For These Kids, Myrtle Beach is Surf City U.S.A.
By Christina Lee Knauss
Say "summer camp" and most people think of tents, campfires and roasting marshmallows.
For kids at Myrtle Beach Surf Camp, however, camp means surfboard wax, sand, sun and hitting the waves in the morning.
Beginning in June and running through the week of Aug. 25, the camps offer students 8 and older basic instruction in surfing skills, surf etiquette, ocean safety and how to respect the ocean.
"This is a beginners surf camp - we really give them a crash course in three days," said camp director Mark Allison. "What we're trying to do is get them to progress to the point where they can be self-sufficient in the water. We get them right into the waves, teach them to paddle into the waves, so they can build confidence and feel comfortable in the ocean."
Campers get "ocean knowledge" - learning about wind, waves and currents, how weather affects the surf and how to study weather and tide reports. They also learn about the importance of preserving the oceans and the importance of the ocean as an ecosystem.
Each morning's session begins with stretching exercises on the beach, discussion and then basic skills practice both on the beach and in the water.
Students don't need to have their own boards - they're provided as part of the camp. Some do bring their own or go on to purchase one once they've completed the lessons.
The camps are held on the beach at 39th or 67th Avenue North in Myrtle Beach and 27th Avenue South in North Myrtle Beach. The locations alternate because of tide changes and surf conditions.
There is one instructor for every two students, and all instructors are Red Cross-certified in life saving and CPR.
On a recent Thursday morning, four students practiced the skill of "popping up," which involves leaping from the water onto the board once the surfer has successfully caught a wave. They practiced on the beach, and then hit the ocean with two instructors to participate in a relay race of sorts, seeing who could paddle out and then ride a wave back in both quickly and successfully.
The camps attract both locals and visitors, and some out-of-state students have returned for more than one year, Allison said.
The goal of the camp is for students to learn enough over the three-day session so they can then progress to the next level of surfing they want to pursue, Allison said. He said another goal is for the students to learn enough about water safety so that they will be able to handle themselves should they ever encounter a rip current or other problems while out swimming or surfing.
"I'd like to think that some of the skills they learn here might help them or somebody else in the future," he said.
"They not only learn about surfing, but it's about confidence building out there," said instructor Andrew "Spooner" Raak. "They're working together with everyone and learning about teamwork as well."
Logan Jacobs, 13, recently attended the camp while visiting the Grand Strand from her home in Florida. It was her first time learning how to surf.
"It was a lot of fun - the instructors were very nice and very helpful," she said. "I was having trouble with balance and one of the instructors was right there to help me."
Surf City, Quiksilver, Roxy and California Pizza sponsor the camp.
The camp meets from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday-Thursday through August, weather and surf permitting. There is space for 10 students per week, and the classes are open to those 8 and up.
To learn more about the camps and to sign up, visit www.myrtlebeachsurfcamp.com. You can also sign up by visiting Surf City Surf Shop at 609 63rd Avenue North in Myrtle Beach. For more information, call (843) 626-5412 or (843) 272-1090.
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