Surfing Lessons on Folly Beach

Folly Beach has had a significant surfing history since the 1960’s when Pat Thomas introduced the first surfboard to the beach. The magical island of Folly Beach is still one of the East Coast’s best kept surfing secrets. Folly Beach offers a variety of surfing spots for the beginner and advanced surfer alike. The top Folly Beach surfing spots are:

The Washout – also known as “Hollywood”, this is the spot for serious and experienced Folly Beach surfers for big wave surfing. The Washout offers some of the best waves in South Carolina. Swells average 3-5 feet.

County Park – Strong currents near the Folly River. Caution Advised

Clouds – Outside cloud break by the condos. Occasional big breaks

Folly Pier – South side of Pier has a long outside break. Good at low tide. You must maintain a safe distance from the Pier, follow the rules!

6th Street East – Fair to good waves

10th Street East – Popular spot – breaks not as big as The Washout – can hold a nice south swell

Piddleys – Usually small waves, hence the name

Old Coast Guard Base – Inconsistent break off of the SW sandbar. Strong currents – caution advised

search properties near surf spots on folly beach map

Once you have picked the right board for your size and ability, learning the rules and etiquette of surfing is the next step. Many of these rules involve common sense and common courtesy such as driving cautiously in beach communities, not littering, not surfing under the influence, and being respectful to other surfers and swimmers in the water.

learn to surf on folly beach like this guy Always make sure the surf conditions are safe before entering the water. Surf with a least one other person; it’s not only more fun, it’s safer if you get into trouble in the water. Always wear a leash to prevent your board from becoming a danger to others in the water. Don’t “drop-in” on other surfers; it’s not only rude, but potentially dangerous. Give surfers there first the right of way and if you accidentally drop-in, apologize and get out of the way as quickly as you can.

A great way to improve your surfing ability is with surfing lessons. There are 3 Folly Beach surf shops that give surfing lessons; Ocean Surf Shop, McKevlin’s Surf Shop and Inner-G Surf Shop. McKevlin’s is the oldest surf shop in South Carolina. They offer both lessons and surfboard rentals. Inner-G Surf Shop is run by one of Folly’s most famous surfers, Greg Elliot. Greg not only gives surfing lessons and advice, but creates some of the finest and most unique custom surfboards. He is considered by many one of the best East Coast surfboard makers.

As a beginner, you may find the slang used by experienced surfers to be somewhat of a foreign language. Here is some commonly used surfer slang:

Barrel – This is where the wave is hollow when it’s breaking. It’s also sometimes called a “tube”. The barrel is why many people surf

Blown Out – This happens when the onshore wind turns the surf into an unrideable brew

Close Out – When a wave breaks along its length all at once

Cutback – Reversing the direction that you are surfing in one fluid move

Ding – Damage to your surfboard

Foamies – Foam made surfboards – perfect for beginners

Grommet – Term used to describe a young surfer

Impact Zone – Spot where the waves are breaking

Mullering – A big time wipe-out

Rip – A strong current heading out to sea. Potentially dangerous

Before you get brave and start surfing The Washout, you need to learn your limits. How adventurous you are with a surfboard should be directly related to how strong of a swimmer you are. Paddling around in the open sea is quite different from floating around in a swimming pool on an inflatable toy. You should never venture out further than you can comfortably swim. Always warm up and do stretching exercises before hitting the waves. Remember that safety of yourself and others should always be your primary concern when surfing.