Cold-water waves and the surfers who love them
by Liz Wolfe | Contributing Writer
On Folly Beach, the cold weather doesn’t stop the surf; it transforms it into something magical that only those brave enough to experience it have come to know and love.
For many, winter surfing isn’t about toughness — it’s about necessity. Local surfer Abby Hutchinson says the shorter, darker days are when she feels pulled to the ocean most. Surfing year-round brings her joy, she says, but it also offers calm and clarity when winter sets in. In the water, she reconnects with herself in a way nothing else quite matches.
“Doing something I love and being surrounded by people who are doing the same is so special. Also, the cold water has me hooting and hollering even more,” says local surfer Donna Strasburg.
Winter surfing also comes with its own brand of stories. Some comical, like when local artist Cara Fisher finished a chilly surf session with fingers that were so numb she was unable to unlock her car and had to ask a nearby jogger for help. Others are not funny at all, but just as memorable. As was the case when Gabe Johnston saw a massive great white shark while surfing the Washout two winters ago.
Regardless of whether you’re laughing or gasping, it’s these winter surf moments that remind us to find gratitude for and humor in the life we lead in our little island town.
Local surf photographer Justin Morris says he loves shooting in the winter because the conditions are better.
“The angle of the sun and change in conditions make for some of my most memorable, empty-wave photos,” says Morris.
Folly surfer Thibaut Delloue describes winter as the rare time when surfing feels truly solitary — just a board, the ocean, and the cold.
“Being in winter water makes you feel immersed in the environment, like you’re a part of something bigger, not just a visitor,” he says. “And when the beach is empty, and there are few people around you, that connection to the ocean is that much more special.”
Chris Kemp, who’s surfed winters up and down the East Coast for decades, says South Carolina’s winters are mild by comparison to the beaches up north. Gear has improved dramatically, making cold-water surfing more tolerable — and harder for Folly locals to resist.
Others embrace the discomfort as part of the reward. Chloe Evans-Cross says winter surfing demands more commitment, from battling freezing feet to peeling off a soaked wetsuit in January wind.
“All that effort makes the act of catching a wave and feeling the sun on your face even more sacred,” says Evans-Cross.
Having fewer people on the water is another benefit of winter surfing.
“Being able to just send it without worrying about hitting Billy Bob Joe from Tennessee makes the whole experience less stressful, says Melissa Anderson, co-owner of local haircare company Surfer Betty.
Kate Ferrara, Anderson’s business partner in Surfer Betty, says winter forces surfers like herself to be more calculated. Time is limited, falls are costly, and the challenge sharpens both skill and focus, she says.
Grace Bilicki, an instructor for ISLA Surf School, agrees.
“I think it truly challenges you and makes you a better surfer. Being in the cold water forces you to learn different breathing techniques, which can help keep you warmer and work to reduce stress and anxiety,” says Bilicki. “The cold water is such a great way to improve resilience and strength in the mind and body. Also, paddling in extra gear definitely improves strength and technique.”
Of course, modern wetsuits help, too.
“The feeling of the first pee during a winter sesh is magical,” jokes local surfer Jillian Lawton.
Post-surf rituals feel extra-special in winter as well, says Liv Davis, who often joins the ranks of half-suited surfers wrapped in towels and ponchos at DeadLow Coffee Co., hands thawing around hot drinks, soaking up the camaraderie while also counting down the minutes until they get their final reward — an extra-hot shower.
For Folly’s winter surf warriors, cold water isn’t a deterrent. It’s a love story. An experience rooted in connection, commitment, and a passion that keeps them coming back for more.
