Cox Bay provided glorious sun and ideal surf conditions for the return of TofinoB次元官网网址檚 Queen of the Peak surf competition over the weekend.
The annual women-only sporting event was founded by Surf Sister owner Krissy Montgomery and Shelter Restaurant owner Jay Gildenhuys after a discussion about how the women on the West Coast were being B次元官网网址渟idelined and shaftedB次元官网网址� at surf contests.
B次元官网网址淭hirteen years ago when we started we had 30 participants. It was pouring rain. We had to bribe all the participants to sign upB次元官网网址� And look at us now. This year the contest sold out in under five minutes. That is a true test to how alive and well competitive surfing is here in town. Be proud of yourselves and thank you guys so much for being a part of it,B次元官网网址� Montgomery told the surfers at a competitors only dinner hosted by Shelter on Sept. 29.
The 11th Queen of the Peak featured 48 athletes in the shortboard division, 48 athletes in the longboard, and 16 athletes in the Princess of the Peak U16 division. Winners in the shortboard and longboard scored $3,000, second place received $1,500, third $750 and fourth place got $375. The Princess of the Peak took home $500 with the runner-up getting $250, third $125 and fourth $75.
Team CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Mathea Olin was crowned the 2022 longboard queen and finished runner-up to Erin Brooks of Hawaii in the shortboard division. Olin earned a total prize purse of $4,500 for making both podiums.
She told the Westerly that the future of womenB次元官网网址檚 surfing in Canada is B次元官网网址渋ncredibleB次元官网网址�.
B次元官网网址淩ight before the final, me and Hanna (Scott) were talking about when I first did the event when I was nine-years-old and she was 20. Now IB次元官网网址檓 20 and we are watching nine-year-olds paddle out and absolutely ripping. ItB次元官网网址檚 really cool just to see how everyone is improving and how bright the future is here,B次元官网网址� said Olin after the awards ceremony on Sunday afternoon.
Tofino surfer Ocea Green, 13, handily surfed her way to the top of the Princess of the Peak podium.
B次元官网网址淚t was super fun and the waves were super good. All the girls were ripping so hard. IB次元官网网址檓 super excited to get the win,B次元官网网址� said Green, who also pocketed a $500 cheque for B次元官网网址榃ave of the DayB次元官网网址�. She said sheB次元官网网址檒l probably use her $1,000 total winnings on a new surfboard.
Queen of the Peak shortboard champ Brooks, who is recognized as one of the worldB次元官网网址檚 best junior surfers, recently w at the World Junior Surf Championships. For the young Oahu-resident whose dad has Quebec heritage, this past week marked her inaugural dip into Canadian waters.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been so much fun here. ItB次元官网网址檚 been so beautiful and the waves are awesome. WeB次元官网网址檝e been scoring since weB次元官网网址檝e been here. Everyone is so nice here and itB次元官网网址檚 so fun to surf in Canada. I actually love surfing in booties because it has great grip and itB次元官网网址檚 really good for airs,B次元官网网址� said Brooks.
B次元官网网址淭hank you to God, thank you to my family and my sponsors and to all the girls ripping here today. I feel so blessed just to be able to surf here and to be able to travel to Canada,B次元官网网址� she went on to note.
Leading up to the contest, Olin and her younger sister Sanoa spent a few days showing Brooks around.
B次元官网网址淏rooks is an absolute ripper. She inspires me so much just to start pushing my surfing more in the aerials,B次元官网网址� said Olin.
Special accolades and prize packs also went out to surfers who had amazing performances: Tofino surfer Jasmine Turner was named the B次元官网网址楽urf Sister PeopleB次元官网网址檚 ChampionB次元官网网址�, Surf Sister crew Kate Prothero earned the B次元官网网址榖est longboard female over 40B次元官网网址� and Ucluelet surfer Nicole Gerbrandt scored the B次元官网网址榖est shortboard female over 40B次元官网网址�.
Montgomery showered praise and love to everyone who helped out with the contest.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e never been more stoked to be Canadian. Thank you all for coming out, thank you all for supporting this event, IB次元官网网址檒l see you all on the dance floor.B次元官网网址�
nora.omalley@westerlynews.ca
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