Planning to surf the perfect wave in Tofino
Plan to catch some fantastic Tofino waves on Cox Bay and at Long Beach Lodge Resort.There was a time when surfing required miles of driving, numerous phone calls checking on wave and surf activity across a range of beaches and a wing and a prayer. Finding the best breakers at the best time was hit-and-miss as tips, assumptions and rumours died under sloppy waves. Meanwhile, three beaches down, other surfers are enjoying the rides of their lives.
Now, thanks to the Internet, science and sophisticated, long-term forecasting, predicting surf conditions is becoming remarkably accurate.
Linked by the Internet, resources are being combined to predict the perfect mix of swell, tide, and wind helping surfers plan ahead, ensuring they are on the right beach at the right time.
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The most accurate predictions require data and information from above, on and beneath the surface of the ocean.
Storms and offshore and onshore weather disturbances play a key part. But so does the geographic features of a coastline and the topography of the ocean floor.
A great example of accurate surf forecasting is the model developed around the Mavericks Invitational surf competition near Half Moon Bay, California. Mavericks Invitational is only held when the conditions are exactly right. This can mean a three-year event hiatus until the exact weather, tide, temperature and timing factors are met.
For the team monitoring ocean and weather activity for the 2013 Mavericks Invitational, the first indicator was a significant swell forming 3,000 miles out in the Pacific Ocean. Combined with surface information, exactly how the swell was to break on the California coast, surf event coordinators were confident all the factors were in place to generate crests well over 25 feet in height.
Thanks to websites such as Surfline.com, Surf-forecast.com and Magicseaweed.com, planning a surf outing or surf vacation has gotten much easier.
Long-term forecasts and historical data helps generate good information on when to be in the water and when to enjoy a couple hours on the patio.
Each of the aforementioned surf forecasting sites provide Cox Bay-specific forecasts, which includes weather, wind, swell information and surf rating overviews.
For Vancouver Island and Lower Mainland surf enthusiasts, a tight window is provided to plan a last minute surf-getaway to Tofino. For travellers further abroad, surf planning weeks into the future is also possible.
Plan accordingly and catch some fantastic Tofino waves on Cox Bay and at Long Beach Lodge Resort.
