East coast surfers spend countless hours fantasizing about the next hurricane swell to bless their beach with pumping surf. Living in Charleston as a surfer is no different. Summer’s are spent on longboards anticipating the first real swell sometime in August or September. So what is the difference between a “normal” swell and a hurricane swell. In this quick guide we will go over several important things to know.  If you are not sure if you are ready for one of these swells or you do not want to tackle it by yourself be sure to book a Coaching Surf Session with Isla.

1. Power. The power of a swell traveling from a distant Tropical Storm or Hurricane to the shores of Folly Beach will be more than the typical wind swell we get. This doesn’t mean the waves will always be bigger than other wind swell events, but it will mean the swell lines will be much more lined up and defined due to the longer period and even if it is only thigh high, the waves will still have more push to them.

   
   

2. Equipment. This is directly related to number 1 and again doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with the size of the waves. A longboard is your best friend as an east coast surfer no matter your level. As a beginner, it offers you the most stable platform to catch waves with ease in order to build up reps and sort out the basics of surfing. As an intermediate or advanced surfer living on the east coast and more specifically in Charleston, it means more days in the water having fun. With the longer period will come opportunity to break out your mid length, fish, or even shortboard you have been dying to use. With more power and push in the swell it will be easier to master your smaller crafts and in many cases the shorter crafts will be better suited for these fall swells.

   
   

3. Crowd Control. Surfing in Charleston has exploded (just like everywhere else) over the last ten years and even more so since 2020. Nothing wrong with this at all, but there are many unwritten rules of surfing that some may not fully understand. At a bare minimum you should be honest with yourself about your skill level and comfort level in bigger surf. This is not only to keep you safe, but also to keep everyone in the line up safe. Herd mentality tends to take over on any good day of waves. Try to stay away from the best peaks on the beach if you’re still learning or even an intermediate. The folks on the best peaks have put in countless years and tend to be the best folks in the water. They can utilize the shape and size of the stand out spots to their full potential while someone on a longboard who is an intermediate will be more successfully on a smaller, sloppier, less crowded peak down the beach. In short, know your ability for safety reasons and to pick an appropriate place to surf. Avoid the crowds and find your own peak. Nothing better than that. If you are unsure of what spots might be best for you check out our guide. GUIDE TO THE BEST SURFING SPOTS ON FOLLY BEACH

   
   

4. Beware of the Hype. Knowing where and when to go is critical to scoring good waves. Too often people blindly depend on the rating surf forecasters put up for any given day. Charleston surf forecasting can be fickle. What wind and swell works best for Folly Beach? Is this 5 foot at 22 second interval going to work? Is this high angled NE swell direction good? These are the things to know. Take the time to do some research so you can make your own decisions. We would recommend using Surfline and Windy in conjunction. Check out our guide to understanding swell periods and direction for Charleston surfing. WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SWELL PERIODS AND DIRECTION.

That is all we have for now, but if you have any questions be sure to shoot us an email and we will do our best to further explain anything. Now we pray for surf!