We took the whitewater boats to Tofino this past weekend. Craig registered us to participate in the Paddle Surf Festival. With Tofino as the destination, how could I have said "no"?
The Vancouver Island Kayak Club hosted the Paddle Surf Festival. They arranged for camping at "Surf Junction" in Ucluelet; almost where the road forks to Ucluelet and Tofino. Surf Junction has hot showers, clean composting toilets, and a hot tub (which we never used). Had it not been so, I wouldn't have agreed to camp in the "wet coast " in late September.
The weather for the weekend was great--sunny and warm. There were about 75 to 100 kayak surfers and canoes on Cox Bay. The waves were quite moderate (2 meters).
I was sold on the surfing, and found out only when we got to Tofino that Craig had entered us both in the competition for Beginners. We hadn't been on our whitewater boats for over a year, and we both felt rusty with our surf skills. Craig's "rusty" is more like my "best." He moves his boat fluidly in the waves while I flail. But, I love being in a kayak, and I was just going to go out there to have fun and learn to surf my little boat with finesse. Alas, the "finesse" part didn't come until Sunday. On Saturday, the day of the competition, I spent the first 15 minutes side-surfing or peeling out early (try my playbout out, and you'll know what I mean). Who cares?!!! I loved being out there.
Craig placed first overall in the Men's Beginners competition for which there were three heats (12 competitors). PRIZE: Magic 8 Ball. Fellow LURKers Bob and Wendy were in the Masters division. They placed first and second respectively. PRIZES: Dashboard Duck and Shot Glasses. Respectable indeed.On Sunday, we had clear skies and it was warm. We surfed at Long Beach, just to the right of Incinerator Rock. The waves were about the same as the day before: moderate. It was easier to punch out to the green zone. And I learned to surf that little whitewater boat of mine. Craig, meanwhile, tried to flatspin and do cartwheels in the surf. Just as we had gotten the hang of it, it was time to go.
We met lots of friendly people, including a group of kayakers from the VKC during the BarBQ at Surf Junction. Craig's Magic 8 Ball ruled. It was great fun.
Craig and I are bth still stoked from being in the surf. We want more, and SOON!
