'More than disappointed': Petition to reopen Hunting Island beaches to surfers circulating

Local surfers who hit the waves along the beaches of Hunting Island are banding together after they say their surfing spot was wiped out by renewed enforcement of a surfing ban.

The surfers have started an online petition on Change.org asking the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism to reconsider its prohibition of surfing along Hunting Island's beaches while lifeguards are present. The Change.org petition, first posted about a month ago, had 460 signees as of noon Wednesday.

The rule blocks surfers from surfing from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. everyday while the beach's lifeguards are on duty.

It affects South Beach, where "95 percent of (local) surfers go to catch waves" because the area provides the best break and minimal obstructions, the petition said.

"Some surfers have been surfing there for over 30 years," it read. "Obviously, our small community of surfers is more than disappointed about this decision. This letter is written in hopes that you will reconsider."

S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism spokeswoman Dawn Dawson-House said the restriction was not put in place recently and was not enforced in the past because Hunting Island did not have lifeguards. The surfing restrictions follow typical standards for beach safety, she said.

Hilton Head Island has similar regulations prohibiting surfing in designated swimming areas, mainly public beaches such as Coligny Beach, according to Shore Beach Services.

The petition also said the surfers were instructed to surf in an area with tree stumps and a submerged concrete structure, one they say is too dangerous to use.

Beaufort resident and skimboarder Tommy O'Brien called the idea of putting surfers there "ludicrous."

"That's kind of insane," he said. "When I heard it, I thought to myself, 'are you serious?'"

The petition asked the state tourism department to consider a "leash law" compromise, where surfers would be allowed on the beach so long as the surfboard was tethered to them. However, none of the surfers consulted for the petition could remember a swimmer being struck by a stray surfboard at Hunting Island, the petition said.

"We ask to have just as much freedom as a swimmer to enjoy our surf spot of over 30 years," it read. "Please don't take our spot away from us."

Follow reporter Matt McNab at twitter.com/IPBG_Matt.

This story was originally published August 5, 2015 at 11:53 AM with the headline "'More than disappointed': Petition to reopen Hunting Island beaches to surfers circulating."