For the intrepid surfer, the west coast of Canada offers an alluring challenge — a bounty of uncrowded, rugged and isolated locales. With more than 40,000 islands of varying sizes, British Columbia boasts nearly 16,000 miles (25,749 km) of tree-lined coves, points and beaches.
Barring a well-supplied seaplane, the best way to experience this wilderness is by boat. Which is exactly what Canadian surfers Mathea Olin and Satch Robertson did in their own version of The Search. Typically, this Rip Curl tagline is reserved for strike missions to remote and wave-rich venues. The two Canadians didn’t get world-class waves, but they made up for it by immersing themselves in stunning scenery.
Sailing as a means to look for waves is not a new endeavor. From Joey Cabel to Liz Clark to John John Florence to Torren Martryn, surfers of all disciplines have been known to use the sail as a means to go beyond the reach of the crowd or just deepen their relationship with the ocean.
Related: Interview: Torren Martyn on His Year-Long Surf Adventure by Sailboat
“Being a surfer, you’re always so enamoured by the coastline and what it has to offer,” Mathea said.“Every corner we rounded, there was something new to look at … little moments like that want me to keep going that little bit further, not knowing what you’re going to find.”
Rip Curl/YouTube
Make no mistake, sailing requires active participation and a clear head. There’s always something broken or in the process of breaking. And help is a long way off. Fortunately, things looked smooth for Mathea and Satch, who found a variety of waves on their trip. A mellow longboardable right, a few rip bowls here and there and a cheeky barreling wedge that concludes the film. The crew also scored a campsite on a beach that likely has more grizzly bears than people.
Rip Curl/YouTube
“For me, a huge part of it is just being out there in the ocean,” Mathea said. “Out in nature. It’s definitely a cherry on top when you actually get swell on a sailing trip.”
Another reason to opt for the sailboat — it’s hard to beat fresh salmon.