How to surf in “The Icebox”!

Ocean Surf Shop and the Eastern Surfing Association announce the inaugural “Ocean Surf Shop Icebox Open”

January, 10, 2012 – Folly Beach, S.C – For those who think it’s too cold to surf in February, the staff at Ocean Surf Shop says, “C’mon, Dude!”

Ocean Surf Shop, in conjunction with the Eastern Surfing Association, is announcing a surf contest at the Folly Beach, Washout during one of South Carolina’s coldest months – February.

Appropriately titled “The Icebox Open,” the surf shop hopes to make the open contest an annual event.

The staff at Ocean Surf Shop wanted to try a surf contest that had never before been attempted in the state of South Carolina: A very cold one.

Oh, and just to warm the blood during a cold February surf, the contest will offer a grand prize of $1000. So, NOW who says it’s too cold to surf?

If you want some general stats on surfing in South Carolina in mid-February, here they are: The average daytime high temperature is 60*F. The average low temperature is 46*F. The average water temperature hovers right around 50*F . While that might not be cold in New Jersey, it’s certainly cold to a Southerner.

“Everyone in this part of the world seems to associate surf contests with warm, sunny days, bikinis and board-shorts. We wanted to create a contest that recognizes the hard-core South Carolina surfing community. The guys that charge it all year ’round,” says Ocean Surf Shop owner Scott Quattlebaum. “It’s not easy or appealing to put on a Hooded 4/3 wetsuit, and 5 mm gloves and booties to surf in the freezing cold water after a windy cold front passage in February, but it sure can be fun, if you have the right attitude.”

“It could be a beautiful, sunny, warm day when the waves pick up during our waiting period for the contest,” says Quattlebaum. “But let’s hope not,” he adds with a grin.

As is traditional with many surf contest formats in Hawaii and on the West Coast, the Ice Box Open will have a three weekend waiting period. This way, the competition can be held during the coldest day with the biggest surf. Of course, big surf will be the driving factor when the surf forecasters at Ocean Surf Shop make a final call for the contest day. The contest will be announced four days in advance.

“We wanted a waiting period so we could get the best, most ride-able surf,” says Quattlebaum. “Most contests in our area are held on a specific day, and if you get waves, you are lucky. We wanted to give our contestants the best chance to shine in big, and likely cold, conditions. Hopefully, the swell will cooperate.”

Open divisions will be held for men and women. There will be four man heats of 20 minutes , with top surfers advancing to a final, cold, big-money showdown.

Surfers can find “mail-in” registration forms at www.oceansurfshop.com, or can register at Ocean Surf Shop, 31 Center. St. Folly Beach, S.C. For more information on the contest, go to www.oceansurfshop.com, or call the shop at (843)588-9175.

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What

The Ocean Surf Shop Ice Box Open, in conjunction with the Eastern Surfing Association

Who

Open Men’s and Open Women’s divisions. Come one, come all. Let your surfing do the talking.

Where

The Washout, (1700 Block) Folly Beach, S.C.

When

A waiting period will run for the weekends of Feb. 11 and 12, Feb. 17 and 18, Feb 24 and 25.

Ocean Surf Shop’s expert surf forecasters will announce the day of the contest four days in advance of the competition on the shop’s Web site (www.oceansurfshop.com), on the shop’s Facebook page, The Eastern Surfing Association’s Web site, and on the shop’s daily phone surf report (843)633-0268.

Heats should start around 8 a.m. on the morning of the day the contest is to run.

Format

Contest will run for one weekend day in mid-to-late February. Waiting period will run for the weekends of Feb. 11 and 12, Feb. 17 and 18, Feb 24 and 25.

Contest will have a men’s open division and a women’s open division. All ages are welcomed to register. Let your surfing do the talking, not your age. Competition will consist of four man heats 20 minute in length, Through to the final. Judges will be paid by The Eastern Surfing Association, and will not be affiliated with Ocean Surf Shop.

Prizes

Cash prize for the men’s open division is $1000 for first place. Second place is a $300 Ocean Surf Shop gift card, third place is a $200 Ocean Surf Shop gift card.

Prizes for the Women’s division will be as follows: $400 for first place, a $200 Ocean Surf Shop gift card for second place, and a $100 Ocean Surf Shop gift card for third place.

Registration

Advance registration cost is $35 per surfer.

We discourage entering the contest on the day of the competition.

Entry fee on the day of the event is $65.

Contestants can register at Ocean Surf Shop’s Folly Beach location, or find a “mail-in” contest entry on-line at www.oceansurfshop.com. Make checks payable to the Eastern Surfing Association.

Information