StandingWaves photo Andrew Findlay
Judges perched on a scaffold 100 metres back from the wave.
photo Andrew Findlay
photo Wayne Barson
Larry Bell didn’t play with the big boys–but dressed for it.
Canada West Surf Fest
Event returns to Long Beach after 12 years
“There were major riptides and I didn’t know what to do. I stayed in the foam. I didn’t play with the big boys,” said a breathless Larry Bell after surviving his 20-minute session and paddling ashore to recuperate.
The Vancouver Island paddler, looking like some sort of aquatic gladiator with his hock- ey-style face guard, was competing in the beginner class at the Canada West Kayak Surf Festival held at Long Beach on Vancouver Island’s west coast last September 28 and 29. The wave-height signboard on the road into Pacific Rim National Park Reserve read “Extreme.” The near-shore waters churned with
a menacing mix of boiling whitewater and foam. Further out, a continuous salt spray whipped off the peaks of prodigious waves sporting two- to three-metre faces. Despite the intimidating weather, the event sold out. The mood was positive, the stoke factor high and the smiles wide as 52 partici- pants took part in the two-day celebration of surf kayak trickery.
Before the competition got underway Saturday morning, competitors were briefed on rules and regs. No sooner had event organ- izer and Nanaimo paddler Shayne Vollmers finished his welcome talk—which included a nod to the attending police officer and warden with a warning about alcohol consumption on the beach—beginner heats started hitting the water like lemmings. The battery of four judges perched on a scaffold 100 metres back from the waves. With eyes glued to binoculars,
they strained to differentiate between competi- tors and non-competitors. Up to 20 paddlers at once jockeyed for position in the surf. Paddlers in five categories—beginner, female K1, male intermediate, composit surfkayak, and expert—had 20 minutes to show off their stuff with the hope of moving on to the next round of competition. Some got thrashed and struggled to stay upright. Others thrilled with expert maneuvers. Everyone was feeding off the powerful Pacific surf. Pro
10
www.rapidmag.com
photo Wayne Barson
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52