Here in the Outer Banks this week, I took my daughter to some surfing lessons. After “surfing” the Internet and having a false start with Kitty Hawk Kayaks (they were disorganized), I settled on Cavalier Surf Shop. First of all, I was impressed with John, the instructor, who wanted to wait for the best day for the waves to come to the right height. It has been unusually calm, and the other “surf in a box” shops were sending students out in lake-like conditions — not John. He said he would call when the surf was right, and he did! With an hour’s notice, we had Laura’s Murray Ross mini longboard in the car, sticking out of the sunroof, much to the smiles of the people on the beach road. We hit the beaches at South Nags Head. She was given a ten-minute beach class, how to stand up and wax your board, then they were in the water and surfing in no time. I was impressed with John and this true traditional surf shop that has been plying the trade for 50 years in the same little location. Catch a wave wherever your trips take you! — Fran Gallagher, publisher and CEO