Each year Ride The Wind hires team members to work through the busy summer season. Our positions involve retail sales, rentals, kayak tour guides, and surf camp instructors. The team spirit of our staff is driven by the desire to have fun while meeting shop goals. We work hard and play hard! All of our team members are cross trained to work in our shop and rental operations. Qualified individuals may also be selected to work in our mid week kids surf camp.
Q&A
What are we looking for in our employees?
All of our employees must be extremely customer driven. The old cliché is to be a “people person”. You should look at each new customer as a potential new friend. Our employees should be interested in surfing and the surfing lifestyle. This doesn’t mean you have to be a pro surfer, but this definitely isn’t a summer internship at IBM either. Successful background in retail sales, kayak sales or rentals, outdoor adventure, surfing, working with kids, or other related activities is also beneficial. If you want to work at our surf camp you must be able to meet the qualifications for open water life guarding and have current CPR and first aid certifications.
How much will I earn?
All team members are paid an hourly wage. The actual rate depends on your experience and whether or not we are providing housing. Overtime is paid for all hours over 40 per week. All employees also have the opportunity to earn weekly bonuses based on rentals, surf camp, and kayak tour bookings.
How much will I work?
If you are provided housing by Ride The Wind you can expect to work between 40 and 50 hours per week. Generally, full time employees work a six day schedule. If you are not provided housing there are part time opportunities. Part time employees are required to work a minimum of 20 hours per week. Every effort is made to have a weekly work schedule that allows some time at the beach.
What would I actually be doing?
Depending on your qualifications you could work on the sales floor of our surf shop, rent kayaks and surfboards at our rental stand, be an instructor at our surf camp, be a kayak eco-tour guide, or any combination of the above. We like for our employees to be able to work in more than one position.
Where will I stay on Ocracoke?
The most significant challenge to any person looking for temporary employment on Ocracoke is finding a place to live. Monthly rentals are almost nonexistent. Rooms rented in houses are the norm, as are campers and such. Our housing consists of a garage apartment,
a boat, and other short term accomodations. The garage apartment is for two employees and has one bedroom with bunk beds, and a common area with TV, refrigerator, and microwave. Star Chaser is a 36’ Pearson Pilothouse sloop with berthing for two, one in a separate forward cabin and one in the main salon. It has a/c, refrigeration, stove, and a built in stereo with cd player.
We also make arrangements for employees to stay in rented rooms and
apartments. Parking for all of the above accommodations is extremely limited. We encourage employees to leave their cars at home and bring bicycles.
If I stay in company housing what are my rent and utility bills?
There is no charge for rent or utilities. No phone service is provided.
When do I start work?
We will work with college schedules as much as possible. Generally we need
employees from Mid May until Labor Day Weekend. Some of our employees leave
to go back to school in mid August, but preference is given to candidates
that can work until Labor Day Weekend
How do I apply?
If you are interested in applying you should contact
bob@surfocracoke.com to request an
application.
