Believe it or not, winter is a very important time for surfers in the Greater Victoria area. It’s the time of year that Vancouver Island is bombarded by storms consisting of heavy rain and high winds that create the kind of waves that surfers crave.
It’s also the most dangerous time to surf.
But there are things surfers can do to minimize the amount of danger brought on by winter weather.
“Obviously, with bigger waves, know your ability. That’s number one,” says Joel Knickle, a seasonal surfing instructor at Pacific Surf School in Tofino. “Don’t go at some crazy wave that you can’t necessarily surf well.”
Knickle stresses that practice is key when it comes to developing your ability to ride larger waves.
“The best way as far as surfing goes,” he says, “is to start small and get bored before you try to really progress, because it’s important that you’ve got all the fundamentals down as far as riding your surfboard goes and catching the waves.”
But the winter winds are sometimes the least of worries at beaches dominated by cobblestone points and reefs accompanied by strong currents.
“It’s important to understand where these things are,” continues Knickle. “Explore the reef at times when it’s low tide, just so you know what you’re getting into before you surf a place.”
He also suggests talking to locals before you hit the waves at a spot for your first time.
“You might only break a fin or damage a part of your board, but it could also be your dome,” says Knickles.
Knickles’ aim is not to discourage, but rather to inform new members of an ever-growing surfing community in Victoria.
“It seems as though a lot of people are deciding to come to school here, either UVic or Camosun, just for the fact that they’re going to be able to catch waves before classes, after classes, or on the weekends,” he says. “If you want to live in a city where you want to surf, Victoria would be a good choice.”