Saidia Zaloski, Journalist
“I used the rocks and timed my jump, before I knew it, I was full RPM paddling for the outside. As I began to peak over the first wave, I could see I made horrible timing,” Surf Instructor, Ali Alamolhoda, shares his craziest story, “I was about thirty feet from sunset point rocks, I paddled harder towards a neighboring beach (South Chestermans) but in the process I was caught inside a big set of waves and was tossed twenty feet from a rocky cliff.”
Alamolhoda swam for his life, and took the remaining three waves on the head and came up ten feet from shore.
“I instantly moved for the rocks and began scaling the cliff, dragging my board behind me by my leash,” Alamolhoda continues, “I felt the ocean wash up behind me and push me and my board up the rock a good five feet before pulling back, giving me a chance to get up.”
This didn’t stop Tory; he caught his breath, jumped back in and made way to an exit point. He then hiked over into Cox Bay, and spent a half hour trying to hop off the rocks again. After almost being blown off the rocks a few times, he decided to try the South beach and made it.
“I made it!” Alamolhoda exclaims, “but on my second fourteen footer, I snapped my leash and began the exhausting 30 minute treadmill of a swim back to the beach.”
You work for every wave, and beginners should be ready to do one hundred push-ups in three hours. However, Alamolhoda explains that catching your first wave is the greatest feeling, and how rewarding it is from there on out.
“It is the act of being in sync with the ocean and getting past trying to get the best wave,” surf instructor, Ali Alamolhoda expands, “pushing yourself to become more in tune with the ocean and the weather that comes with surfing in the Northwest Pacific.”
Tofino is a rain-soaked village at the end of Pacific Rim Highway on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Winds and waves break horizon daily, making this unique community a stellar place to live, laugh and surf.
“My business is all about my passion for surfing,” Tofino Surf Adventures owner and operator, Estuardo Ventura expands, “I get to play on the beach every day and share my love for surfing and the ocean with all walks of life!”
Ventura started his sole-proprietorship because he wanted to offer something different, he wanted to run a surf business that was not consumed by the surf industry, “We do our teaching in the water.” Tofino Surf Adventures puts the most experience in just three hours.
“I am also very lucky to have surf instructors who feel and act the same and this shows how they run their lessons and interact with our clients.”
Many students are exceptional, surf instructor Alamolhoda expands, “One from Saskatchewan, he was surfing with me and within a few hours, riding along side. “Alamolhoda continues, “Those are the lessons that make our job that much more fun.”
We asked Alamolhoda what he would do if he couldn’t surf anymore, and he simply said that he would be sad for the rest of his life.
“Winter (low season) is empty, and the waves you have been waiting for all summer show up,” Alamolhoda continues, “and you have them all to yourselves.”
Alamolhoda has surfed almost everyday for the past 5 years, beginning six years ago. The instructor for Tofino Surf Adventures has surfed in the warm waters of Nicaragua and Costa Rica as well.
“Surfing is everything to me.”
Alamolhoda owns a rental house and when he first moved to Tofino, he found himself casually teaching family of friends how to surf.
“It was natural to teach, and it became something I love to do.”
A group of us sought out Tofino Surf Adventures after camping out on Mackenzie Beach all weekend. Early morning, we were cold, damp and tired but within hours we were smiling, high fiving and falling into the pacific.
First go: After pushing the board through peaking waves, waist deep, I swung my body onto the board, looking back and pushing forward. Coincidentally, my gal pal did the same, resulting in us riding the waves a foot away from each other.
Speed picked up, my heart fluttered as we both rose to our knees. We looked at each other and laughed, high fiving before we both fell off our boards.
I’ve tasted salt water before, yet, somehow the taste is always freshly compelling.
We began by squeezing into our wet suits, which is far from simple. We reached beautiful Chestermans beach, following the big red van of Tofino Surf Adventures. Propping the boards above heads we began the parade to the beach for our warm ups and brief training.
Walking into the freezing waters of May in the Northwest Pacific requires more than a wet suit, you may need boots and even sometimes a hood.
Waves slap you in the face, the more you try, the more exciting it gets. Waters are frigid but you don’t feel it, what you do feel is how hard your body is working. Surfing is a great example for passion; you have to suffer for it.
Last try: After trying to stand, I rode the wave to the shore, falling hard on my knee reminding me of my snowboarding injury.
End of day left us feeling more than accomplished. Alamolhoda had better luck with the rest of them, who all stood on their boards by the end of the three hours.
On the winding, scenic drive back to south island, we noticed our faces and hands becoming a sun-kissed rouge.
“That was fun.” All of us.
