Tofino – Canadas Ultimate Surfing Destination

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

Most people wouldn’t associate snow with good surfing. In fact, the average person conjures up visions of warm beach vacations in Hawaii or California when they think of surfing. With that in mind, it’s understandable that Canada has been overlooked as a surfing destination. After all, the water temperature there is a pretty constant fifty degrees Fahrenheit, and even in the warmest months it rarely reaches sixty degrees. In recent years, however, improved wetsuit technology has made cold water surfing accessible to nearly everyone, and it is quickly becoming a popular sport. As a result, people are beginning to look more closely at the Canadian waters, and they are realizing that there are some amazing waves there– and as any surfer knows, good waves are synonymous with good surfing.

THE BEST SURF SPOT IN CANADA

There are a lot of places to surf in Canada, but Canada’s ultimate surfing destination is definitely Tofino. In fact, in 2010 Outside magazine named this small town as “the best surf town in North America.” This is an honor which didn’t surprise the locals, who have known about Tofino’s great surfing for generations. Advantages of this area include:

•Year-round surfing

In Tofino, there are waves every day of the year, and people can even be seen surfing when there’s snow on the ground. From spring to fall, when the days are the longest, the weather is perfect for surfing. The tides change intensely at this time of year, which means that there is a wide variety of different wave sizes and waves can grow by the hour. Winter, however, provides an entirely different surfing experience. Storms create big, wild waves that provide some of the most dynamic surfing in the world.

•Beautiful scenery

Tofino is a mixture of forest, wildlife and small-town shops. The beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world, and the water is backed by majestic mountains that give it a wilderness feel. In addition, there is plenty of wildlife to see: whales, eagles and wolves all make their home in Tofino. The people of this town are dedicated to preserving its beauty, which is why Tofino has been called “The Tree Loving Capital of the World.”

•A thriving surf culture

The lifestyle in Tofino is very laid back, and people are one with nature and the ocean. The surf shops operate all year, and you can expect to find any surfing equipment you might need.

•World-class surf schools

There are no less than five surf schools in Tofino, which cater to everyone from the complete beginner to the budding professional. One of these is Surf Sister, Canada’s only all-girl surf school. This school offers daily lessons, retreats and camps for mothers and daughters. Other schools include Bruhwiler Surfschool, Pacific Surf School and Westside Surf School. In addition, Long Beach has one of the best surf camps in Canada, with sessions for both adults and youth.

•The O’Neill Cold Water Classic

In 2009, Tofino began hosting the first professional surfing competition in Canada, the O’Neill Cold Water Classic. This surfing competition is held in October, and it attracted 150 of the best surfers in the world its first year. These surfers came to experience the waves during Tofino’s “storm-watching” season and compete for $145,000 in prize money.

SAFE SURFING IN TOFINO

Although Tofino is a great spot for beach vacations, there are some dangers that it’s important to be aware of. However, if you take the following precautions you can reduce or eliminate these risks and ensure a safe surfing experience.

•Dress appropriately

No matter what time of year it is, the water in Tofino is bound to be chilly. Because of this, most surfing rescues in Canada involve people who aren’t wearing a wetsuit. To avoid being one of these people, it is important to wear a full-length wetsuit and booties.

•Beware of riptides

If you are surfing on Cox Beach or the south side of Long Beach, you run the risk of being caught in a riptide. Therefore, it is important to check with the surf shops or the visitors center to ensure that conditions are safe before you surf. If you do happen to become trapped in a riptide, swim at right angles to it until you reach the nearest wave. Then use the momentum of the wave to push you to shore.

•Consider taking a surfing class

Surfing in Canada is different than surfing anywhere else in the world. Therefore, even the most experienced surfers can benefit from a quick course to make sure that they know all the ins and outs of surfing this area.