Standup Zone Forum
Stand Up Paddle => Regional => British Columbia => Topic started by: MB on November 12, 2012, 09:14:24 AM
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I live in Bellingham, and I was thinking about taking a trip up to Tofino next week during my daughter's school break. She's a beginner surfer and I'm slightly past beginner on a SUP. Here's the current long range forecast from Surfline:
Nov 21 (Wed) 10-11ft 12s 247° (WSW) 8-9ft 9s 175° (S) 2-3ft 10s 321°
Nov 22 (Thu) 6-7ft 8s 222° (SW) 5-6ft 11s 284° (WNW) 3-4ft 8s 158°
Nov 23 (Fri) 6-7ft 5s 173° (S) 4-5ft 10s 272° (W) 1-2ft 18s 183°
Nov 24 (Sat) 17-18ft 10s 188° (S) 2-3ft 15s 189° (S) 0-1ft 0s 0°
Nov 25 (Sun) 13-14ft 11s 202° (SSW) 4-5ft 6s 274° (W) 4-5ft 12s 274°
We have been out at long beach, cox, and chestermans before, so a little familiar with the area. Given our skill level and this forecast, do you recommend going at all--and if so, what areas would you look at to be more protected? Thanks.
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Based on those swell heights the answer is a resounding no. As an example, this weekend started off mellow on Friday and Saturday, but by Sunday morning the buoys were reading 10-12' @ 10s and South chestermans was completely shut down by mid-afternoon with not a soul making it outside on anything, North was flat as the swell was southerly, but a westerly component came in today and turned it into a lumpy, but rideable (not that much fun) mess. Mackenzie looked ok for a beginner, but still super lumpy; and as per normal Long Beach, Wick and Florencia are pretty much summer only spots as their exposure takes swell from all directions so winters are just too messy and confused here.
In the summer we usually only get one swell direction at a time, either Southerly high period swells, or westerlies that have lower periods but are usually larger, this makes for nice conditions are the exposed beaches, and often epic conditions at a place like Cox on the good days. Now put SW, W and NW swells together, all with interchangeable periods and what you get is a mess. That is not too say it always sucks in the winter there, I had two wicked weekends last November, but what you want to look for is smaller swell, and primarily from one direction. If Magicseaweed is calling for 14' chances are that is combined swell from multiple directions, take a look at their breakdown.
If you are from Bellingham, then based on the size of swell headed our way, I'd be checking out the breaks on your side of JDF heading into this weekend and beyond, never ridden them myself, but hear they are just as good as our South Island spots except lefts! Fun!
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Thanks man, that's just the help I needed. I think the strait is the ticket, but my wife really loves Tofino (as do I). And who knows -- maybe surfing earlier in the week and skiing later on...
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Tofino is so expensive compared to spots that are just as nice on your side of the border, with no border crossing or ferry ride. Why not try La Push (ok, not as nice), Westport, or head south to Cannon beach/ Seaside area? In fact I cannot believe how cheap things are out that way. A place I rented in Cannon Beach this summer for $69/night was nicer than the place we rented this weekend in the off-season in Tofino for $249/night.
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Canon and Seaside are great places.
Years back got a room on the water for $19. a night.
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I am a goofy footer, so the Cove at Seaside still stands out as the best session I have ever had by far. That place is just epic.
I guess the price differential is a supply and demand thing, more people down there, but places to stay galore from Long Beach, WA all the way down the Oregon Coast and into Cali - whereas Tofino, well that and Ukee are pretty much it for the whole Country west of Ontario.