Wrightsville Beach, N.C. — Surfers enjoyed rising waves deemed to risky for boaters and swimmers along the Outer Banks Friday as Tropical Storm Danny roiled up waters hundreds of miles away.

The waves are "ridable and exhausting – wonderful," Assaf Dahabani, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., said after a morning surfing at Wrightsville Beach.

The high seas – expected to get up to 7 feet – prompted life guards to put out red flags, which indicate when conditions are too dangerous for swimming. Rip currents were already getting dangerous, lifeguards said.

"Even if you're knee-deep, waist-deep water, you can already feel the rips pulling out. All it takes is for you to lose your footing, and then it's going to pull you out to sea," lifeguard captain Jeremey Owens.

(View rip current safety tips.)

Christian and Janette Morales kept a tight grip on their children as they played in the breakers.

"We worry about them, try to keep them out of the deep water," Morales said.

The prediction for Danny to stay off shore had surfers looking forward to a weekend of fun.

"This is what surfers love as far as the East Coast is concerned," said Dave Houck, 33, of Wilmington, who gives surfing lessons in Carolina Beach. "We don't want the mess. We just want the swells when the storm stays off shore."