Hurricane Surf Company Turns One
Celebrations and lessons learned from a full year of spreading the Stoke!
Sending it on a day to remember last year. Photo Turner Kinal @surfandexplore
What just happened? Starting a company in February 2023, representing Canada in the ISA World Longboard Championships that same year, and having so many epic adventures with friends, I feel like the luckiest person alive. Thank you to everyone that has been a part of this little project of mine. Here are a few nuggets and lessons learned from our first full year in business.
Canadian Surfers are the Most Stoked!
I’m claiming it. From West to East, to all the Lakes and rivers in between, being a Canadian surfer means putting up with a whole set of challenges that are simply non-existent to most other surfers on the planet. This year, I taught a record day of surf lessons at -25 Celsius with windchill. Thank you to Marina Reny, Pierre-Luc and Mike Olah, who came out that day and didn't even hesitate. You are truly dedicated surfers and working with people like yourselves is the reason I began Hurricane Surf Company.
Yes, that is seawater freezing to my 6/5mm Wetsuit Photo: @marina.elizabeth.reny
I also had the pleasure of teaching a group coaching session a.k.a SemiGnars at Surf the Greats in Toronto, thus confirming that of the Canadian surfers, Lake surfers are the most stoked of all. What a rad crew out there, and we even got to surf some fun lake waves during my visit. I want to thank the crew at surf the greats, and especially Tobi who has supported me and become a good friend. Keep spreading the stoke Tobi and I cant wait to surf with you again, wherever it may be.
Thank you to Sam Moffat (@sam.moff) for taking some sweet photos of the event!
2. Preparation is Everything: Training and Equipment
Good Wetsuit gear from Matuse wetsuits helped keep me stoked this year!
From dialling in wetsuit gear to having a solid pre/post surf routine to deal with those negative temperatures and heaving waves, I noticed the importance of training and preparation this year.
Dryland training and prep include a fitness routine, daily mobility, or programs like WaveKi that help you “Practice on land and Play in the water,” as Gerr would say.
Then, you want to have your gear in good condition and ready to go for when the swell arrives. Having my Matuse suit ready for each session gave me the confidence and motivation to surf, no matter how cold it was.
Ben Walker @wasted.frames lining up in cold water!
3. Above all, be kind and support each other!
Mike is an absolute frother and joy to work with!
Holy smokes, what a wicked surf community we have here in Canada. We have so many great waves and great people to share them with. It’s a growing community, and we all connect the dots, making this weird little extended family bigger and closer-knit. We share a lot in common, with each corner bringing its own flair and experience that we can learn from. I also think this is just the beginning of surfing in Canada. As we plunge into the icy brine, we will learn more about ourselves and the world. Do so with kindness in your heart, and good intentions will flow from you and towards the fellow surfers around you. They, in turn, will feel your good vibes, and it will warm their heart, even on the harshest day that this land and sea can dish up. Stay frothy, my friends!
