‘Glassy, clean waves’: Local surfers still in the water as Florence moves closer

Surfers stand beside Springmaid Pier to take a break from the higher-than-normal waves.

Hurricane Florence is making its way to the coast of the Carolinas, and these surfers take advantage of the rolling waves that come in.

“Glassy, clean waves” is why local Eric Tennant hits the beach in his blue suit Thursday. He’s been out all day, and the day before.

“We stay out here until it’s too rough,” he said of the surf spot just south of the pier. “Today is a great day to go surf.”

Folks walk the beach, taking photos of the half-standing pier that Hurricane Matthew destroyed in 2016.

Tennant said the Springmaid Pier is the “local spot” for surfing.

“Yeah there’s usually the typical guys who come out here during hurricane season,” he said. “A lot of locals come out here.”

Half-a-dozen surfers lie on their board, waiting for the right wave. More surfers stream onto the beach, carrying their boards.

Storm surge predictions in the Myrtle Beach area are between four and six feet.

Hannah Strong: 843-444-1765; @HannahLStrong

This story was originally published September 13, 2018 at 3:24 PM.