Carolina Beach Surfing
Ask any local, Carolina Beach, NC is one of the best beaches to learn to surf. During the summer months, the waves are small but consistent due to the natural gentle slope of the ocean floor along the coast. There are around 3 miles of coastline where approximately 20 lifeguards are stationed between Memorial Day and Labor Day so you are sure to be safe while surfing.
Before heading out to try your hand at surfing in Carolina Beach, let us help you learn more about the beach, where to find the best surfboard rentals, and who to turn to for the surfing lessons. We also have the best websites to use for surf forecasts and beach cams.
About Carolina Beach Surfing
As we said, the summer months provide the best surfing experience for newcomers and for those who enjoy longboarding with Carolina Beach’s small but consistent waves. The waves in Carolina Beach do tend to be larger during the spring and fall months.
If you are looking for more of a challenge, check out the waves near the Carolina Beach Fishing Pier, where most local competitions take place. Also, there is always a chance for a nice swell when storms are nearby during hurricane season or when a nor’easter passes offshore.
If you do plan on surfing in Carolina Beach during the offseason, we recommend bringing a full or spring wetsuit, depending on your acclimation to the cooler temperatures. The months with the coolest water temperatures are February and March averaging in the mid-50s. By mid to late Spring the water temperatures will jump to between 62° and 70° and reach 80° by August.
Carolina Beach Surf Reports & Webcams
The best online surf reports we have found are by Magic Seaweed. This site provides surfers with hourly and 7-day reports at no charge. (There is a Pro version that you can use for a membership fee which provides a 16-day forecast with other added features.) The free version is very in-depth, giving surfers a full surf forecast with tide schedules, surf height, winds, primary and secondary swells, weather, forecast probability, and more. There is also historical and seasonal information plus pictures of waves and other surfers in the area.
For the best webcams, we have two websites. Golden Sands Beach Resort has its own Carolina Beach webcam that can be viewed anytime with live footage of the beach just beyond the resort. Another great website is Surf Chex. This site has multiple webcams along Carolina Beach plus webcams on surrounding beaches and beyond.
Carolina Beach Surfboard & Wetsuit Rentals
Pleasure Island Rentals
The best-known Carolina Beach rental shop is Pleasure Island Rentals. This locally-owned rental shop has been serving the area for over 20 years providing not only surfboard and wetsuit rentals but also kayak, paddleboard, and beach gear rentals.
Surfboard rental prices at Pleasure Island range from $17 per day to $85 per week. They offer surfboards from 5’10” to 10’ in high-performance fiberglass, Bic Sport, and soft-top (this type is great for beginners). Wetsuit rental prices range from $15 per day to $35 per week. All wetsuits are full-body featuring a 3/2 mm design with reinforced knees. Pleasure Island has children’s sizes up to XXL.
Pleasure Island Rentals is conveniently located one mile north of Golden Sands Beach Resort on Park Lake Blvd. They offer a 10% discount to all military and teachers. For orders of $90 or more, Pleasure Island will deliver your rentals to Carolina Beach for free. (There is a $30 fee for orders under $90 and additional charges for delivery to other NC beaches.)
CB Surf Shop
Another locally-owned shop in Carolina Beach is CB Surf Shop. CB offers surfboard, paddleboard, and bodyboard rentals. There are two shortboard and two longboard style surfboards available for rent. Rental prices are as follows:
$15 – ½ Day
$20 – Full Day
$45 – 3 Days
$85 – 7 Days
CB Surf Shop also has surfing supplies like wetsuits, hoods, and fins for sale along with clothing, accessories, shoes, and more. CB is located 0.8 miles north of Golden Sands on Park Lake Blvd. Their hours are 10am – 6pm daily.
Carolina Beach Surfing Lessons
Odysea Surf School
Odysea Surf School is located in Carolina Beach offering group and private surfing lessons. All of their instructors have been surfing for at least 10 years, and 75% of them also are local certified school teachers. The owners of Odysea have over 30 years of surfing and lifeguarding experience between them. Odysea prides itself on having a positive learning environment during all of their surf lessons.
All surf lessons are two hours long, and all necessary equipment is provided by Odysea including wetsuits when needed. Small group lessons are $60 per person. Private lessons are $80 per person. Call or text Kevin at 910-431-0594 to set up your surf lessons or fill out the form online.
Odysea has partnered with UNCW MarineQuest to offer week-long summer camps for kids who are interested in surfing and marine biology. Surf-and-Science Groms is for kids ages 10-13. This program teaches kids surfing lessons while also learning about modern marine science and the impact it has on surfing. Surf-N-Science is for kids ages 14-17. This camp not only teaches kids to surf but also gives them a chance to make a difference in the community helping with coastal restoration efforts and working with underserved kids. Find out more about both camps and the 2021 dates online.
Tony Silvagni Surf School
Tony Silvagni is a pro surfer from Carolina Beach. He has surfed competitively for over 25 years and won numerous awards. Tony opened his Surf School in 2008 and has been serving Carolina Beach ever since.
Tony Silvagni Surf School offers group surf lessons for $50 per person per hour and private lessons for $60 per person per hour. The student to instructor ratio for group lessons is 2:1 with all instructors being CPR, AED, and First Aid certified. All Tony Silvagni lessons start with water safety tips. Surf Camps are available from March 15th – September 20th, 2021. Each camp meets 2 hours per day Monday through Friday. Participants will receive a tote bag filled with stickers, a water bottle, discounts, and a certificate of achievement. Spring Break and Summer Camps are $330 per person.
Tony Silvagni Surf School also has surfboard rentals plus skimboard, bodyboard, and other beach gear rentals with complimentary delivery, set up, and pick up. Surfboard rentals are $15 for 5 hours, $20 for a day, and $90 for a week. Wetsuit rentals are $15 for a day and $35 for a week. Stop by their Tiki Trailer for retails at 107 Charlotte Ave.
Carolina Beach Surf Competitions
With Carolina Beach Surfing becoming more popular each year, the number of surf competitions on the Pleasure Island (Carolina Beach and Kure Beach) has also started to increase. Here are a few of our favorite competitions in Carolina Beach.
Wahine Classic
The Wahine Classic is an all-female surf competition for amateur and pro surfers started by Jo Pickette, a renowned surfing instructor with more than 20 years of experience. “The mission of Wahine Classic is to empower girls of all ages, build their self-confidence and self-esteem, and to promote physical, mental, and emotional wellness,” said Pickett.
The Wahine is held every August in Wrightsville Beach. In 2020, the Wahine Classic was moved to the Carolina Beach Pier. The 2021 venue has not yet been announced, but check the website for updates.
Life Rolls On
Life Rolls On hosts Adaptive Surf & Skate Events in Carolina Beach and around the country. While this is not exactly a surf competition, it is a gathering of individuals who love the ocean and surfing and want to share that with others.
Life Rolls On meets in Carolina Beach annually during the summer for a one-day Adaptive Surf Clinic. They provide adaptive surfboards and beach transfer wheelchairs. Guests are asked to provide their own wetsuits and lifejackets. Breakfast snacks, lunch, and water are also provided for the athletes. Check the website for the date of the 2021 Adaptive Surf Clinic.
We hope your excitement has been stirred for Carolina Beach Surfing this Spring and Summer season. We look forward to accommodating you at Golden Sands Beach Resort for your Carolina Beach vacation. Our quaint resort has 113 rooms, 2 pools, convenient in-room amenities, a fitness center, and on-site dining at the Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar which has its own pier. Find out more about Carolina Beach and our resort online.