SURF-OFF BLENDS HEART AND SOUL
By David Powers
For Weekly Surge
Grand Strand waves are known for their moodiness. Sometimes the Atlantic is as smooth as glass with nary a ripple in sight. Sometimes the glassiness produces a wave that rolls in with just a hint of a barrel that a Barbie doll might be able to stand up in. At other times, both the sky and ocean turn gray and send rough swells to the shore marred by white foam and crashing water. On rough days, the waves become parallel swells that flow sideways. It is a testament to Grand Strand surfers that they can not only ride, but perform in such varied conditions. Local surf groups are made up of pre-teen grommets who've never shaved, to white-haired men with "Old Guys Rule" stickers on their cars. They all hit the breaks together year-round, and you'll see them again as they compete in the many age divisions of the Ninth Annual Guy Daniels Memorial Surf-Off beginning on Saturday and wrapping up on Sunday in Surfside Beach.
What: Ninth annual Guy Daniels Memorial Surf-off
When: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Where: 13th Avenue South beach access in Surfside Beach
Cost: Absolutely free, but bring money for refreshments and donations.
Info: www.surfoff.com.
There's no telling what the waves will be like. Even with a reliable forecast, it's still chancy to make a prediction. According to Stony Cantor, a local surfer and board member for the Guy Daniels Foundation, "The waves have always been okay, but never that great."
If the waves are ride-able, the action will kick off at 8 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday and last until around 5 p.m. All the main events will take place near the 13th Avenue S. beach access in Surfside Beach, and the crowds are expected to spread out from there so that everyone has a chance to watch.
Most surfing competitions have a higher purpose other than just watching the best competitors face off. This one is no different. The purpose of the surf-off is to help local students achieve the goal of higher education through several scholarships offered each year. According to the surf-off foundation's press release, so far 23 local students have received $30,000 to attend college. In the future, the foundation that supports the contest also plans to become more involved in local beach conservation by working closely with the Surfrider Foundation.
Guy Daniels, the namesake of the event, was a local surfer and honors student at the College of Charleston who loved learning. Aside from surfing, he spent his summers as a lifeguard. Kelly Richards, the owner of Garden City Beach-based Village Surf Shop, remembers Daniels well. "He was very mature and responsible, but laid back. He was an awesome athlete." It was during a jog in 1999 that Daniels succumbed to an irregular heart condition at the age of 19, according to friend Hap Pruitt, a Guy Daniels Memorial Foundation board member. "He had a congenital birth defect and had an enlarged heart." In other words, Daniels' heart was just too big. That is why it is fitting that an event in his name helps others.
It's because of Daniels' reputation and personality that the surf-off has become more of a gathering of friends and family than a breakneck competition. Because of that, it tends to draw a lot of competitors that wouldn't normally enter a surfing event. Some of the best local surfers seldom compete, but this is an awesome opportunity to watch local competitors and fun-riders go head-to-head. Check out the official surf-off website at www.surfoff.com for more information.