5 Ways to Catch a Wave

Catch up on how to make the most of Georgia’s coastal surf. Get the lowdown from pro skimboarder Austin Keen and other Tybee Island beach bums.

Saltwater Kayak
As with stand-up paddle boarding, saltwater kayakers enjoy the luxury of sitting above the water allowing them to view the South’s natural beauties, dolphins, red fish and even some alligators, from their boat. “A Southern waterman is way different than anyone else in the world. It’s not your stereotypical Hollywood Surfer. We have to be a little bit more in tune to our environment, watching all the elements, all the time—kind of like a mini-meteorologist,” says Shane Parris, owner of North Island Surf and Kayak.
Parris and his highly qualified staff of watermen say the Georgia coast is perfect for kayaking, and spend their time helping paddlers explore the water near Fort Pulaski, over by the north jetty, or even around Little Tybee. It’s an excellent way to experience a small part of the 100 miles of coastline Georgia has to offer. “It’s the thrill of being out on the water, no fuel; it’s a onetime cost,” Parris says.

Also check out Sea Kayak Georgia for lessons, camps and tours dedicated to teaching you the ways and waves of Saltwater Kayaking

Kiteboarding
Raising the intensity level to extreme, kiteboarding has made a huge impact on how people catch adrenalin, waves and air. It requires quite a bit of gear, a lot of know-how, and even more guts; however, within the last 10 years the sport has exploded in the South, on Tybee Island especially.
John Mapel, owner of All Out Kiteboarding (AOK), describes the sport as “the most addictive thing anyone can experience.” But it’s not easy. Commitment and training are required to simply learn to fly the kite before even getting in the water. After all, getting ripped some 30 feet in the air is no joke and takes proper training. AOK is a Professional Air Sports Association Certified kiteboarding school, Georgia’s first. Mapel encourages everyone to try the sport, no age required. “I know a 70-year-old guy who still kites!” Anyone interested should weigh at least 90 pounds; 20-knot winds get powerful.

Skimboarding

Riding shore break—or skimboarding—is a rising activity that’s quickly picking up popularity in local waters. Trading plywood homemade planks for boards made out of high-density PVC foam, fiberglass, carbon fiber and epoxy resin (producing buoyant, strong, but super light boards), a new breed of boarders is proving there are ways to be wild on the mild Southern waves.

Stand Up and Paddle

With a commanding 11-foot board and a 7-foot paddle for basic tools, stand-up paddle boarding might seem slightly intimidating at first. But don’t judge a sport by its board; the size actually makes catching waves easier.
Tim Malins, owner of High Tide Surf Shop and The Board Loft, explains, “Stand-up paddle boarding is for everyone from different angles, not just surfers. People who have never surfed can do this.” Garnering even more followers, stand-up paddle boarding also allows surfers to ride waves while being up and out of the water, elevated and taking in their surroundings.
Waves in the South generally are pretty small, but keeping a steady eye on the wind, tide, moon and swell will result in finding sizeable surf on Tybee. However, for any day, swell or no swell, stand-up allows the rider to catch a wave as small as one foot and ride it for a hundred yards.

Surfing the South

Dating back as late as 1000 A.D., surfing is the foundation of all wave-riding sports and gave birth to all the other inventive ways of catching one of nature’s most powerful elements, water waves. Although the sport has been around for a while, it was only a few years ago that Savannah gained its own Surfrider Foundation chapter: the Coastal Georgia/Lowcountry Chapter.

Their goal is to get all water lovers, surfers, kiters, paddlers or mere beach lovers, involved and active. Surfrider works to keep our beaches clean, while informing and educating the community about the ocean’s importance. Dr. Joe Richardson, Savannah State Professor emeritus of marine science, comments on Tybee’s surfing, “No one takes anyone too seriously, but everyone enjoys the sport, and our beaches. It’s a real source of friendship.”

***Mark your calendars for June 20, International Surfing Day. This is a day for all water lovers to enjoy the longest day of the year, while maybe catching a wave. The way you catch that wave is up to you!