WELCOME TO SCOTIA SURFER
"Spring surf at the Tea House" by Chris Helland. | PLEASE EMAIL US YOUR PHOTOS
Welcome to Scotia Surfer, a website devoted to surfing in Nova Scotia, Canada. Although the water is cold, the surfing in Nova Scotia is among the best on the Atlantic Coast of North American.
SURFDONKEY: TOM CURREN VISITS DACANE
By Reedster | November 16, 2008
In Episode 4 of SurfDonkey, three-time world surf champion and surf legend Tom Curren visits the Dacane surf shop for a chat with owner Lance Moore and some fans.
Curren was in town with his band the Noahs on October 10 to perform in a surf benefit at The Marquee. About 450 people attended the event and more than $7,000 was raised for the Coastal Access Committee.
Unfortunately there was no significant swell during Curren’s visit, but that didn’t stop him from stepping into the Atlantic for a few ankle biters (not caught on video).
To see Episode 4 of SurfDonkey, click here
No Comments »SURFRIDERS OF NOVA SCOTIA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
By Reedster | November 11, 2008
The Surfriders Association of Nova Scotia (SANS) recently had its Annual General Meeting during which time a new board of directors was elected.
At the top, Pat Bannister replaced outgoing President John Fluke, who has been instrumental in the development of surfing in Nova Scotia.
A well-known Halifax-area surfer, Bannister recently represented Canada in the bodyboarding event at the ISA World Surfing Games in Portugal.
Although he has left SANS, Fluke will continue his work developing surfing in Canada as President of the Canadian Surfing Association.
Other board positions filled by SANS are as follows: Read more »
No Comments »SOUL SURFING VS. COMPETITIVE SURFING
By Reedster | October 29, 2008
Surfing is still is in its infancy in Nova Scotia, but it’s growing fast.
As it grows, tension is beginning to emerge between surfers who would like to see the sport remain relaxed and laissez-faire and those who would like to see more structure and competition.
Australia, where surfing is considered a national sport, has long experienced this sort of tension.
The Gold Coast is home to Superbank, viewed by some as the perfect wave. The area is home to the highest concentration of professional competitive surfers in the world.
An hour south of the Gold Coast is Byron Bay, a hippy mecca and home to “a small group of the finest corporately-commissioned free surfers on Earth,” according to filmmaker Cyrus Sutton.
Sutton’s feature-length documentary, Under the Sun, explores the contrast and cultural clash between these two famous surf spots.
Shot on Super 16mm, Under the Sun won best independent film at this year’s Huntington Beach Surf Film Festival and best outdoor film at the Newport Film Festival.
The Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative (AFCOOP) will be screening Under the Sun at the Empire Park Lane Cinemas in Halifax on Monday, November 17 at 7 p.m. Sutton will be on hand to introduce the film and take part in a Q & A afterward.
Click here to see the movie poster for the event.
Tickets are $8 and are available in advance at the If Only and Kannon Beach surf shops, or at the Park Lane box office on November 17 (box office opens at 6 p.m.)
No Comments »DAWN PATROL AT COW BAY
By Reedster | October 28, 2008
In Episode 3 of SurfDonkey, host Lance Moore joins some local surfers for a Dawn Patrol surf session at Cow Bay. The clean swell that day came courtesy of Hurricane Kyle, which mowed over southwestern Nova Scotia on October 1. Check it out…
IF ONLY SURF SHOP
By Reedster | October 27, 2008
“If only.” That was the refrain family and friends used to hear Johnny McLellan say over and over.
Usually McLellan would recite the mantra when referring to the surf shops where he worked and shopped. “If only” the shops carried some of the less well-known, less marketed surf brands, he would say.
McLellan, who grew up in Ontario and lived out West, including Hawaii, saw opportunity in Halifax and recently opened his own surf shop downtown at the corner of Queen St. and Morris St., adjacent to Dalhousie University’s Sexton Campus.
When thinking of what to call his shop, McLellan’s old “If Only” mantra arose. The name would be fitting since the shop would fulfill his desire to see “alternatives to the larger brands”, brands such as Katin Surf (clothing), Matuse (wetsuits) and T. Patterson (surfboards).
So far, it appears customers have also been digging McLellan’s mantra - he’s having trouble keeping up with demand for the surfboards he’s stocking. Read more »
No Comments »SANS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
By Reedster | October 22, 2008
The Surfriders Association of Nova Scotia (SANS) is holding its Annual General Meeting Thursday, October 23 from 6-8 p.m. at the Nova Scotia Sea School Office located at 2057 Gottingen Street (next to the Marquee Club).
At the meeting, SANS will be electing new Board Members, reviewing its budget and its performance this year and setting SANS priorities for the year.
“If you are a member of SANS I strongly encourage you to come to the meeting,” says SANS representative Amy Schwartz. “This is your opportunity as a SANS member to share your views and get engaged.”
Members include those that have donated a minimum of $20 annually in membership fees to SANS, volunteered at any of the non-competition events (e.g. beach cleanup), volunteered at any of the SANS surfing competitions (e.g. judging), or have competed in at least one event per year.
Those who are not currently members are encouraged you to join SANS by emailing surfridersns@gmail.com and paying the $20 membership fee at the meeting.
No Comments »CANADA OPENS EYES AT SURF GAMES
By Reedster | October 17, 2008
West Coast surfer Reid Jackson was the first Canadian in the water at the ISA World Surfing Games on Thursday.
Competing in the third repechage, Jackson, who had to deal with a low tide and mediocre waves, finished third in his heat. Jackson was followed by fellow West Coaster Noah Cohen, who finished second at the recent September Storm Surf Classic in Halifax.
Also competing in the third repechage, Cohen worked hard while dealing with less than stellar waves at the start of his session. Near the end of his heat, the waves began beaking his way enabling the 18-year-old Canadian to finish third.
After a strong showing, Jackson and Cohen have been eliminated from the competition.
Nova Scotia’s Glen MacDuff was supposed to compete in the longboard event on Thursday, but after waiting all day, the judges finally made the call to delay the event until Friday. MacDuff will be the last Canadian surfer to hit the water.
By the end of competition on Thursday, Canada was sitting 20th in the overall point standings. This is the highest ranking Canada has gained since becoming a member of the ISA in 1988.
“Canada has open the eyes of a lot of countries,” said SANS President John Fluke, who is attending the competition.
All heats are webcast live at www.wsg2008.com
No Comments »COHEN GOES HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH ASP PRO
By Reedster | October 15, 2008
After a delay in the morning, wave conditions improved enough to start of Day 4 of the ISA World Surfing Games in Portugal Wednesday.
The first Canadian in the water was Nova Scotia’s Pat Bannister, who competed in the bodyboard competition. Normally a surfer, Bannister performed well but his heat was strong and he finished fourth. Fellow Nova Scotian Glen MacDuff was next to compete and he also finished fourth in his shortboard heat.
The most impressive Canadian on the day was West Coaster Noah Cohen, who went head-to-head with ASP pro Pablo Gutierrez of Spain. After a slow start in his heat, Cohen, 18, found his rhythm and pulled off the first air move of the repechage. The feat brought cheering spectators to their feet.
Gutierrez tried to respond with some air of his own but was unable to pull it off. Liking his chances, Cohen followed up another aerial manoeuvre, which was better than his first. The young gun from Tofino ended up taking second in the heat behind Gutierrez.
Fellow West Coaster Reid Jackson was also scheduled to compete Wednesday, but with deteriorating conditions, the contest was called before he got in the water. If the waves cooperate, Jackson will be in the water at 8:20 a.m. Thursday competing in the final heats of the second repechage.
Following that, Round 3 of the repechage will begin with Cohen in the water at about 9:40 a.m. and Jackson following at 11:20 a.m. or 11:40 a.m., depending on how he places in Round 2. All times are Portugal time, four hours ahead of Nova Scotia.
In other action on Thursday, Nova Scotia’s Glen MacDuff will compete in the first round of the longboard repechage. All heats are webcast live at www.wsg2008.com
According to SANS President John Fluke, Team Canada’s strong showing in Portugal should move Canada up the ISA’s international rankings.
No Comments »CANADIANS ADVANCE IN PORTUGAL
By Reedster | October 15, 2008
Team Canada saw lots of action at the ISA World Surfing Games on Tuesday with both the men’s and women’s shortboard surfers in the water.
West Coasters’ Noah Cohen and Reid Jackson both won their heats and advanced to the second round of the repechage. Nova Scotia’s Glen MacDuff had a bye into the second round as well, while fellow Nova Scotian Neal Durling had a strong heat but was edged out by an Irish surfer.
As for the women, both Kim Childs (Nova Scotia) and Leah Oke (BC) had strong first heats, and while the waves where in their favour, they did not advance.
Later in the day, the women had a second session. As the day progressed, the winds picked up and wave conditions became more wind blown than ground swell, according to SANS President John Fluke, who is in attendance. Oke subsequently finished in third and Childs came in fourth in what were solid performances.
Wednesday is expected to be a busy day for the Canadian team. MacDuff is scheduled to be in the water at 8:20 a.m., Cohen at 8:40 a.m. and Jackson at 12:00 p.m. Portugal time (four hours ahead of Nova Scotia). If the surfers place first of second they will be surfing later in the day.
MacDuff is also scheduled to be surfing in the longboard repechage at 3:00 p.m. and Nova Scotia’s Pat Bannister is slated to compete in the bodyboard event at 8:20 a.m.
Note: The start of Wednesday’s action was delayed temporarily to allow the tide to rise. All heats will be webcast live at www.wsg2008.com
No Comments »CANADIANS HIT THE WATER
By Reedster | October 13, 2008
The longboard and bodyboard events kicked off at the ISA World Surfing Games in Portugal on Sunday with two Nova Scotians competing for Canada - Glen MacDuff (longboard) and Pat Bannister (bodyboard).
“Both of our surfers did their best but the waves where not on our side,” said John Fluke, president of the Surfriders Association of Nova Scotia (SANS). Both surfers finished fourth in their respective heats.
On Monday, the men’s shortboard competition will begin. MacDuff will be in the water at 8:20 a.m. followed by West Coasters Noah Cohen at 9:40 a.m. and Reid Jackson at 11:00 a.m. Nova Scotia’s Neal Durling will be the last Canadian in the water at 12:20 p.m.
All times are Portugal time, which is four hours ahead of Nova Scotia. Should the Canadians advance, they will surf again Monday afternoon.
The Canadian women - Kim Childs of Nova Scotia and Leah Oke of BC - will hit the water on Tuesday, Oct 14.
All heats will be webcast live at www.wsg2008.com
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