(If there was) any other way.
Wherefore art thou, Erin Brooks? But imagine how history might have unfolded if the repêchage had been drafted differently but one week ago. For it was then and it was there, in Puerto Rico, that the World Surfing Games closed the window on Olympic qualification for the 2024 Paris Games. Only the most ignorant of surf fans will not know that Gabriel Medina stunned all, punching a much-needed third ticket for Brazil that he will take. Much-needed because one of the other two belongs to Filipe Toledo. Only the most core lord will not know that Siqi Yang will paddle the “Cave of Skulls” for the People’s Republic of China.
Only the most hardened and rude, sociopathic even, will not know that one of surfing’s brightest up-and-coming talents, the 16-years-young Erin Brooks, failed to qualify after securing Canadian citizenship in a last minute coup and appearing poised to deliver the Great White North a gold medal in the Grand Turquoise South.
Yes, the ultra-talented goofy foot might have put Canada on the surfing map had she repêchaged all the way through Puerto Rico’s 1300 odd heats, arriving at Teahupo’o and flashing her ability, claiming the peak of the podium,
Can you envisage that parallel universe? “Ô Canada! Terre de nos aïeux, ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!” ringing through the tropical air?
Like Narnia, winter might have evaporated. Snow being replaced with clover and daisies. Beer with banana daiquiris. But how to the locals feel about that? As one of the world’s leading, if not the world’s leading, surf journalist(s), I had to discover.
The flight to Canada from California is relatively easy. Two plus hours to Vancouver but the City of Rain is already in the pocket of Siqi Yang so further east, I went, to the burgh of Revelstoke some two plus hours outside of Kelowna. The folk here are simple, kind. Hearts that beat maple syrup. I arrived too late to properly gauge relative depression about missing out on a changed sporting landscape so drank a bubbly maple sap water then went to bed.
In the morning, refreshed, I set out to find truths. Folk seemed happy, oot and aboot. Not sad and also not very aware of Erin Brooks and what might have been. Odd, particularly because a general understanding of surf floats on the colder breeze.
I heard whispers, in mangled French, that he was inbound.
Kai Lenny too.
What?
Maybe I misunderstood. Big if true.
But what can it actually mean? Are Canadians, as a whole, pivoting away from professional competitive surfing as the sport of kings’ benchmark?
Embracing a new form of populist surfing where they, The People™, determine which surfer is ultimate?
More, certainly, as the story develops.
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IIRC in 2010, when the Olympics were in Vancouver, the snow sucked. Ironic. Some Great White North.
Since then, the snow has gotten a lot better again. I guess Preserve Our Winters must have sold enough stickers and hats to really make a difference.
Elle n’est pas Canadienne !!! Sacré bleu !
Bro he is a snowboarder so definitely a snurfing event
Parko in the snow yelling at crowd while slip-sliding on a plastic sheet…essentially not happy. cold poutine and soggy fries…
Kind of like taking hot dogs, macaroni, and mayonnaise and making a casserole. It can be done and the result is edible, but why would you want to when there are so many better things to cook?
Revy is a great ski mountain and interior BC people are the salt of the earth. Rare shit season but at least you timed a little refresh. Have a great time!
Thank you!
SW Idaho has been getting buried. I bought a new freeride board and even that didn’t ruin the season. Got to try it in deep fresh stuff soon after I bought it.
Sun Valley has gotten short changed, though, like the coastal PNW.
Weird year.
Salasnek always talked about Whistler Blackcomb. Is this place better?
Revelstoke is absolutely the best.
Have fun!
Pics and a snow specific article or it didn’t happen!
Chas Grit
Both are great, very different vibe. WB full on giant international corpo resort. Revelstoke big mountain small place, very Canadian.
I ski Whistler at least two trips a year (4 hour drive), almost always Thanksgiving with family (along with Baker averages most snowfall in the world in November). WB you have to be tactical. It can be crazed crowded (like tens of thousand of skiers). But if you nibble around the edges and catch it no lines (early season, late, mid week after holiday weeks, etc) it’s incredible. My lifetime best resort pow days have been at Whistler in the dead time in early December – 30k VF days more than a foot of fresh nearly all untracked. Also really well run resort, world class grooming quality, world class parks, etc.
Revy is a charming little western town with some nice newer hotels and some sophisticated amenities along with the fun old school stuff. The mountain is huge, not just in relation to the light crowd. It gets better snow (at least with more consistency – WB can get blower but more rare) – inland so colder. It’s an advanced hill – not a great call for weaker intermediates, beginners, or people who don’t love skiing off the runs. The place has a very Canadian vibe – friendly people with thick accents.
Both have tons terrain where you can make yourself paraplegic. And Revy in particular a good place to know your limits and check your ego.
Also great interior BC: Whitewater, Red, Silver Star, Fernie … really there’s not a bad ski area in the entire region – one after another remarkably good. And that’s without even sniffing the adjacent Alberta Rockies, also great.
So yeah, fly in rent a car, and spend a week or two exploring in winter. Won’t disappoint.
Siiick! thanks for the info.
she fly the colours in LA in 28 at the spot of kings and queens on the cobblestones
no flags in OC!