Here are the top five places to surf on Vancouver Island.
Chesterman Beach, Tofino
Tofino is the premiere surf destination in Canada, and Chesterman is one of the closest surfable beaches to the town. The beach is considered to have one of the best beginner beach breaks in North America. There are two parts to the beach: South and North. South is a good place to surf if there is a south swell and a northwest wind. North is the place to go if the swell direction is west or northwest, and the there is a south-easterly wind. It’s also one of the most picturesque beaches in Tofino. If the mist has kept away, you can see several islands out in the distance. On a nice evening take some smokies (smoked Sausages, popular in Canada) and something to wash it down with, and have a beach fire whilst watching the sunset.
Cox Bay, Tofino
This crescent-shaped beach is regularly used for competitions, and is the most consistent surfing beach in the summer. Cox Bay faces west and picks up smaller summer swells that can elude Chesterman. Head to this beach if the swell is small and the wind is from the west or northwest. A south-east wind or no wind is best, but this can be rare in the summer. If you do visit Tofino it’s useful to have a car, as public transport is rare and the beaches are miles from the town.
Long Beach, Tofino
Long Beach is Tofino’s most famous beach. It’s 16km long and is suited to all levels of surfing. The beach is within the Pacific Rim National Park and its wind-swept sands are littered with driftwood, and the rainforest that encroaches onto the beach bears the scars of the harsh storms that rip through this part of the world. Most of Long Beach faces southwest, so make your way here when the swell is to the southeast and a north-westerly wind blows.
Sombrio Beach, Jordan River
Popular with the local crowd, Sombrio is a misty beach with an eerie air. Its conditions are not as stable as they are in Tofino, but with the right conditions the waves give you long rides. There are a few spots to choose from: Chicken is a rocky beach break for those who don’t want to venture out to the reefs, and The Point is where you can get the long rides and waterfalls for the experts. At this beach make sure you follow etiquette, or you may get on the wrong side of the locals!
Nootka Island
This is the place to come for wilderness surfing. You can only access the island by boat, and you can camp here, or stay at the Beano Creek Eco Surf Village in one of their tree houses. Here you can surf on some of the emptiest beaches in the world. There is no line, and while you wait for just the right wave, you can wildlife-watch. The waves on Nootka Island are more for experienced surfers, but there are more gentle waves for the beginners – however, the swells can get scary at times as this is the first bit of land a Pacific storm hits.
