Sea temperature – nine degree Celsius. Neoprene. Southeast Winds. Tall spruce trees. Towering coastal mountains. All things that package together to create the little pocket of heaven on Vancouver Island’s west coast that is Tofino, home to some of Canada’s best cold water surfing.
It hasn’t always been that you could step out onto Long Beach or Cox Bay in Tofino on any day and see an ocean swimming with surfers. Only since the 1960’s, when the improving technology of neoprene wetsuits blended with the building of a road from the interior to the west coast, has surfing taken off in one of Canada’s most pristine and popular tourist destinations.
Pacific Surf Company began indulging visitors from far and wide in the sport of cold water surfing in 1998, and has been loving it ever since. Offering lessons, rentals, and shop merchandise year round, Pacific Surf Co. guarantees you the best west coast, cold water surf experience possible.
Cold water surfing popularity is on the rise globally, leaving many people around the world shaking their head and wondering why, or how crazy one has to be to dip into water recorded below ten degrees Celsius. Well, Pacific Surf Co. gives you four reasons why cold water surfing beats out the seemingly more attractive warm water surfing.
Colder water = smaller crowds.
It is true that getting into that thick wetsuit, pulling on a hood, boots, and gloves, will deter some of the usual crowd that normally would eagerly plunge into the ocean to try their chance at a wave. One of our favourite things about cold water surfing is the escape you can often find from the busy sea that warm water surfing usually attracts.
Stunning, more remote landscapes.
Our charming town of Tofino included, cold water surfing often hides in some of the world’s most beautiful, more remote, locations. Norway, Iceland, Northern Ireland, and yes, Canada, all offer stunning landscapes of tall trees, towering mountains, and addictive non-stop waves.
Forget about sunscreen (except maybe for your face).
Your wetsuit has many functions; one being to protect most of you from the sun’s powerful rays. No more worrying whether or not the white cream you carefully applied hours ago is going to last through your session. When you’re surfing in these parts of the world, all you’ll need is just A little zinc-based sun protection to take care of your face.
Meet the other, dedicated surfers just like yourself that are willing to brave colder temperatures.
Along the way, cold water surfing brings together amazing people who know the biggest secret of all in cold water surfing. You don’t actually get very cold.
Visit Pacific Surf Company online or at their store location in Tofino, British Columbia. You’ll find us on the right side of Campbell Street as you drive into downtown Tofino, next door to our friends at Storm Surf Shop.
Pacific Surf School
430 Campbell Street
Tofino, BC
V0R 2Z0
Phone: 1-250-725-2155
Toll-free: 1-888-777-9961
Website: www.pacificsurfschool.com
Photo Credits:
Top and Bottom Image: Robert Fiorella
Middle Image: Tucker Sherman
More information on Tofino, British Columbia.
Those are some awesome shots of Tofino. Makes me want to gas up the car and make the drive from Nanaimo!