Canadian Surf Exploration With Raph Bruhwiler
Justin Cote
- November 10 2009
- 1,291 views
- 11 comments
Canadian professional surfer Raph Bruhwiler discovered what could be the next best wave on the west coast of Canada using Google Earth, but it wasn’t until last week when he assembled a group of surfers to find out for sure. With two pickup trucks loaded with all the surf, camping and camera gear needed, we headed to the farthest reaches of Vancouver Island, through heavy rain, snow and hail, miles and miles away from civilization in hopes of coming home with a story of huge perfect surf.
Just a few hours into the 12-hour journey, we had our first minor setback. We just hoped that the heavy rain would only bring down trees and not wash away our access to and from the region leaving us stranded from any kind of assistance.
When searching for the best place to set up base camp, we came across this boot, proving that when you’re this far out there, you must respect the locals.
Our base camp which Raph helped to clear, gave us shivering reminders of the Blair Witch Project.
From the logging road we had to find our own way to the beach and there was no easy way down. With a wetsuit and board Raph leads the way.
Almost there, Raph and Jens get first glimpse of what could be a perfect left and right hand point break. Photographed here is the inside section of the right.
Our crew, tired, wet, and sweaty, watch the ocean for waves. It didn’t take long to realize that the 20-foot swell on the outside was just not making it in to where we were. Next time, we wait for a huge swell from a different direction.
After hours of searching for a route to the beach, finding it along with unsurfable waves, I finally made it back up to base camp. Not all that stoked right now.
With no surf on this trip, our mission quickly took a right turn, leaving Raph excited to blast anything in his sights, like this little Bambi below.
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November 11th, 2009 at 1:36 am
pobre bambi……
November 11th, 2009 at 3:54 am
Did he blow bambis head off?!
November 11th, 2009 at 4:16 am
fk if they had sean collins with em this woulda been a done deal /sarcasm
November 11th, 2009 at 9:22 am
crazy he had a Plus One under his arm. and pete derives rides for AKA. San Diego boards making it all the way up to canada
November 11th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Dunno but that right looks pretty surfable to me!
November 11th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Tell him he cant shoot does. Only bucks. Does are easy pickings. Weak sauce.
November 12th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
You're not the only one not stoked. Lame. Lame. Lame. A pointless and uninteresting article. I wish I had the minute back I took to read this; what a waste.
November 13th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Maybe the WORST article I have ever read……. and posing with your foot on the head of a out of season doe contradicts your note about respecting the wilderness and nature……What a group of POSERS…….
November 14th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Not a great surf article, maybe should be on a hunting site instead. It is hunting season in B.C though ,it's hard to tell what gender that dear is. There are areas in B.C were does are allowed to be hunted and your allowed 15 dear a year bucks or does. I guess you guys don't eat meat.
November 14th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Deer Hunting season is on up here on Van isl.
November 17th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
all that cold, humidity, long trip for thosesmall waves?
i'm gonna stay home on the north shore and leave canada to you folks.
triple crown in on and hot! aloha gabe