Surfing in Tofino
I, along with seven others, took part in the voyage to Tofino, BC, for the surfing outing as my activity for Ex10days. It should be mentioned that I, not including one female instructor, was the only girl who signed up for this trip. Yes, it was indeed quite an experience.
Of course the drive was a dream for me, with the fog-encrusted mountains that cushioned the forests against the road upon which we travelled, my music and conversation with Ms Staples (who was said female instructor) only made the mood more enjoyable, something which I took comfort in during the duration of that windy road through the wilderness to our campsite. Of course, I was so lost in my music and the woods and thoughts of my own design, that I failed to consider exactly what this weather meant for us when we arrived at the site.
We put up the tents in the cold and rain, and I discovered, much to my shock, that my tent was particularly wet inside, and was even a little leaky. I’ll admit that Ms Staples and I spent some time napping and reading in the vans which we arrived in with the heat blasting at full capacity (Roughing it in the Great Outdoors 101). Luckily for us, the rain would soon let up, and in spite of the sogginess and cold sleep, the weather and the overall atmosphere would soon pick up.
We awoke the next morning to a sunny morning wearing a cloak of wetness from the rain. Now, I think I need to give some point to being the only girl who signed up for this trip. Interestingly enough, it made my experience very enjoyable, in very odd ways. I had my own tent, and lord, that was a saviour, as eerie as it was when I awoke late at night. I thoroughly enjoyed this, and honestly, I like being able to have the freedom of my own space and place to be alone. I also, admittedly, found myself bursting into laughter at random moments, and the sole reason was that I had heard a snippet of the boys’ conversation. All was just fun and light-hearted, and much to my relief, there was no awkwardness or absurd social structuring because of my being the only member of my gender on this trip. I had feared that that would be the case, and so specifically to the five boys who accompanied me on this trip, I thank you.
The campsite was on the rim of a beach, one which would call me out for a visit every now and then. I remember specifically one day that I spent all afternoon and evening on that beach, strolling along its churning yet calming edge, watching the adorable seabirds as I contemplated the rolling things in my life, and sitting down for long periods of time both to contemplate some more, and (mostly) to read in the Tofino sunshine (Stephen King’s It was and still is a very gripping part in the story. The climax, as one would say). I even took a nap on a piece of driftwood that was particularly soothing. I felt like a cat just lying there, and trust me, that’s a good thing.
The bear warnings were everywhere, the crows and Steller's Jays would steal your peanut butter oatmeal (I know this from experience) if unguarded, and the animals and trees surrounded you in a wild hug. If you want to live with nature, then this is the trip. We’re living in their neighbourhood, and we have to accommodate their world. It was fascinating, as usually this is the other way around.
How can I not mention surfing? Yes, surfing. On the first two days we went surfing at nine thirty am. On the first, I’ll admit that I was anxious, because I hadn’t been surfing for some time, and therefore I was nervous about doing this again. However, once I felt the water as it seeped into the wetsuit and chilled my skin, and the waves as they crashed into me as if attempting to push me back to the land where it thought that I belonged, the fear began to fade.
The feeling as the water pushed me towards the shore, and the freedom as I stood upon the board, an endeavour which I was successful in on both days, as if I was a seagull flying over the waves only to continue higher and higher - it all came back to me, and the fear faded slowly from the forefront of my mind. I will not deny that I wiped out. On the second day, I attempted to catch two green waves, which are waves that have not broken into white water yet. Spoiler alert: it failed, but I'm glad I tried. The endeavour to actually get out there was difficult; there were no change rooms on the first day (Only girl), and my towel was sopping wet after drying the inside of my tent. The waves on day two were far more intense. I was, at one point, pushed back by a wave with so much force that the board was flung from my hands, and I was pushed under the waves, eyes shut in defence against the salt water, only to feel the fin of the surfboard slice across my stomach in a seemingly deadly line. I arose from the water in a slight panic, however, I was intact: No horror stories here.
Nonetheless, it was a scare, and I was reminded of how merciless Nature really is to what it creates. Nonetheless, I stood on the board, I rode the waves, no matter how much they tried to knock me down, and I managed to change into my wetsuit on day one without flashing anyone, even though I put the wetsuit on backwards the first time. Successful trip, I’d say.
On the last day, on a drive that was riveting and filled with music, joy, and conversation, we packed into the van right after surfing, wet and surprisingly warm, weather and wave-worn down to the bone, dirty and sweaty, clinging to our valuables, exhausted, and guzzling overpriced smoothies which were our attempt to re-hydrate after the wrath of the salty ocean. In short, we were living specimens proving how amazing this surfing trip to Tofino really was.
Kathleen B, Hope ‘26