Surfing

EAST COAST CREW: Mom Lisa Scott flies the Nova Scotia flag as her daughter Juniper Balch, front in the yellow jersey, and Tofino’s Chloe Platenius ride waves during the semi final of the Under 16 Girls division at Cox Bay on Sunday. (Nora O’Malley photos)

History made at 15th edition of the Rip Curl Pro Nationals in Tofino

The 2022 Rip Curl Pro Nationals was unlike anything that’s come before

 

A beginner surfer takes five after catching fun summer waves at bustling Cox Bay Beach. (Westerly file photo)

New tax for Tofino surf schools strengthens call for lifeguards

Surf schools are being asked to pay a minimum annual rent of $500 to the province

 

Ucluelet surfer David Schiaffino beams with his award for winning the 2021 Rip Curl Pro Nationals men’s longboard division. (Nora O’Malley photo)

Two-time Canadian surf champ joins World Longboard tour

West Coast Shapes Ukee co-founder David Schiaffino set to take on world’s best

 

2021 Pro Women’s champ Mathea Olin hoists her giant cheque for $2000 at the awards ceremony on Sept. 26. Her sister Sanoa Olin came second, Jasmine Porter was third and Catherine Bruhwiler was fourth. (Nora O’Malley photo)

Canadian surf champions crowned at Cox Bay

Titles awarded in men’s / women’s Pro, Open, U18, U16 and Longboard

2021 Pro Women’s champ Mathea Olin hoists her giant cheque for $2000 at the awards ceremony on Sept. 26. Her sister Sanoa Olin came second, Jasmine Porter was third and Catherine Bruhwiler was fourth. (Nora O’Malley photo)
A then 14-year-old Reed Platenius gets carried off the beach and onto the podium after winning back-to-back events at the 12th annual Rip Curl Pro Tofino at Cox Bay in 2018. (Westerly file photo)

Rip Curl Pro Surf Canada Nationals return to Cox Bay Tofino

National titles will be awarded in five divisions for both males and females

A then 14-year-old Reed Platenius gets carried off the beach and onto the podium after winning back-to-back events at the 12th annual Rip Curl Pro Tofino at Cox Bay in 2018. (Westerly file photo)
After a fun surf at Long Beach, adaptive surfer Victoria Feige brought out her shiny World Championship gold medals for friends to see. (Nora O’Malley photo)

2X World Para Surf Champion Victoria Feige eyes Paralympic gold beyond Tokyo 2020

Para surfers will have to wait a few more years before they can compete in the Paralympic Games

After a fun surf at Long Beach, adaptive surfer Victoria Feige brought out her shiny World Championship gold medals for friends to see. (Nora O’Malley photo)
This surf guard tower looked over Lovekin Rock in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve before being torn down after the program was axed by Parks Canada in 2012. (Photo - Andrew Bailey)

Witness to fatal drowning near Tofino urges return of lifeguards

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve says there are no plans to bring back Surf Guard program

This surf guard tower looked over Lovekin Rock in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve before being torn down after the program was axed by Parks Canada in 2012. (Photo - Andrew Bailey)
Marcus Paladino shows off his new book Cold Comfort. He dedicated the work to his fiancée (and copyeditor) Nora Morrison. (Nora O’Malley photo)

Tofino surf photographer Marcus Paladino releases first book

Cold Comfort pays tribute to the past 10 years of wave riding on Canada’s West Coast

Marcus Paladino shows off his new book Cold Comfort. He dedicated the work to his fiancée (and copyeditor) Nora Morrison. (Nora O’Malley photo)
Marcus Paladino shows off his new book Cold Comfort. He dedicated the work to his fiancée (and copyeditor) Nora Morrison. (Nora O’Malley photo)

Tofino surf photographer Marcus Paladino releases first book

Cold Comfort pays tribute to the past 10 years of wave riding on Canada’s West Coast

Marcus Paladino shows off his new book Cold Comfort. He dedicated the work to his fiancée (and copyeditor) Nora Morrison. (Nora O’Malley photo)
Homegrown Tofino surfers Kalum Temple Bruhwiler and Mathea Olin with Surf Canada head coach Shannon Brown. (Submitted photo)

Surf Canada takes on world’s top surfers for a final chance to qualify for Tokyo Olympics

ISA World Surfing Games run from May 29-June 6 in El Salvador

Homegrown Tofino surfers Kalum Temple Bruhwiler and Mathea Olin with Surf Canada head coach Shannon Brown. (Submitted photo)
Tyson Touchie, with wife Anita Charleson-Touchie, throws a shaka in the face of having to close his surf shop located at the Tofino-Ucluelet Junction. (Nora O’Malley photo)

Disheartening closeout for Indigenous owned surf shop

Found at the Tofino-Ucluelet Junction, Wya Point Surf Shop was cruising towards its 10th anniversary

Tyson Touchie, with wife Anita Charleson-Touchie, throws a shaka in the face of having to close his surf shop located at the Tofino-Ucluelet Junction. (Nora O’Malley photo)
2020 Rip Curl Hometown Showdown women’s champ Mathea Olin and men’s champ Peter Devries. (Bryanna Bradley photo)

Canada’s top surfers return to competition

“It felt so good to be back in a jersey competition and it made me realize how much I miss it.”

2020 Rip Curl Hometown Showdown women’s champ Mathea Olin and men’s champ Peter Devries. (Bryanna Bradley photo)
Surfing at Sombrio River is said to be best in October. Mandatory credit: Fiona Anderson/Triumph Social Media

Surfing Sombrio: One of B.C.’s most popular beaches

The evolution of one of the West Coast’s most popular surfing beaches

  • Nov 2, 2020
Surfing at Sombrio River is said to be best in October. Mandatory credit: Fiona Anderson/Triumph Social Media
This screenshot taken from a video shot by surf instructor Shannon Brown shows a watercraft operator in the surf zone off Chesterman Beach. Since being shared on social media, the video has sparked concerns over water safety. (Image from video by Shannon Brown)

Tofino beachgoers ‘horrified’ by watercrafts in surf zone

“I was quite distressed to see it.”

This screenshot taken from a video shot by surf instructor Shannon Brown shows a watercraft operator in the surf zone off Chesterman Beach. Since being shared on social media, the video has sparked concerns over water safety. (Image from video by Shannon Brown)
Campbell River’s Tyler Turner competes in the men’s kneel qualification round of the 2020 AmpSurf ISA World Para Surfing Championship on March 11 in La Jolla, California. Turner finished ninth overall. Photo by Pablo Jimenez/ISA

Vancouver Islander among world’s best para surfers

Campbell River’s Tyler Turner finished ninth at 2020 AmpSurf ISA World Para Surfing Championship

Campbell River’s Tyler Turner competes in the men’s kneel qualification round of the 2020 AmpSurf ISA World Para Surfing Championship on March 11 in La Jolla, California. Turner finished ninth overall. Photo by Pablo Jimenez/ISA
Local windsurfer Jesse Jared Cohen performs an off the lip aerial at South Chesterman Beach on Jan. 1,2020. (Natalie Weeks photo)

Vancouver Island windsurfers revel in adrenaline on Jan. 1

“I saw the forecast and went to bed well before midnight on New Year’s Eve to be up early.”

Local windsurfer Jesse Jared Cohen performs an off the lip aerial at South Chesterman Beach on Jan. 1,2020. (Natalie Weeks photo)
Jasmine Porter clutches a two tiered trophy in front of the San Clemente pier. Porter earned the prize for winning her first U16 girls shortboard division at a Dec. 8 Western Surfing Association event held in San Clemente. (Keanna Hasz photo)

Canadian junior surfer Jasmine Porter wins Western Surfing Association contest

“People aren’t going to give you waves. You have to be pretty aggressive.”

Jasmine Porter clutches a two tiered trophy in front of the San Clemente pier. Porter earned the prize for winning her first U16 girls shortboard division at a Dec. 8 Western Surfing Association event held in San Clemente. (Keanna Hasz photo)
PRINCESS OF THE PEAK: Tofino teen Keanna Hasz, 15, gets chaired off the beach by friends Jasmine Porter and Toby Theriault after winning the under-16 division of the tenth annual Queen of Peak. Hasz defeated Aqua Bruhwiler, Serena Porter, and Chloe Platenius to claim her first-ever Princess of the Peak title and a $500 prize purse. (Nora O’Malley / Westerly News)

Tofino hosts 10th annual Queen of the Peak Women’s Surfing Championships at Cox Bay

“It truly takes a community to run an event like this and I couldn’t be more proud.”

PRINCESS OF THE PEAK: Tofino teen Keanna Hasz, 15, gets chaired off the beach by friends Jasmine Porter and Toby Theriault after winning the under-16 division of the tenth annual Queen of Peak. Hasz defeated Aqua Bruhwiler, Serena Porter, and Chloe Platenius to claim her first-ever Princess of the Peak title and a $500 prize purse. (Nora O’Malley / Westerly News)
Blake Bruhwiler, 4, howls with joy as her dad Sepp pushes her on a wave. (Nora O’Malley Photos)

PHOTOS: 2019 Bruhwiler Kids Surf Classic in Tofino

Scores of neoprene clad kids hit North Chesterman Beach on Saturday, Sept.…

Blake Bruhwiler, 4, howls with joy as her dad Sepp pushes her on a wave. (Nora O’Malley Photos)
BRONZED: Tofino surfer Mathea Dempfle-Olin balances on the nose of her longboard during the last day of surf competition at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. Dempfle-Olin went on to win a historic bronze medal in the women’s longboard division. Her podium performance marks Canada’s first-ever surfing medal at the Pan Am Games. (Pablo Jiménez Photo)

Island surfer wins historic medal for Canada

Tofino’s Mathea Dempfle-Olin wins bronze at Pan Am Games

BRONZED: Tofino surfer Mathea Dempfle-Olin balances on the nose of her longboard during the last day of surf competition at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. Dempfle-Olin went on to win a historic bronze medal in the women’s longboard division. Her podium performance marks Canada’s first-ever surfing medal at the Pan Am Games. (Pablo Jiménez Photo)