An anxious surfer whose damaged board is sitting in the middle of Perry's shop wants to know how soon his waxy deck can be fixed.

"You can feel the excitement in the air," said Perry, perched on a stool behind a glass case full of stickers and magazines. His Center Street business this week is "like a boat shop before Fourth of July," he said. "It's always like this with the first storm."

A veteran, gray-haired surfer, Perry knows all about storm hype, such as that surrounding Fabian, a 140 mph hurricane stewing out in the Atlantic Ocean. The excitement will build today, along with the waves.

Tuesday night, the Category 4 storm was north of Barbuda near the Leeward Islands. It was moving at about 10 mph and was expected to make a turn to the northwest by tonight.

Though Fabian is not forecast to hit South Carolina, it is expected to produce increasingly larger swells toward week's end, with some 5- to 6-footers anticipated by late Thursday. While all South Carolina beaches are expected to notice some swells as Fabian passes offshore, Folly Beach, with its southeastern orientation, will see higher waves than most.

With those swells comes an increased risk of dangerous riptides, according to a marine statement from the National Weather Service on Tuesday.

"Swimmers are urged to remain cautious if they enter the surf and may want to refrain from swimming," the statement said.

Word of the storm -- and the good possibility that it will push sizeable waves toward the "Edge of America" today and Thursday -- started rippling across the Lowcountry over the weekend, Perry said.

By Tuesday, the caller who was desperate to retrieve his cream-colored board was evidence of the buzz.

While their classmates at Summerville High School were packing lunches and backpacks Tuesday morning, Troy White and Kenny Miller were strapping down their surfboards. (Settle down, mom, they didn't cut class -- just made a beeline for Folly after the final school bell.)

Ditto for tomorrow, said the stoked, shirtless duo.

"This ain't nothin' compared to how the crowd is gonna be," said White, 18, wiping back his long brown bangs to assess the ocean.

Density is always a concern for surfers, particularly when there's been some recent event to further the sport's soaring popularity. Last year's surfer movie "Blue Crush" could coax a few newbies to the beach this week.

Still dripping from his ride, Charles Hughson described Tuesday's waves as "mushy." He expects them to become more defined by Thursday and attract the usual throngs of shredders.

"When the surf is up, this place gets crowded," said the 31-year-old who once got speared in the ribs by a wayward board.

That's why the town has a "leash" law -- to keep bailing surfers attached to their boards. And then there are surfville's unwritten laws. Don't steal another surfer's line, so-called "shoulder-hopping."

Perry's advice: "If you aren't really experienced, don't go out in a crowd."

While surfers are gleefully anticipating the waves, coastal experts will be monitoring erosion -- damage that could figure in to ongoing plans to renourish the at-risk beach.

Surfers can do their part by not parking on the dunes, said Folly Beach Police Chief George Tittle who is expecting larger-than-normal crowds this week as Fabian's force curls past the East Coast.

"We are always ready," Tittle said. "We had a pretty decent crowd today."

Estimating the beach could see up to 300 surfers at peak times, Tittle said he'll be out patrolling for the usual problems, namely improper parking along narrow Folly Road and surfers too close to the pier.

But generally, "95 percent of the surfers do real good," Tittle said. "It's that 5 percent -- for those we have no patience."

In fact, Tittle said he relies on the experienced surf crowd to help patrol the water. This summer alone, surfers saved three lives, he said. "That says a lot about them in and of itself."

FOLLY FORECAST

Larger than normal waves all week with Hurricane Fabian's Swell filling in this afternoon and into Thursday with head-high and better waves. For more information, see http://www.follysurfcam.com/.

FOLLY BEACH SURFING LAWS:

Between May 15 and Sept. 15, surfboards and skimboards are permitted only from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the following areas: From 7th Street west to the west end of Folly Island and from 6th Street east to the east end of Folly Island. Between Sept. 16 and May 14, there are no area restrictions other than within 200 feet of the fishing pier. Surfers are required to wear a leash connected to their boards at all times.

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