A wave of competitive energy cascaded across Tofino乌鸦传媒檚 backdoor over the weekend as the Rip Curl Nationals barrelled into Cox Bay.
Supporters and fans filled the sand to cheer on the country乌鸦传媒檚 top surfing stars from May 9-11 with hometown legends basking in the stoke alongside budding groms as divisions ranged from Under-14 to 40+.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 at home and all of the kids and surfers around Tofino all come together for this one event乌鸦传媒t showcases all of the young talent who often can乌鸦传媒檛 go compete internationally. They get to show how good they are here and also some of the older competitors get to show how good they still are,乌鸦传媒� Ocea Green told the Westerly News after taking the Under-16 Girls Division乌鸦传媒檚 top crown.
乌鸦传媒淭he surf scene in Tofino for the younger generation is getting way better. It乌鸦传媒檚 crazy seeing all of these young kids. They乌鸦传媒檙e all so good and they乌鸦传媒檙e all surfing together so they乌鸦传媒檙e all pushing each other to do better. I think that乌鸦传媒檚 really important because it pushes the older kids to stay on their game and keep getting better because they see these little kids coming up behind them getting better and better. It heightens the level everywhere, across all generations.乌鸦传媒�
Green crushed the waves to score 17 in the U16 division乌鸦传媒檚 final heat, besting Camille Cortazzo, 11.04, Teagan Sandvig, 10.07, and Jade Rosene, 5.67.
乌鸦传媒淔or me, it乌鸦传媒檚 not about beating the other surfers, it乌鸦传媒檚 about surfing my best. In each heat, I just want everyone to be able to catch a few waves where they surf their best. I feel like the heat will go how it乌鸦传媒檚 meant to go, but as long as I catch a few waves where I surf good, then I乌鸦传媒檓 happy.乌鸦传媒�
She added she was excited to just be able to compete in the event after suffering a concussion about two weeks prior.
乌鸦传媒淚 was really happy because I feel like I乌鸦传媒檝e put in a lot of work this past year and then I got the concussion and I was really bummed. I thought I wouldn乌鸦传媒檛 be able to compete, but then I competed and that made me really happy,乌鸦传媒� she said.
Green, 16, has been surfing in Tofino since she was around 7 years old, but began really getting into it during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
乌鸦传媒淒uring lockdown, I wasn乌鸦传媒檛 in school or anything and I just started surfing every single day. It was one of my favourite things to do just because every day was different and every day I learned something and I loved it,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淚 think I love it the most because everyday you paddle out, it乌鸦传媒檚 different.乌鸦传媒�
Green also won the Under-18 Girls Division and finished second to Mathea Demphle-Olin in the Open Womens Division finals.
Demphle-Olin agreed with Green about the future of West Coast surfing shining bright.
乌鸦传媒淓ach generation just gets better and better, so it乌鸦传媒檚 always really exciting to see the next generation just pushing the limits,乌鸦传媒� she said, adding she loves competing in Tofino.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 my home, so I love surfing here. The waves aren乌鸦传媒檛 the best, but you can find little gems everytime you go out. It乌鸦传媒檚 a challenge, but it乌鸦传媒檚 lots of fun.乌鸦传媒�
Tanner Sandvig, who travelled to Tofino from San Clemente, California took the Under-16 Boys Division乌鸦传媒檚 top spot with a score of 13.63, narrowly eking out Samuel Weber乌鸦传媒檚 13.37.
乌鸦传媒淚t feels really good. I finally got it this time. The competition is pretty hard. There乌鸦传媒檚 a lot of good surfers here,乌鸦传媒� he said, adding he loves making the trip out. 乌鸦传媒淭ofino is an amazing place. It乌鸦传媒檚 super beautiful here and the waves are really fun.乌鸦传媒�
Shea Bruhwiler took home the Under-18 Boys Division crown. Meanwhile, Shannon Campbell Brown, head coach of Canada乌鸦传媒檚 National Surfing Team and was stoked to score his first ever Canadian national title, winning the 40+ Men乌鸦传媒檚 Division .
乌鸦传媒淭he top dogs around here are so good it乌鸦传媒檚 really hard to get a win. I don乌鸦传媒檛 feel bad about losing to those guys, but I just feel so happy to get a win,乌鸦传媒� he said.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檝e been coaching for over a decade here and all the kids that I coach are on the beach, so it乌鸦传媒檚 nice to show them that I can do it a little bit.乌鸦传媒�
He added competing in the annual event is a blast with top talent travelling from across the country and beyond to go toe to toe.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 just so fun to catch up with your friends, surf together, put the jerseys on and go out and get elbow to elbow and fight for a little bit, then get back on the beach, high-five and have a beer. It乌鸦传媒檚 beautiful.乌鸦传媒�
