So, I am planning a trip with my wife and 1 year old daughter in September. We are going to Hilton Head Island to stay in a time share with her parents. We are there checking the area out and having a week or so vacation. We are considering relocating down there in the near future, as my wife has relatives and family there already. Anyway, I know the surf patterns there. I understand that it can be a huge crap shoot to get waves, but at least it will be in september, which is one of the best months down there with hurricane season. Are there any shops that rent out decent shortboards on the island? I would like to not pay bag fees etc. or pay for a board and maybe not see waves. Anyway, let me know how easy it is to get a hold of a decent board for a day or 2 down there. Im not trying to longboard (unless its pretty small) and I know a lot of town up in the midatlantic only rent out foamies and junky boards. Anyway, any advice would be helpful... thanks. Zach
Folly has the best waves in SC & is closer to HH than Pawleys- I think you're gonna have a hard time finding a decent board for rent though
Just send you a PM but i figured id post it here too. Ive read a couple of your posts about relocating the EC. I dont know if you have considered it but i would take a kitesurfing lesson while in HHI. I recently picked it up and it has been an absolute godsend as far as keeping busy between swells. In the past 5 years kiting has revolutionized the safety and convenience of the sport and it has become much much cheaper and easier to get into. HHI is one of the best spots on the EC for kiting and has a couple great spots. Im sure your aware of the horrible flat spells we go thru here on the EC but kiting is something you can do 5 days a week. It keeps you in the water and in surf shape so when waves finally do come your body is used to going fast and smashing waves to pieces. Its really fun to learn, you will pick it up fast with the board skills you already possess and the power is instantly addictive. No crowds, the danger factor scares away the kooks, the expense keeps the groms away, there is wind almost every day and you can absolutely smash 1-3 ft waves with the power of the kite. Check out this video and take a lesson when you go to HHI! http://vimeo.com/27394354 http://vimeo.com/12038467
I've lived there, Sept is my favorite month to surf there, still boardshorts and I swear last year we had waves for the whole month
September you will score. no crowds, no bathers, board shorts, and TS or hurricane swells. its the only consistent surf we get. but if you do catch it on a good swell it still might be better to hit hunting island. No board rentals here but there is a lot of SUP rentals. From what I've been reading we are supposed to have a good season. so you should catch it. fingers crossed.
Thanks for all the advice. I have researched HHI enough and watched it for years to know that Folly is by far better and more consistent, but like I said, there is potential that I could be MOVING to HHI, so I really want to just check that area out and see what it will really be like to Live on the island as a surfer. Only being there for a week, im not "looking to score" really, i just think there will be waves and I would like to paddle out at Burkes or somewhere that breaks when there is swell, just to see what the conditions are really like down there.... Now, if I moved there, for sure I would have to drive up to Charleston all the time etc... My wife's cousin and husband actually stole one of my boards and took it with them when they moved from San Diego about 6 years ago... I am not confident that an old beater is still there though, so I might be stuck shredding on a foamie down there! Yeah buddy! Ohh well, like I said, I live in OB in SD and have surf all the time, so i will by no means be jonesing for surf, as I will leave behind my favorite west coast month (Sept) as the super fun, bigger SW hurricane swells grace the west coast right as you guys get your best months too.... SD has much bigger months in the winter, but Trunking it in september in SD is my favorite time of year for sure.... Anyway, thanks for the tips guys.... P.S. I will be flyin into charleston... so there are probably folly shops that rent decent boards, no?
