Catching waves on Folly

Camp lets youths get hang of surfing

Sophia Rodriguez
The Post and Courier

Sol Surfers Surf Camp founder Kai Dilling (far right) instructs a group of preteens and teenagers on Folly Beach about the currents so they can safely practice their new-found skills.

At 9 a.m. most Friday mornings, a significant number of workers sit at their desks counting down the minutes until the weekend begins, wishing it already had started.

The same is true for Kai Dilling, except for the part where he is sitting behind a desk. And the part where he's counting down the minutes. OK, let's face it: He may be working at 9 a.m. like the rest of us, but his work as a surfing instructor, and his office — the beach — make it seem as though he's started the weekend early.

The founder of Sol Surfers Surf Camp looks every bit the lifelong beachgoer, right down to the sun-streaked hair, the killer tan and a pair of shades he claims stays on for much of the day. He has been working in tandem with the waves at Folly for eight years to teach children and adults alike how to ride 'em in. He runs weekly surfing camps that last five days throughout the summer, and he tries to block applicants off by age groups so they feel more comfortable around each other. Dilling said he shoots to have youngsters between 8 and 15 years old, but it's not a strict rule.

Some of the sessions have stipulations. For instance, the camp that runs next week is called Girls Rule, which is for all ages but only of the female persuasion. Dilling's experience as a middle school teacher several years ago brought him to the conclusion that boys and girls work better separately sometimes.

"I've noticed that girls are so much more teachable than boys," he said. "Boys just want to get into it and be great at it right away, while girls tend to be a little more patient."

When Dilling first started the camp as a summer gig, he taught in the area around Center Street. He found out that people aren't supposed to surf there, so about five years ago, he moved the site to 8th Street East.

"In the summer, I'd rather surf over here," he said.

He tries to avoid The Washout because it is too crowded in the summer, and he encourages his students to do the same for safety and etiquette reasons. Safety is key for Dilling. He encourages the buddy system, and he looks for the best instructors, which does not necessarily translate into the best surfers in town. They must all be certified in CPR, first aid and lifeguarding.

Although Dilling's "office" is at Folly, he grew up on the Isle of Palms and now resides in Mount Pleasant with his family. As a result, he shuttles a lot of the children who live in the East Cooper area to the camps. It brings up a lot of fond memories from a time when there weren't as many bridge options about how to cross between the Isle of Palms and Folly Beach.

"It's typically bigger out here, so even as a kid, we made the trek out here. ... It was a solid hour, and I remember the drive almost as much as I remember the surfing itself."

A couple of years ago, Dilling expanded the camp's services with the Professional Competition Readiness Program. He and his wife, Francisca Dilling, became personal trainers and now train more advanced surfers for competitions.

"It's for people who are still in the learning curve. I think we all are. I know I am," he said. The program is meant to build endurance, speed, agility, flexibility and balance, which Dilling claims are part of what can help surfers win competitions. The other part is the sheer luck of catching a good wave.

Dilling said that although surfing is fun, beginners should be prepared for the hard work and, oddly enough, the lack of actual surfing. "Ninety-nine percent of surfing isn't even surfing. It's getting out there and getting into position. Only 1 percent of it is the actual surfing, and it doesn't even last that long."

For information, visit www.solsurfers.net.

Reach Sophia Rodriguez at 937-5538.