Inspirational stoke cascaded over Cox Bay as Tofino capped off September riding the momentous wave of its annual all-female surf competition.
Queen of the Peak carved out a sensational 13th appearance on Sept 28-29. The event was launched in 2010 by Krissy Montgomery of Surf Sister and Jay Gildenhuys of Shelter Restaurant to showcase and celebrate the female surf scene.
B次元官网网址淭hank you all so much for coming down and cheering on all these beautiful athletes,B次元官网网址� Montgomery said after the event wrapped up on Sunday.
She also dished out praise to the eventB次元官网网址檚 long list of dedicated sponsors, including Billabong which she touted as B次元官网网址渟uch a huge pillar in the surf community out here.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚t takes a community to run a surf event,B次元官网网址� she said.
Mele Saili of San Diego, Calif., took the longboard divisionB次元官网网址檚 top honours scoring 13.13 in SundayB次元官网网址檚 final heat to beat Mathea Dempfle-Olin, 11.66, Nique Miller, 11.5, and Rosie Jaffurs 11.4.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 still sinking in,B次元官网网址� Saili told the Westerly B次元官网网址 after being carried from the surf in celebration. B次元官网网址淭he waves finally got beautiful, perfect for longboarding. That was a real treat. I got a few rights and lefts but, at this time of the day, it finally got smaller and glassy and the waves were just lining up. IB次元官网网址檓 so stoked.B次元官网网址�
Saili was beaming as she declared Queen of the Peak her favourite surf contest.
B次元官网网址淚 compare this event to all the events I do around the world, this one is the best. As far as the whole town coming out to support all these ladies, there should be more contests like this,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e need more events like this because of all these young ladies. In the years that IB次元官网网址檝e come here, the progression of this town and womenB次元官网网址檚 surfing is amazing to see and itB次元官网网址檚 getting better and better. ThatB次元官网网址檚 why this event is important. ItB次元官网网址檚 bringing those young girls in.B次元官网网址�
TofinoB次元官网网址檚 Mathea Dempfle-Olin defended her shortboard crown with a 14.50 score in the final heat besting Ocea Green, 11.5, Catherine Bruhwiler 9.77 and Jasmine Porter 8.14.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always such a fun final. I saw Cath, Ocea and everyone get a bunch of really good ones,B次元官网网址� Dempfle-Olin told the Westerly. B次元官网网址淭he waves have been changing a lot all day, but the tide dropped and the wind still hasnB次元官网网址檛 picked up, so thereB次元官网网址檚 still really good ones to be had out thereB次元官网网址 surfed a lot of heats today, so I was definitely pretty tired. I just wanted to pick a few good ones and just surf how I always surf and not really put any pressure or have to oversurf or anything. I just went out there, got a couple and did what I do everyday.B次元官网网址�
Dempfle-Olin, 21, first competed in the eventB次元官网网址檚 Princess of the Peak division at 9 years old and won it the following year at 10.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 definitely a lot of years and itB次元官网网址檚 so amazing to see how many people do it and how many people from out-of-country are coming and how good all the groms are coming up here. All the women I watched compete in the open when I was in Princess of the Peak are still out here absolutely ripping and charging. ItB次元官网网址檚 really awesome to see everyone come together,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淒efinitely, every year it gets harder and harder (to win) because the level gets better and better. For me personally, each year I feel like IB次元官网网址檓 surfing better too and so is everybody else, so we all get to push each other and have a lot of fun.B次元官网网址�
She added she competes in her hometownB次元官网网址檚 Queen of the Peak every year because of the stoke it evokes.
B次元官网网址淕etting to do this one with all my friends and family and being able to sleep in my own bed is always a really nice treat,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭he whole community comes down to cheer you on and support everyone. ThatB次元官网网址檚 what makes it so amazing. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the reason I always do it every year, the whole community vibe and all the love for surfing that it bringsB次元官网网址tB次元官网网址檚 crazy how many girls get excited to do this event compared to any other event.B次元官网网址�
She noted her sister Sanoa Dempfle-Olin, who recently became CanadaB次元官网网址檚 first Olympic surfer, couldnB次元官网网址檛 make it to the event as she was surfing in a competition in Portugal.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 definitely a bummer not having my sister here for this event. I always love having her out there and competing against her, but overall IB次元官网网址檓 feeling really good and stoked to get a couple out there,B次元官网网址� she said, adding she was excited to watch her sister compete that night around 12:30 a.m.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l definitely pat myself on the back. Surfing heats is so challenging and it can always go anyoneB次元官网网址檚 way out there, especially in 20-25 minutes. Getting the opportunity to practice surfing heats and figuring out different strategies and having a plan come together always feels good. ItB次元官网网址檚 always nice when you go out there and can actually find a couple and get a few good scores.B次元官网网址�
She said she has some filming trips and surf competitions on the horizon and is feeling good about her progression in the sport she loves.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 mainly just working on my surfing and trying to get to the highest level I can and just enjoying life and having fun along the way,B次元官网网址� she said, adding surfing is where she feels B次元官网网址渁t home.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 something IB次元官网网址檝e done everyday for my whole life and, no matter what, if I go out there it just puts a smile on my face and I feel amazing. ItB次元官网网址檚 something IB次元官网网址檓 going to do for the rest of my life. ThereB次元官网网址檚 no other thing that IB次元官网网址檝e found that gives me as much purpose in life. IB次元官网网址檓 happy living anywhere, doing whatever as long as I can surf everyday.B次元官网网址�
TofinoB次元官网网址檚 Catherine Bruhwiler took home the shortboard crown in the masters division and Kristy Murphy earned the longboard masters title. Jasmine Porter took SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 wave of the day after catching a perfect 10, which Montgomery suggested might be a first in the eventB次元官网网址檚 history, and Mele Saili took SundayB次元官网网址檚 top wave.
Dominga Takarek was crowned PeopleB次元官网网址檚 Champion.
B次元官网网址淲e give it out to the person whoB次元官网网址檚 usually doing double duty, who hustles the most in this contest either with results or just impressing the judges with their overall performance,B次元官网网址� Montgomery explained, adding Takarek had also been the Queen of the PeakB次元官网网址檚 original PeopleB次元官网网址檚 Champion.
UclueletB次元官网网址檚 Jade Rosene, 13, captured her first-ever Princess of the Peak crown after nailing a 11.87 score in the final heat, edging out Westerly Wyton, 11.33, Snow Lovelle Parisi, 4.23, and Sage Booth, 3.34.
B次元官网网址淚 was so happy. I really wanted to win. I worked a lot to win this contest and IB次元官网网址檓 so happy that I did.B次元官网网址� an elated Rosene told the Westerly after being cheered out of the surf. B次元官网网址淚 knew coming up to it that I wanted to win the contest so I practiced as much as I could.B次元官网网址�
Rosene comes from Uclueletian surf royalty and said she surfed everyday with her mom Kat Rosene, adding her dad Jay Rosene was a constant source of encouragement.
B次元官网网址淭hey both support me so much with surfing. ItB次元官网网址檚 great,B次元官网网址� she said, adding surfing is her favourite sport. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 so calming, but youB次元官网网址檙e also so active. ItB次元官网网址檚 the best sport.B次元官网网址�
Jay Rosene was emotional as he celebrated his daughterB次元官网网址檚 win.
B次元官网网址淚 could not be more proud. The emotions are overflowing right nowB次元官网网址tB次元官网网址檚 like nothing else. ItB次元官网网址檚 mind-blowing, just mind-blowing. ThereB次元官网网址檚 nothing I can say. The emotions are overwhelming right now,B次元官网网址� he told the Westerly. B次元官网网址淚t also goes to show that any girl with a dream can conquer that dream if they put the effort in. You have to commit to putting the effort in and you will get the results.B次元官网网址�
He said Jade was determined to win and practiced non-stop to reach her goal.
B次元官网网址淪he was visualizing this for months and we had to talk about the option of it not happening. She just said, B次元官网网址楾hatB次元官网网址檚 not an option anymore dad, IB次元官网网址檓 here to win. IB次元官网网址檓 going to do my best.B次元官网网址� It was just hard work that paid off to get her where she is. WeB次元官网网址檙e so thankful for everybody involved,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be a very big day in Ucluelet today. The local kid won.B次元官网网址�
He encourages all local families to point their kids towards the sport.
B次元官网网址淪urfing as a sport by itself, whether itB次元官网网址檚 competitive or free surfing, is such a great sport to be in because youB次元官网网址檙e active, youB次元官网网址檙e outside, youB次元官网网址檙e in the weather, youB次元官网网址檙e spending time with your friends and youB次元官网网址檙e seeing things other than waves. You might see a whale, a sea lion, or a bear walk down the beach,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hese are moments that these kids will cherish the rest of their lives and I feel like the more people that get involved, the more people will have the opportunities to feel and see these opportunities.B次元官网网址�
