chicago Cubs road bike, ordered around his 50th birthday as a tribute to his late mother, and what happened when it arrived the wrong color. * [24:25] We learn what Chip believes has driven his success including genuine care for customers, relentless work ethic, and a love for bikes that has never faded. * [26:49] Chip has four kids, three daughters and a son, and how he passed on a spirit of independence and outdoor adventure rather than pushing cycling directly. * [28:13] Why Chip could never leave the Outer Banks, and what it is about this specific place that no other coastal town quite replicates. * [29:52] The idea that the Outer Banks has been ruined by change and arguing the core of what makes it special is still very much intact. * [31:15] Fishing becomes the topic and how Chip discovered it almost by accident and how a 4:30 AM start time made it the perfect pursuit for a working father. * [32:38] Sunrise surfing, family beach mornings, and the rhythm of Outer Banks life come together as a picture of what a good day here actually looks like. * [34:24] Chip is headed to a music festival in Florida with all four of his kids, a reflection of the adventurous, family-first life he has built here. Resources: * Beach Road Banter Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beach-road-banter-the-outer-banks-podcast/id1779793702] * Outer Banks Bicycle [https://outerbanksbicycle.com/] * Outer Banks Bicycle - Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/obxbicycle] * Outer Banks Bicycle - Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/outerbanksbicycle/]

The People and Stories that shape the OBX; a conversation with Brian Tress

A place can look like a vacation destination on the surface, but underneath, it can completely reshape the direction of your life. The Outer Banks has that effect on people, and this conversation brings that transformation into focus through the lens of someone who experienced it firsthand. What starts as a simple visit can quietly turn into something much bigger. Brian Tress joins the conversation as a freelance writer, reporter, and storyteller whose work appears in outlets like the Outer Banks Voice and Milepost. After a career in hospitality consulting, Brian made a life-changing decision to move to the OBX in 2021, where he now spends his time capturing the stories, people, and experiences that define the region from adventure writing to community profiles. We get into how Brian ended up in writing almost by accident, the interesting people he's met since landing here, and what it is about this place that really pulls people in. He shares stories from diving offshore wrecks to those quiet early mornings on the beach, and by the end, you start to understand why the Outer Banks isn't just somewhere people visit. It's somewhere they don't quite let go of. In This Episode: * [02:59] Brian introduces his work as a freelance writer covering local stories, tourism, and unique experiences. * [05:54] A single 2021 vacation turns into a permanent move after an unexpected opportunity to buy the house he stayed in. * [08:22] Brian explains how his outsider perspective gives him a deeper appreciation for the OBX community. * [10:22] The conversation highlights how the community supports each other and gives newcomers real opportunities. * [15:33] Brian shares his experience diving shipwrecks off Hatteras and discovering Caribbean-like conditions in OBX waters. * [19:16] The discussion turns to red wolf conservation efforts and the surprising wildlife found in the area. * [21:10] Brian reflects on profiling locals with fascinating life transitions, including a former CIA professional turned artist. * [23:51] The idea of a book featuring "living legends" of the Outer Banks begins to take shape. * [24:26] Randy shares how the OBX attracts a uniquely diverse and intelligent mix of residents. * [27:09] Brian talks about learning to surf and stepping into new experiences later in life. * [29:25] The emotional and almost spiritual connection to the ocean becomes a central theme. * [30:13] A 95-year-old competitive swimmer becomes one of Brian's most inspiring interview subjects. * [32:40] Brian describes his daily ritual of visiting the beach and how it's become a grounding force. * [33:43] The beach is framed as both therapeutic and perspective-shifting, offering clarity and calm. * [34:35] Even during peak season, the Outer Banks maintains a sense of space and quiet that's hard to find elsewhere. * [35:10] The myths around sharks are discussed, reinforcing how safe and accessible the ocean really is. * [36:30] A reflection on how the OBX lifestyle blends nature, community, and personal reinvention. Resources: * Beach Road Banter Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beach-road-banter-the-outer-banks-podcast/id1779793702] * The Outer Banks Voice - Brian Tress [https://www.outerbanksvoice.com/author/brian-tress/] * Kitty Hawk Kites - Brian Tress [https://blog.kittyhawk.com/author/briantress/] * Brian Tress - Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bhtravelbug/?hl=en]

Was 2025 Really a Down Year for Outer Banks Real Estate?

As 2026 gets underway, I'm joined by Lynn, my local real estate colleague here on the Outer Banks, and together we take a look at what actually happened in the 2025 market. There's been plenty of talk that last year was a downturn, but when you look at the data, the picture is more stable than many people expect. Nationally, home prices rose modestly, inventory increased, and days on market moved higher, while total sales stayed near a 30-year low at roughly four million transactions, compared to the long-term average of five million. Here on the Outer Banks, residential sales increased about 3.6 percent year over year, median prices reached around $588,000, and total residential volume came in at just over $1.29 billion, even as homes took longer to sell. In this episode, Lynn and I walk through what those numbers mean for buyers and sellers, why longer days on market don't automatically mean prices are falling, and how pricing, inspections, and expectations are affecting today's deals. We also talk about what to expect in 2026, including inventory trends, insurance costs, rental performance, and how to approach the market realistically. In This Episode: * [00:00] This is the 2026 kickoff episode with a market recap and forward-looking discussion. * [01:16] Why perceptions of a "down market" don't always match what the data actually shows. * [03:36] National 2025 stats reveal modest price growth, rising inventory, longer days on market, and total sales near a 30-year low. * [06:29] The Outer Banks market tells a different story, with residential sales up 3.6 percent year over year. * [06:54] Median home prices reached roughly $588,000, while total residential volume climbed to just over $1.29 billion. * [08:08] Longer days on market are discussed as a key factor shaping buyer and seller perceptions. * [09:05] Comparing 2025 sales activity to 2015 highlights how today's market mirrors pre-COVID norms rather than a downturn. * [11:22] A decade-long comparison shows how median prices have more than doubled, driven by demand, rentals, and second-home buyers. * [13:15] The rise of short-term rentals and luxury buyers reshapes pricing and expectations across the Outer Banks. * [16:13] Buyers are becoming more selective, placing greater emphasis on inspections and property conditions. * [18:04] Sellers' lack of urgency, especially in higher-end homes, affects pricing strategy and negotiation dynamics. * [23:29] Negotiations in 2025 became more complex as buyers asked for more and sellers held firmer on price. * [25:36] The importance of preparing homes before listing increases as buyer expectations rise. * [27:26] How conflicting media narratives influence buyer and seller expectations. * [29:18] Insurance costs, particularly coastal homeowner insurance, emerge as a growing affordability concern. * [31:29] Rental performance shows mixed results, with stronger outcomes in higher-end, professionally managed properties. * [34:21] Education and preparation are emphasized as key advantages for buyers and sellers heading into 2026. * [36:00] Inventory levels remain lower than expected, though gradual increases are anticipated. * [37:28] Sales-to-list price ratios highlight the impact of pricing correctly in the first 30 days on market. * [40:25] A real-world pricing example illustrates how overpricing early can cost sellers long-term interest. * [42:20] Proper pricing and home conditions are identified as critical factors for success in 2026. * [43:18] Our outlook for 2026 as a more balanced, stable market year. Resources: Beach Road Banter Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beach-road-banter-the-outer-banks-podcast/id1779793702]

Surfing with Humpback Whale in the Outer Banks | #43

Winter in the Outer Banks has a way of settling in quietly, and for many people it brings more than colder temperatures and shorter days. Once the holidays pass, there's often an emotional and financial strain that shows up, especially in a seasonal, resort-based community like this one. Work slows down, businesses feel the shift, and the outdoor lifestyle that draws so many of us here isn't always as easy to access when the weather turns, which can make the offseason feel heavier than expected. I also want to share a quick update on the podcast. After a bit of a technical pause, I'm glad to be back and moving forward again, with plans to bring more local voices into the conversation as we head into the coming months. Sometimes an unplanned reset is part of the process, and I'm feeling optimistic about where things are headed and the stories that are still waiting to be told. Just before Christmas, I had one of those experiences that reminds me why the Outer Banks are special year-round. I paddled out alone on a rare calm winter day, surrounded by dolphins, when a massive humpback whale surfaced nearby. I followed it for nearly forty-five minutes as it fed, blowing bubbles and drawing in birds, fish, and more dolphins. Moments like that are humbling and grounding, and they're a reminder that even in winter, this place still holds a quiet kind of magic. In This Episode: * [00:03] Winter is settling into the Outer Banks, and life changes after the holidays in a seasonal, resort-based community. * [01:15] Short days, cold weather, and constant wind can make winter feel heavier, especially for people who moved here for the outdoor lifestyle. * [02:30] The holidays are joyful, but the financial strain that follows can be magnified when most income depends on the summer season. * [03:28] Many local businesses shut down for months, and money gets tight for residents who rely on seasonal work. * [04:24] Even in winter, getting outside matters, and some of the most meaningful moments happen when you least expect them. * [05:59] A rare calm winter day before Christmas creates the perfect opportunity for a solo surf session. * [06:32] Surfing in winter means cold water, heavy wetsuits, and conditions that feel like a cold plunge. * [07:21] Dolphins surround the lineup, adding to an already special day in the ocean. * [08:36] Increased activity in the water draws attention, with birds and fish signaling something unusual nearby. * [09:19] A massive humpback whale surfaces close to the surfboard, turning a quiet session into a surreal encounter. * [10:50] Remembering a past sunfish encounter explains the instinct to paddle closer rather than away. * [11:26] Following the whale at close range reveals dolphins gathering around what feels like the leader of the pack. * [12:08] The whale's presence dominates the water, disappearing and resurfacing in unpredictable ways. * [13:01] An unexpected smell raises awareness of just how powerful and alive the ocean environment can be. * [15:45] The experience becomes one of the most humbling moments ever in the water. * [17:10] Why the Outer Banks remain special year-round, even in the quiet winter season. Resources: Beach Road Banter Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beach-road-banter-the-outer-banks-podcast/id1779793702]