For years, I’ve been telling everyone that pretty well the only sport you CAN’T do within a one-hour drive of the Sea to Sky is surfing. And, frankly, that’s not necessarily true, since you can often see the brave wave junkies bobbing along the shoreline at Ambleside Park in Vancouver, catching 10-foot long rides on tiny waves when the conditions are “right”.
But NOW there’s hope on the horizon for those who want to get a quick fix without hopping the ferry to Tofino (or Sombrio…) as there is a business developer looking at the possibility of launching an indoor surf centre in Whistler.
Can you imagine anything more WONDERFUL than that? Warm waves, perfect conditions at our doorpstep and no need to be encased in neoprene? HEAVEN.
Okay, so I admit it, I’m NOT much of a surfer. YET. But I did have a great time a few summer’s back when a group of us rented a house at Chesterman Beach for a work retreat, and I was given the world’s biggest, longest, most stable board, and managed to stand up on quite a few waves between salt water nasal flushings, and self-medicating in the hot tub with icy cold beverages.
Right now, Beric Pocklington is looking at a few Village-area locations to play host to the Whistler Surf Centre- and hew hopes he may even be able to start construction and be open sometime next year!
Apparently, the water is only 4 inches deep. They’re called “sheet waves”, and hopes are to start with one sheet as well as beach volleyball courts, a viewing and refreshment area, and perhaps develop more.
Indoor beaches. EXACTLY what we need with summers like this one has been.
Be sure to check out the Whistler Surf Centre facebook page.
Surf’s up!
