Peter Melhado
with Isla Surf School
Peter Melhado
with Isla Surf School
Business Owner:
Peter Melhado
Business Name:
Isla Surf School
Location:
We teach all camps, lessons, and programs on the beach at 3rd West Street on Folly Beach.
What Services Does Your Business Offer?
Isla Surf School is Charleston’s top-rated surf lessons and surf camp company based out of Folly Beach, SC. We offer a wide variety of surf lessons for all ages, abilities, and group sizes in the Charleston area. We also offer 11 weeks of surf camp each summer. Camps are limited to 15 kids per week and boast the best camper to instructor ratio on the beach (3:1). If you are looking for rentals, we have you covered for all surfboard and wetsuit rental needs.
In Business Since:
2015
Featured in the Following Packages
Surfing Lessons
A Deeper Dive
Why Did You Choose to Open in Charleston?
Who is Your Typical Client?
We teach a huge range of people from 4-year-olds to 70-year-olds. No matter people's age, ability, or life experience, everyone is looking to learn and have fun in the ocean.
Does Your Business Offer Services in Other Locations Besides Charleston?
We do not.
Tell Us Anything Else About Your Business That Our Visitors Might Like to Know.
We do not have a storefront but operate out of our tents on the beach. We also operate 7 days a week from March 1 to Thanksgiving.
Just for Fun!
Tell Us Your Favorite Thing(s) to Do in Charleston.
Surfing would be number one, but outside of that hanging with friends, going on the boat, and getting some good food and drinks in me are pretty standard. Pretty mellow really.
Where is Your Favorite Place to Eat/Drink in Charleston?
I love Huriyali for some healthy treats. Their space is amazing and you always see lots of familiar faces. If I am starving I will go visit Nick at Circe’s Grotto to get my fill. Recently I have been at Basic Kitchen and 167 Raw quite a bit for dinner and I think The Belmont is the best drink spot in town. It’s really hard to go wrong around Charleston. Too many good choices.
What’s the Craziest Experience You’ve Had with a Client?
I had worked with a client over a few sessions during the summer of 2018. She was picking it up pretty quickly and she happened to be in town for a pretty sizable swell for Charleston. The surf was overhead, zero wind on it, and I paddled all the way out with her. The rides she got that day were insane. A combo of pretty epic surf for our region and she was just in the zone. She had never seen waves that big let alone ride them. She road 4-5 set waves down the line and I have never seen someone that stoked before. Definitely, a memory that will stick with me!
Where’s Your Favorite Place to Travel Outside of Charleston?
I love Long Island, but I know that isn’t very exotic. Once the pandemic calms down and things get back to normal I think I will set my sights on Portugal again. Amazing surf, food, and people. I would highly recommend it.
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