Canada's insider blog

If you weren’t kitted up in five-ml neoprene wetsuits, booties and hoodies, you were on shore in yellow slickers and rubber boots. That’s been the scene in Tofino, BC since Oct. 9—when surfers from around the world began competing in the O’Neill Cold Water Classic, held on four different beaches, near the tiny west coast town of 1,500.

Yes, the weather on the west coast is burly at this time of year. The waves cold, grey and random. Exactly how he likes it—that is, Tofino-boy Pete Devries, who won last year’s Cold Water Classic. Vying for this year’s US $145,000 purse, Devries is still in the running as the one-week competition enters Day 5, with only 48 of the original 96 surfers remaining.

With stops in Tasmania, South Africa, Scotland, California and Canada—landing a stop on this high-adenaline tour validates Tofino as a premier surf destination. Further endorsement came from Outside magazine earlier this year that stamped Tofino as the No. 1 surf city in North America.

Now that’s something to do an alley-oop over. Yes, in Tofino this week, the radical manoeuvers are fast and furious. As is the bar talk: “Dude, I can’t believe he pulled off that backside 360. That was so hiddie.”

The total purse for the Tofino stop is $145,000. The final round will be for $20,000.

Watch the video: www.oneill.com/cwc.

Read more on surfing in Canada.
See a video about surfing Canada’s St. Lawrence River.