This Article is a Temporary Tattoo
By Jud Bushkar
July is a time when each of us falls into our own routine. Whether you check the waves each morning (I see you), pick up trash from the beach (thank you), or roll out of bed late complaining about the tourists you partied with last night, you realize that summer brings its own challenges.
Lineups can be crowded at the Washout, and the Pier is blackballed from 10 AM till 6 PM. Something that meteorologists call the Bermuda High slaps a high-pressure system on the subtropics, blocking out any sizeable ocean swell. As a result, surf is often small but clean in the morning. More often than not, afternoon brings a strong southwest wind and choppy, poor conditions.
Occasionally, there is relief. The first half of July brought several days of good surf with five-foot waves settling on our shores for at least three days. It was much needed, since many of us had forgotten that there were waves over waist high in South Carolina. The surf has been good enough to call in sick to work, but not good enough to quit the whole job. Overall, it has been an above-average July.
Hot summer months also bring amateur surfing competitions to our area. The Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) holds many events for its Southern South Carolina district right here on Folly Beach. These contests are usually located at the Washout and draw participants from all over the Lowcountry. Shortboard, longboard, and bodyboard events are held, and each event is further split into age groups. It is a great time and entire families participate. Surfing truly is a sport that can be enjoyed by young and old alike. Sponsors, families, and fans put tents up on the beach and everybody posts up for one heck of a day.
Three contests are scheduled to take place this weekend (July 23-24). The first is the McKevlin’s Gromfest. This event takes place on Saturday, July 23, and showcases Folly’s young surfing talent. Look for Evan Tanner and Grace Muckenfuss to take top honors. Another fine young surfer, McHenry Jackson, has been experimenting with a twin fin setup over the past few weeks. Using two fins, rather than three, loosens up his surfing and allows him to turn easier. Good luck to all the groms (young surfers) that are participating in the contest.
The John Kalagian Team Challenge and the Liquid Shredder Open both take place on Sunday, July 24 at the Washout. The Team Challenge pits teams representing surf shops, restaurants, and stores against each other. They compete for bragging rights as decided by total points. Bring the whole family and see how well some folks are surfing on Folly Beach.
If there is one thing I know, it is that you will surf better after watching better surfers. Put the time in. Watch surf movies and see athletes of all ages surf at the exact same break as you do. Thanks for reading. Take it light, my friends.
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