While many opt to stay inside during the chilly and snowy Canadian winter, Vesa Luomaranta seizes the opportunity to embrace the cold weather.
Instead of engaging in traditional winter activities like pond hockey, skiing, or ice fishing, Luomaranta chooses to surf.
His motivation? “For the love of surfing. For the sheer love of the waves,” expressed Luomaranta, the owner of Superior East Board Shop in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., in a conversation with The Current host Matt Galloway.
Despite the waves lacking the warmth of Hawaii’s north coast in Oahu, Luomaranta asserts that Canada offers ample locations to ride winter waves, albeit amidst snow and ice.
Reasons for Winter Surfing
Lake Superior is Luomaranta’s preferred spot, while other enthusiasts venture to destinations like Tofino, B.C., and the East Coast. Winter waves in Canada provide a unique experience compared to tropical waves, making them a prime choice for surfers seeking the best Canada has to offer.
Jess Dimis, initially apprehensive about surfing in cold waters, was persuaded by a friend to give it a try. Her experience off the coast of British Columbia differed significantly from her first surf in Costa Rica but left her captivated.
“My instructor saw the expression on my face and realized it was a pivotal moment for me,” shared Dimis, who now imparts surfing lessons in Tofino. “It has significantly impacted my life. I fell in love with it.”
For Dean Petty, a former professional surfer, cold water surfing is ingrained in his upbringing. Although he now frequents tropical locales, his early surfing days were in the North Atlantic off Nova Scotia.
“There’s a certain allure to the challenge,” noted Petty, the founder of Camp Bueno Surf Sanctuary in Cow Bay, N.S.
With a smaller community due to fewer participants, Petty remarked that winter is the optimal time for surfing in Canada, a sentiment echoed by Luomaranta.
“The winter waves on Lake Superior are massive, crashing onto the shore,” Luomaranta described. “When the winter northwest winds pick up, it creates substantial waves. Witnessing their impact and hearing the water is truly awe-inspiring.”
However, surfing in frigid waters necessitates specific safety measures. Water temperatures drop to around 3°C and can vary across the lake, as mentioned by Luomaranta.
A wetsuit is essential for insulation, with Luomaranta admitting to layering underneath for extra warmth.
“The challenging part comes post-surf, when you’re wet, covered in ice, and trying to return