IS IT SURFING TIME YET?
All this sun and lack of snow (and a lackluster snowboarding season in terms of snowfall) is making me ache for the ocean again. It feels like it’s been a long time since November, and I’m dying to get back into the water.
I’m a little disappointed I didn’t get to go surfing this winter. It just didn’t factor into the finances and snowboarding was on my mind. I am planning to go later this month or early April, so the freeze factor will definitely still be there.
Although I definitely consider myself a winter lover… snowboarding… ice hockey… skating… and Christmastime… there’s still a part of me that looks forward to spring every year. The sunshine, the Canucks in the playoffs, and the excellent surf.
I miss Tofino.
I have to admit I’m looking forward to the summer this year…
Heading to Tofino… one of my favourite breaks and lookouts, Flo Bay..
I purchased my first surfboard a year and a half ago… I love my 7’10″ Red Al Merrick Water Hog. Now it looks all used and covered in wax… but it’s still my baby and it’s still beautiful 
I love surfing with friends in Tofino… I love Long Beach… especially when it is big surf and just right in the spring…
I love building fires on the beach…
I love all the beaches, even Chesterman’s when it is small and easy and fun in the summer…
I love the peacefulness of the inlet…
I love heading out to the water a few times a month for several months, getting out there when I can… even though it never seems like enough.
I’m looking forward to getting better at skimboarding…
I love finding free hidden spots to camp in the woods…
I love surfing road trips with friends!
I still remember one of the first waves I ever caught… it was super tiny at Long Beach and all I could catch was the white wash. But it was still fun. And so the adventure began!
I DO NOT miss lining up for the ferry every weekend. Oh, if only I lived on the Island…
I love the sunsets off the back of the ferries on the way home… even though it never quite feels like I’m at home when I’m away from the wildness of the Pacific Ocean and Tofino.
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On a completely unrelated note, I just reserved my copy of Resident Evil 5 for the Xbox 360. YES! SO EXCITED!
Photo Credit: Capcom and Microsoft
Tags: Al Merrick, British Columbia, Canada, Channel Islands, road trips, surf breaks, surf trips, surfboard, surfer girl, Surfing, Tofino, Vancouver, Water Hog, waves
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March 13th, 2009 at 11:57 am
Allie!
Lets go surfing!… It is that time now and I really miss Tofino too. Cheap camping @ Mackenzie beach as well.
March 13th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Picking up copy of RE5 today. Can’t wait.
March 13th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Yeah, Tofino is a great place but man, that driving and the ferries and the cost of being there is ridiculous sometimes, especially if you are renting boards and suits.
So my friends and I have been going to Seaside OR for long weekends. The exchange rate made it easier on the wallet the last few years but still a great place to get to in 8 hours. And no taxes in Oregon! Cheap wine and booze at the local Safeway.
Anyway, I highly recommend going south. Lots of cabins to rent down there if you have a number of people willing to split food and cabin rental.
March 13th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
We were thinking about doing a day or two in Tofino i think either on our way back from Hornby or on our way to Hornby this June. Don’t surf though but the beaches are AMAZING! As is the camping! Chesterman was too foggy while we were there though, Long beach was nice and sunny as was the beach we camped at (closer to town).
Your photos as per usual are awesome!
March 13th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Woohoo RE5!!! I’m picking up my copy during lunch and hopefully I can sneak out early and play!
March 13th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Each time I see your surfing pictures, it makes me want to learn how to surf even more.
They should put a bridge from the mainland to the island sure the smaller islands wouldn’t like but its better wakes from the ferries. Toll it so it could pay for all transits whining about lack of $$.
March 13th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
ah..this post is really making me look forward to my week in tofino in july.
I’ve been wondering about Seaside and surf in Oregon – any experience with that? we were deciding between oregon or tofino this year tofino won out.
March 13th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Oh how reading that post makes me miss surfing…I haven’t been on a board in over 5 years. That’s what you get when you live so far inland. I would love to strap a board to the roof-rack of my ’63 wagon and head to the west coast….hmmmm…sounds like I’m making summer plans;)
March 16th, 2009 at 6:40 am
Never been surfing.. I suppose if I lived more south it would be great. But up here its more like floating in freezing water while waiting for that one 3 foot wave to finally come. Haha.. nice pics though, definitely makes me anxious for summer.
March 16th, 2009 at 8:36 am
Damn it Allie it’s still ski season!!!
I really should give surfing a try one of these days.
March 16th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Dave, yes I would love to. We’re definitely going over April long weekend. But I’d like to potentially get a weekend in before that. What do you think about the last weekend in March?
Herbert, did you like it?
Carlos, it’s definitely an expensive ordeal. I think if you’re serious about surfing it is necessary to have your own board and suit. Last year and the year before I went to Oregon and Washington, but honestly with the price of gas and the 5-8 hour drive… I don’t think it’s really worth it for how much time you lose. Plus sitting at the border lineup is almost as bad as the ferries sometimes
I love Seaside and Oswald, don’t get me wrong… they are amazing especially in the summer… but I don’t see it as a regular thing 
Especially with the exchange rates these days!
Tyler, go for it! Go for it! You’d love it
I love Hornby. Tofino and Hornby are both incredible.
UD, yeah! Did you get a chance to play it yet?
Kimm, you should! You’ve already got the other water sports down
I totally agree with you about the bridge suggestion. That would be incredible and I would have no problem with a toll, even a hefty one!
Liv, where did you end up booking for July? Seaside and Oregon are beautiful. It’s a loooooong drive. You have to be prepared for it. But if you haven’t been there, definitely check it out at least once. The surfing is great, there are lots of places to stay (you have to book in advance, it’s completely booked out by locals on the weekends)… and it’s typically a couple degrees warmer both in water and air than Tofino.
Lovewine, you should get back into it!
Sounds like a good plan to me! Do you have any old surfing photos of yourself?
Dan, yeah the cold is definitely a deterrent. But a good solid wetsuit usually helps
I can’t say enough about tropical surfing though. If you get a chance to do it, take it! 
Tawcan, hahaha I know. My words totally were used against me. It suddenly decided to snow. Awesome though! Cypress was great yesterday. And yep you should definitely give it a try