The best surfer out there is the one having the most fun!
Phil Edwards
Are you thinking this could be Huntington Beach in Southern California? What about the white sand beaches of Oahu where photographers capture surfers beneath towering waves? Well, it’s neither: This is little ol’ Pawleys Island, South Carolina, where waves are low but spirits are high.
On the morning after Hurricane Isaias pummeled the island, we left our condo during the early morning hours to survey the damage and see if anyone was stirring. And, much to our surprise, about 70 enthusiastic surfers were already in the water on both sides of Pawleys Pier waiting for Isaias’s residual high waves to push them forward. It was sight to behold.
Since we’re not surfers at all, we were curious about the process. We watched as patience took over for each would-be surfer (all boys but one), turning eager swimmers lying on boards into scrutinizing stand-up surfers, waiting for that bulge in the ocean to possibly be the Big One!
After I tried again and again to capture the art of surfing and the excitement with only an iPhone, I’ve determined that National Geographic probably won’t be sending me on assignment to catch the action in Ventura — or anywhere else, for that matter. (It was still fun taking picture after picture — with varying results!)
But no problem. If I could be as excited as the lone kayak guy among all those surfers who, when he crested the waves, would let loose with a big shout and a raised paddle, then I’d be content.
After all, surf’s up somewhere. And on that day it was in Pawleys Island at the North End. Who knew?
Surf while you’re young,
Rusha & Bert
This series grew out of a desire to share pictures from our one and only trip after the onset of the corona virus! So, join us in celebrating travel in America — and our love of beaches, one in particular. Other posts in the series:
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #109: Under the Sun
Beach Week: Renourishing the South End of Pawleys
CompassAndCamera
GREAT photos! Looks like a fun way to spend the day!
Oh, the Places We See
And I have more. Many more. For some reason, I couldn’t stop trying to capture sequences from the first stage of finding a wave, to standing, then cresting, then splashing down. So, if you ever need some spare surfing pics, call me!
CompassAndCamera
LOL, will do!! 🙂
dawnkinster
So cool you got to see that, AND got some great pictures to share with us!
Oh, the Places We See
So true, Dawn. I would have expected to see surfing in California, but not South Carolina. I must have stood for an hour almost every day on the pier watching them. So much fun! Hope your summer is going well.
kzmcb
Those crazy surfers! You can never stop them.
beth
wow!
WanderingCanadians
That must have been quite entertaining to watch all the surfers. I’ve tried surfing once and have a newfound appreciation for it. I didn’t realize just how hard it is to get up on a surfboard and how much work it is to paddle around. Wow were my arms sore.
Oh, the Places We See
I’ve never tried but pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to stand for more than a second or two. Also, that water was pretty cold. These kids didn’t wear all that protective gear like we saw them do in CA. thanks for taking a look!