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The good old saying "first in, last out." Peter Devries standing tall while most were huddled by the fire. Photo: Kyler Vos
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Before Quiksilver dropped the ball, Raph used to have a crew of team riders come for boat trips. Balaram Stack loving the empty line ups in his hooded suit. Photo: Kyler Vos
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Far from nowhere. Photo: Kyler Vos
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On one of the better swells this winter, a pod of orcas chased a large pod of Stellar sea lions right through the line up, clearing everyone to the beach. This was one of the large females across the bay before everyone noticed they were being hunted. Photo: Kyler Vos
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"Snapper" is what some call Noah Cohen. You can see here how he got the name. Photo: Kyler Vos
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Pete D pulling into one of the largest Canadian barrels I have ever witnessed. Photo: Kyler Vos
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Sepp was on point this winter pulling into some huge barrels and, as you see here, finishing with style. Photo: Kyler Vos
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Shannon Brown is Tofino's favorite Australian. He will take your money playing cards and if you hesitate on a wave, he will take that too. Photo: Kyler Vos
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Noah won the heat this day! Here he is pulling into one of his many heavy pits. Photo: Kyler Vos
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During a trip to Haida Gwaii, we were privileged enough to get a tour through a dugout canoe and totem pole workshop/studio. It was amazing! Photo: Kyler Vos
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Any trip that you go on up the west coast, you will most likely run in to one of these big boys. Although this picture makes the bear look scary, he is actually a really nice guy. Photo: Kyler Vos
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On a low tide around Clayoquot Sound you can find wolves feeding on shoreline crabs and shell life. Photo: Kyler Vos
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We go to this spot almost every time it breaks and, if we're lucky, once in a while the weather, waves and winds cooperate. Photo: Kyler Vos
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Sometimes everything lines up perfect. Pete Devries, lining it up. Photo: Kyler Vos
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Issac Raddysh is one of Canada's next up and coming surfers. Living on the west coast of Vancouver Island in a land of right-handers, goofy footers like himself have to learn tube riding the hard way. Photo: Kyler Vos
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Once or twice a year, long period south swells show up and and light up sections on the coast of Vancouver Island. Most of the time they are crowded but if you're lucky, you can have it all to yourself. Photo: Kyler Vos
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Raph is a legend. Father, hunter, angler, and goes really good with a board under his feet. Portrait was taken at the end of a quick boat trip up the coast. Photo: Kyler Vos
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If the wind is blowing the proper direction, Raph will have his boat packed and be headed north before most have had their first sip of coffee. He has this spot dialed: camp site with fresh water, kitchen, and after a cold winter surf a hot tub with a view. Photo: Kyler Vos
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This is a portrait of Reid Jackson on the west coast of Hiada Gwaii. We were dropped off on a very secluded area for a 10 day trip in search of waves and fortune wild. We found three waves within ten minutes of camp. As you can see here, Reid was very excited about his last surf. Photo: Kyler Vos
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Not sure of the rules of naming spots, but unless told you were otherwise, Reid was the first to ever get barreled on this wave. That is why it is now called Pioneers. Photo: Kyler Vos
I call my home base Tofino. Although I have spent a fair amount of time in Haida Gwaii in the past couple of years, I spend the winter months hunkered down in Tofino chasing the cold swells up and down the coast of Vancouver Island.
My work is focused mainly around surfing, but summers on the coast consist of small (inconsistent) waves and fog. This summer I started driving for bear and whale watch tours and I am shooting more nature than surfing- that is until the swell shows up. It’s definitely a change from constantly checking the beaches and going for a swim. When you are trying to get a good shot of an orca or a wolf it is a lot more time consuming. I have spent hours and hours on the water gripping the trigger waiting for the next whale to breach. Even then you have no clue when or where it is going to breach.
After the crowds of tourist head home around September, the swell starts to hit and the fun begins. Traveling is always the best part of winter weather- on a boat up the coast to score some waves or on a plane to a tropical beach to ditch the rain. My portfolio consists of the last couple years of around home and a couple from Hiada Gwaii. Hope you enjoy.
