Surfing in Tofino
A surfer at Cox Bay, Tofino Photo: watermanphoto.ca
Mile upon mile of beautiful sandy beach meet the untamed Pacific Ocean to create Canada’s own surfing paradise: Tofino.
Within 30 minutes of town there are six top quality surfing beaches. Each beach faces a slightly different direction so no matter which way the swells are coming in there’s always somewhere to ride.
Before you hit the water, be sure to check out the latest surf conditions.
Also, brush up on your surf etiquette with some helpful tips from the Pacific Surf School.
Tofino’s surfing beaches
Chesterman Beach
Chesterman is a perennial favourite for beginning surfers. Two beaches come together at Chesterman and create a good mix of waves.
Cox Bay
Cox Bay is known for its bigger swells and it can get pretty intense when the afternoon wind is up. Watch out for the strong rips at either end of the beach.
Mackenzie Beach
Florencia Bay
Long Beach
Tofino’s world-famous Long Beach is a big draw for surfers. With over 16 km of beach to surf no matter the time of year you can usually find a stretch all to yourself.
Surf lessons in Tofino
Skim boarding on Long Beach
If you’ve never been surfing, or if it’s been a while, don’t worry: with many beaches come many surf schools.
Tofino has a great assortment of surf schools for surfers to choose from. Many of Tofino’s surf schools are run by current or former pro surfers and some offer women’s only surf lessons. Before you make your decision you may want to ask the school a few questions.
- What is the ratio of students to instructors.
- Are the instructors BCASI certified?
- How long has your instructor been surfing.
As with anything, a referral is worth its weight in gold. Ask around—the best school’s all have great word-of-mouth.
Pacific Surf School — Tofino
Pacific Surf School offers the longest, most thorough and cost effective lessons on the West Coast. We also have a vast selection of year-round rental equipments which fits everyone’s budget.
Live To Surf — Tofino
Live to Surf, the original Tofino surf shop, est. 1984, has the largest rental selection in Canada. Specializing in surf, skate, skim, we offer a wide variety of sales, rentals, and lessons for any and all ages. Come in and visit the shop with experience. LIVE TO SURF!
