Save the Date For the Best Weekend in Women’s Surfing in South Carolina
Special to The Current
Calling all Wahines! Mark your calendars, the highly anticipated annual women’s surf contest, the Folly Beach Wahine Classic, returns for its 21st year on Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30.
The Folly Beach Wahine Classic is a non-profit organization with a mission of empowering women of all ages and skill levels, and benefitting Charleston Surfrider, Waves 4 Women, among other local ocean-based non-profits.
Hosted annually for over two decades at the iconic and historic Folly Beach surf destination, the Washout, “wahines” (women surfers) travel from near and far to compete at the nationally recognized all-girls surf contest.
“The Folly Beach Wahine Classic empowers women of all ages and skill levels a friendly and welcoming environment to compete and rule the waves at the legendary surf spot, the Washout on Folly Beach,” says Nicole Elko, director of the Wahine Classic.
According to Elko, she is expecting around 250 competitors this year from across the nation. Some surfers will be travelling as far as California, Virginia, Florida, and Puerto Rico.
“The 2022 Pro division winners represented every state in the Southeast; Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida,” says Elko.
Each year, the Wahine Classic strives to make the surf contest a plastic-free, low-waste event. For the first time in 21 years, they are taking it one step further by hosting a sustainability giveaway with the Charleston chapter of the Surfrider Foundation! All participants who bring their reusable items like water bottles will be entered to win a fun, environmentally friendly prize.
“Folly Beach locals have shown love and support every year for our non-profit event, says Ellko. “A donation button on our website will help us put on the best Wahine Classic yet. We also would love for our close-knit Folly Beach community to be spectators at the competition on July 29-30 to cheer on our Wahines and show the love!”
For more information about the Folly Beach Wahine Classic, support their mission, and sign up as a volunteer at FollyWahine.com. Follow along for more updates on Facebook at Folly Beach Wahine Classic and Instagram @FollyBeachWahine.
