Wahine Classic celebrates 24 years of empowering women in the water
by Liv Dennis | Contributing Writer
As the sun rose, cars stretched along East Ashley Avenue as surfers carried boards toward the shoreline. Sponsor tents lined the beach, families and friends gathered in lawn chairs and competitors of every age prepared to paddle out at the Washout. By the time the first heats began, cheers echoed from the sand—not just for winners but for every woman and girl who caught a wave.
For one weekend each year, one of the Southeast’s most well-known surf breaks becomes something different.
The 24th Annual Folly Beach Wahine Classic returned to Folly Beach July 25-26, bringing together nearly 250 competitors for what organizers say is the largest all-female surf contest on the East Coast and South Carolina’s only all-female surfing competition.
“Wahine,” pronounced wah-HEE-neh, is a Polynesian word meaning woman, and for nearly a quarter century, the event has lived up to that definition by celebrating female surfers of every age and ability.
“We are in our 24th year and it started as an opportunity to introduce surfing and make surfing more accessible to women,” said Nicole Elko, director of the Folly Beach Wahine Classic. “24 years ago, there were hardly any women in the water. Now, of course, there are a lot more women surfers out there.”
What began as a grassroots effort by a small group of Folly Beach women has grown into one of the premier women’s surfing events in the Southeast. While participation has expanded dramatically, Elko said the mission has remained remarkably consistent.
“It’s been a very consistent event, with its mission really not changing over a quarter century,” she said.
Today, the Folly Beach Wahine Classic is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing the strength of surfer women through competition, camaraderie and community. Beyond the surf contest itself, organizers emphasize creating an environment where girls and women feel welcomed, encouraged and empowered.
This year’s competition showcased that mission through divisions spanning nearly every stage of life.
Among the crowd favorites was the tandem division, where two surfers ride a single board together, often attempting tricks, handstands and other creative maneuvers.
Another highlight was the Teeny Wahine division, featuring the event’s youngest competitors.
“Our youngest competitor is two years old,” Elko said. “The parents actually go in the water with the little ones and push them in on waves. It’s my favorite.”
At the other end of the spectrum were the professional divisions, where top surfers competed for cash prizes, including a $1,000 first-place award. The event also featured the Goddess division for surfers aged 50 and older. This year’s oldest competitor was 75 years old.
Competitors traveled to Folly Beach from across the Southeast and beyond, with surfers representing states including Florida and Virginia, along with competitors from Puerto Rico, Hawaii, California and even Brazil.
While the contest crowns champions each year, Elko believes the event’s lasting impact extends well beyond the awards podium.
“There aren’t that many women-only surf contests,” she said. “There’s a real sense of community here.”
That sense of community was evident throughout the weekend. Competitors cheered one another from the lineup, celebrated successful rides with high-fives and offered encouragement after difficult heats. Rather than fierce rivalries, the atmosphere reflected mutual respect among women who share a passion for the ocean.
“It’s the only weekend of the entire year that you go to the Washout and there’s nothing but girls in the water,” Elko said.
For many families, the Wahine Classic has become an annual tradition. Young surfers who once competed in beginner divisions now return to battle in the professional ranks.
“Seeing the girls that have come up through it is definitely the most rewarding part,” Elko said. “They came to their first contest in the Push-N-Surf or novice division and now they’re signed up for pro.”
She said the event becomes much more than a competition for many participants.
“This is a really important part of a lot of girls’ lives,” Elko said. “It’s what they do. It’s their extracurricular activity.”
The same sense of connection extends to older competitors as well.
“I’m in the Goddess division and we all just have such a special bond,” she said.
Although trophies and prize bags await the weekend’s winners, Elko hopes spectators leave with something even more meaningful.
“I hope that women, and men, all see that the message here is that you can do it,” she said. “Whatever it is, you can do it. It’s really to give women that knowledge of their strength, to empower them and let them know not to be afraid.”
She said that message extends well beyond surfing.
“Get your feet in the sand and jump in the water,” Elko said. “That’s an analogy for life. It’s not just surfing. You can be whatever you want.”
For one weekend each summer, that message comes to life on the shores of Folly Beach. For 24 years, the Wahine Classic has created a place where first-time surfers, seasoned professionals and generations of women can share the same lineup, encourage one another and celebrate the strength found both in the ocean and within themselves.
