About

WBLiveSurf.com started in 2003 with a simple passion project from Tony Butler, longtime owner of Sweetwater Surf Shop and lifelong Wrightsville Beach surfer. At the time, most surf reports were generic forecasts—you couldn’t really know what the waves looked like until you pulled up to the beach yourself. Tony wanted to change that. Armed with a camera and a deep love for the community, he began posting real photos and honest surf reports straight from the sand.

What began as one man’s daily ritual quickly grew into something much bigger. WBLiveSurf became part of every surfer’s morning routine—check the cam, read Tony’s take, and head out to the beach with confidence. Over the years, Tony and his wife Jenn poured themselves into the site, offering multiple daily reports, photos, and a five-wave rating system that became the local standard. They also used WBLiveSurf to give back—supporting local surf contests, scholarships, and events that celebrated the Wrightsville Beach surf culture.

After two decades of building that foundation, Tony and Jenn decided it was time to pass the torch. In 2023, they handed WBLiveSurf over to Rick Civelli, another local deeply rooted in the Wrightsville Beach surf community. Rick, the founder of WB Surf Camp, SurfBerry, and Cape Fear Paddleboarding, shared their same vision: keep the site authentic, community-driven, and fueled by a love for the ocean.

Today, WBLiveSurf continues its original mission—to bring surfers the most trusted surf reports and live looks at Wrightsville Beach, while also growing into a hub for surf culture, ocean stewardship, and community connection. It’s still about keeping your toes in the sand, your eyes on the horizon, and your stoke alive.