Well as luck would have it my job (working seasonally in the wild gormet mushroom buisness) Is sending me on the most exciting trip of a lifetime. I am driving from N California to the Yukon for a two month stint of mushroom buying, and picking near White Horse. I will be driving back and have gotten the OK to do exploration on my drive back and was planning on doing a surf trip of the coast of Alaska and Vancouver Island around mid august.
I checked out some websites with some info on vancouver but not Alaska. Anyone been there? Anyone live there and want to give me a heads up. I am more excited than i have ever been. One of the things I like most about going back to N California to visit is the solitude of surfing in the wilderness, this is going to be like ten times that with smokey bear chasing me to the lineup!
Tofino has an active surf community on the west coast of Vancouver Island. I saw people surfing at several local beaches. Sand bars and rock piles seemed to be the norm with no apparent world class breaks.
With Alaska and Vancouver Island, I’ve often looked at maps and wondered what lies beyond road’s end… there are miles of coastline that appear inaccessable.
Bud says surfing at Aleeska Ski Resort (which goes to ocean level).
Have buds who live in northern Vancouver Island who are local surfing legends, but they never clued me in as to where to go…lots of private property on the W coast.
If it’s solitude you’re looking for, you’ll likely be hard pressed to find it on the Island. Moved back home (Vancouver) after 3 years in SD last May…thank god; last summer was flat down there. Tofino has a very active surfing community and there are plenty of folks who make the trip from the mainland for the weekend. Weekdays are pretty mellow; pretty much locals only. There are a bunch of easy to find spots around the Pacific Rim peninsula. You’ll find the waves mushy as the beaches extend out for quite a ways and without a boat and knowledgeable guide, chances of reef access are nil. You will, however, be rewarded by landmarking your position for your favorite sandbar with gigantic trees rather than condos. Eagles, seals…they’re all here. Peeps is pretty friendly around Tofino too. Recommend you take the ferry from the US side and save yourself some dough and a load of headaches waiting for BC Ferries though.
Better options, which are a little more out of the way if you’re just going through, include Neah Bay at the tip of the Olympic Peninsula; one beach out on the open Pacific, one facing North on the Straight of Juan de Fuca; haven’t surfed there, but I’m going this year; heard great things from those in the know. Secondly, Southern Vancouver Island does have world class breaks. I didn’t believe it till I was there in the middle of March this year and watched the place go off. Head+ → DOH when the tide was right. Head west young man to Jordan River; if it’s showing there but small, keep on going to Sombrio…there will be a caravan of locals headed there from Sooke. Three separate reefs, but only works on a narrow swell window (only 15 degrees on either side of 270). There’s a few other nameless spots around there too. Don’t expect people to be super friendly out this way…mostly loggers and fishermen that like their waves to themselves and their cityfolk in the city. Just practice yer normal good lineup manners and nobody will give you too hard a time.
myeah…forgot…most people are rockin 4/5 or 4/6 with hood and 5mil booties/gloves until May. Summer you might get away with a 4/3 with hooded vest and 3 mil booties. Come prepared or have no fun.
Thanks for the heads up GWN It might have to be south island after looking at those photos. I have a 4/3 so that will have to suffice. Havent been to Yukon country or canada for four years last time the mushrooms were there, 24 hours of sunlight makes you a little crazy, and after all the isolation i am going to feel out of place returning to Oahu. can’t wait even if i get skunked on surf the mountain biking and hiking are world class no matter the conditions.
That trip is going to sooo awesome! I have always wanted to surf in Alaska. Heck, I have always just wanted to go to Alaska. Had a trip planned for last summer. A big month long driving expedition from SOcal and through AK, but ended up with no funds. Anyway, have a great time and let us know what you find.
Also, in the January 2005 (vol. 46, no. 1) issue of SURFER there is an article about surfing in Alaska.
I lived on Vanc. Island for a year. It’s not as cold as everyone makes it out to be, it’s around 48 F year round (That’s relative, I’ve been surfing water that’s 0-1degree celsius lately -right at freezing).
When on Vancouver island , I surfed year round in a 5/3 mm without my hood or gloves. Beautiful place, and the south of the island has pretty decent weather to be the pacific northwest…
Bud says surfing at Aleeska Ski Resort (which goes to ocean level).
Have buds who live in northern Vancouver Island who are local surfing legends, but they never clued me in as to where to go…lots of private property on the W coast.
Great adventure!
Used to virtually live at Alyeska during the winter months. Only surf you’ll get there is on the occasional boar tide that comes ripping up Turnagain Arm (so named by Capt. Cook when, upon finding yet another dead end up a promising inlet, he had to turn… again). That only happens when the tides are just right. Other than that, the the entire Cook Inlet area is far too protected to get any swell from anything but the very narrowest of windows. Now, once you get outside of the inlet, well then… It is virgin territory, and soooo promising. Alaska has more coastline than the rest of the US put together, and you’ll see water temps from the Japanese current up in the mid 50’s sometimes. I would LOVE to have the resources to go do a thorough exploration from Sitka to Atka. For all we know, there’s a J-bay, a Teahupoo, a Pipeline and a Rincon just waiting for someone to come and play! I’ve actually heard stories from my pilot cousin about flying at 2000 feet in his Cub and watching waves peel down a point for a quarter-mile or so… But I don’t have a boat…
I surfed near Tofino on a holiday there a couple of years ago, pretty average conditions but the place is pretty amazing, and heard that with boat and considerable local knowledge excellent waves can be had.
I also went to the Queen Charlotte Islands, That place has unlimited surf potential, and plenty of wild mushrooms to boot. Apparently before I got there (without boards etc, absolutely gutted!!!), the Billabong Odysey crew had been there sussing out the big wave potential. These Islands have some of the most spectacular and mindblowing scenery and history I have had the pleasure of viewing. The fishing is also ridiculously good. Good luck up there
