Surf's Up - Vancouver Island's Best Big Wave Surfing

"Surf's Up - Vancouver Island's Best Big Wave Surfing",""" Bruce Jenkins, North Shore Chronicles Anyone who's ever sat slack-jawed in front of their computer screen after typing Big Wave Riding on Youtube will appreciate Mr. Jenkins Indeed, there are some mind-numbingly gigantic waves out there; and for every ten thousand surfers who head for the breadbox, there's at least one who heads for the beach. Even non-surfers have heard of the places these daredevils go to test their mettle. But sometimes places like Mavericks are enjoying moderate 20-footers while the world's true monster waves are lurking over 100 miles off the coast of San Diego. Discovered by deranged surfers in the early nineties, this anomaly can produce swells the size of apartment buildings with wave-faces as high as 70 feet. In fact even seasoned surfers wet themselves a little bit when these locations are uttered; like Mr. This is why places like Vancouver Island's west coast are so popular. And while they can be both challenging and thrilling rides, you're not really flipping the bird at Mother Nature nor will your kids be left orphans on the beach. And you don't need a jet-ski tow-in or an updated will-and-testament to make it worthwhile. The Alaskan Panhandle also generates a lot of the bigger solid running swells that bang against our beaches as well. Second only to sushi as a favourite Japanese export, the delicious waves generated from storms off the coast of Japan travel across the Pacific with ease before smacking into Western Canada. What can you do? American border-control. But before you envision parka wetsuits and neoprene mukluks, it bears mentioning that Vancouver Island enjoys one of the most temperate climates in the country. What's important to remember is that the water fluctuates between 7 and 14 degrees Celsius so a hood, gloves and boots aren't a suggestion - they're a pre-requisite. Local outfitters are naturally reticent to rent you a board that may A) come back in several pieces or B) disappear along with the defiantly cavalier tourist who thinks his puka shell necklace and Bermuda shorts are all he needs to go toe-to-toe with King Neptune. And in these waters, that hardware should be Shaquille O'Neil size (6'8"" to 8') for your best chances. With jagged coastlines, sandy beaches and lush, mist-shrouded forests, Vancouver Island's west coast looks more like a scene from a fantasy movie than anything else - if of course, the fantasy movie had wicked big waves. While Tahiti might boast bigger waves and a better climate, Long Beach is just a short 4-hour drive from the province's capital city of Victoria, 2 hours from Nanaimo and not much further from Vancouver and the Mainland. Jordan River is located in Juan de Fuca Provincial Park and is home to Jordan River Surf Club, a friendly group of locals who are always more than happy to introduce etiquette-abiding visitors to their waves. Although conditions here can be as unpredictable as Lindsay Lohan's career, when they're good they're really good, providing some of the longest rides on the Island. Thirty kilometres further north, you'll find Sombrio Beach. But it's the idyllic surroundings that make Sombrio so appealing. But for many, size really does matter. Rain or shine, winters here can produce waves anywhere between 12 and 16 feet not to mention 2 gorgeous little seaside towns to explore when you're done hitting the waves for the day. Sure, it's no Waimea Bay; it's no Mavericks, but let's get real for a second - you're on vacation, not on a pro tour. Cortes Banks isn't going anywhere. Make my day click here now