Tofino Surf Weekend – October 13-15
The weekends are a perfect introduction to SUP surfing in coastal areas. Enjoy the magic of Tofino and the west coast on our fun, friendly surf weekend. Entering our sixth year of courses together, we provide clients with enjoyable, technical surf and ocean training.
Our weekend is designed to introduce paddlers to the ocean environment with the goal of catching your first wave or improving on your existing surf skill set. Surfers will take part in on-water and dry land based teaching sessions, with video analysis sessions, that will focus on safety, etiquette, paddling technique. We teach swell forecasting and critical thinking in a dynamic ocean environment, whether catching your first or your tenth ride. Our industry leading surf instructors provide technical coaching that will steepen your learning curve and keep you safe in the ocean environment.
Course ratio will be kept to a maximum of 1:4 to ensure safety and increase personal instruction time.
Price: $450 + GST
Course Description: This course is designed to introduce novice paddlers to Stand Up Surfing moderate surf conditions (<1m). Course ratio will be kept to a maximum of 1:4 to ensure safety and increase personal instruction time. The course will include land-based and water-based teaching sessions as well as video analysis during the evening.
About the Instructors:
Norman John Hann
Norm is a Paddle Canada Coastal Instructor trainer and is an elite team rider for Boardworks Surf. Norm is from Squamish, B.C. and spends a lot of time paddle surfing here in Tofino, B.C. Norm also runs multi day expeditions to the Great Bear Rainforest and is always excited about sharing the water with passionate people.
Mike Darbyshire
Mike has been outside and on the water for most of his life. In a few short years SUP has given Mike opportunities to travel around North America, explore new places in his own backyard and help develop the Paddle Canada SUP Instructional Program. Mike is stoked on all disciplines of SUP including surf, touring, racing and river; and is excited to share it with whoever he can! He run’s the SUP program at Deep Cove Kayak and is sponsored by Starboard, Kokatat and Werner Paddles.
Catherine Bruhwiler
Catherine is a life long local Tofino surfer who loves to spend most of her time in the ocean. She is a talented surfer with a beautiful style and is an incredible ambassador for her hometown of Tofino, B.C. As a Paddle Canada SUP Instructor she teaches paddleboarding full time through her business Tofino Paddle Surf. When she is not teaching surfing for her brother’s Sepp and Raph or paddleboarding she will be found traveling and surfing with her kids. With her vast experience growing up on the ocean and surfing, Catherine brings a wealth of local knowledge to the course.
Sign up and payment: To secure your place in the course we require a 50% deposit with the remainder of the balance to be paid 30 days prior to course start date. Email transfers can be made to norm@normhann.com and cheques can be made payable to Norm Hann Expeditions. You can also purchase the course off the Norm Hann Expeditions.
Prerequisites: Participants of the course should have taken the Advanced Flatwater SUP Course or have equivalent skill. Participants who have not taken the Advanced Flatwater course should be comfortable paddling in wind and choppy conditions and be comfortable moving on their board from parallel to surf stance. Skill assessments can be arranged prior to the course at the instructor’s discretion.
Price includes the following:
Two and a half days of instruction
Paddle Canada Coastal Surf 1 Certification on request- $50
Video Analysis
Professional surf photography
1:4 Instructor to client ratio.
Price Does Not Include the Following:
Accommodations
Wetsuit and Board rental
For equipment list and full itinerary please visit the course page.