Killer Whales, Slabs, & Ice-Cream Headaches: We Love Canada

Originally posted on SURFER | By Chris Dodds | Last updated Apr 25, 2025 6:15 PM ET

For years I had been soaking up the work of photographer Marcus Paladino and his images of the raw and beautiful Canadian wilderness and the cold water surf scene based around Tofino. When I got the chance to go last February, I gleefully packed up my warmest wetsuit and trusty twin fin and was thrilled to get a glimpse of some of the spots I had seen through his lens.

It’s a tricky place to score, let alone shoot, with wild weather conditions, frigid air and water temp, huge tide swings, difficult lighting, and an overall fickle nature makes for a tricky setting for all involved. Our brethren up North are built a bit different and we absolutely love them for it. So without further ado, dive into the wonderful world of the Canadian surf scene as seen by one the best photographers in the game.

Kalum Bruhwiler impressed me on this recent trip up the coast—not just with his surfing but also with his skills as a boat captain.

Rainy, grey days call for dark, moody black-and-white edits. This swell had the potential to be the best of the year, but the good ones ended up being few and far between, with too much swell washing through. This place is such a puzzle sometimes.

Michael Darling is a weekend warrior these days, but when he’s in the water, he makes it count. He put in a solid six-hour session this day, which is pretty incredible given the limited daylight on Vancouver Island.

As Mathea Olin competes internationally less and less, she’s been freesurfing and charging more than ever. Stoked to see her pushing her limits in heavy water at remote spots.

This wave usually looks perfect and easy in photos and videos, but this session was anything but, thanks to huge tide swings and underlying swells. Cool to see Kalum Bruhwiler following in the footsteps of his uncles, navigating the lineup as well as he navigates the coast in his boat (which is for sale, by the way).

Lining up for a nice little vision while my drone swings dangerously. Anything for the vlog. Check out his YouTube channel to see what he’s been up to in British Columbia

We just wrapped up the 2025 Canadian Longboard Championships in Tofino, and here’s your new national champion—Rusty Goyer. Get to know the name—he’ll be representing Team Canada at the upcoming ISA Games in El Salvador.

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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