Learning to surf on the Cape
Until recently, a summer trip to the beach in Nova Scotia was a bit of a tease.
While sitting and sweating on the sand, you could look at the beautiful blue Atlantic waters, but you couldn’t really dive in unless you were interested in feeling the effects of hypothermia.
Thanks to advances in wetsuit technology, it’s now possible to jump in and enjoy water sports like surfing on Canada’s Ocean Playground.
“Surfing is great for people of all ages, shapes and sizes,” says Nova Scotia surf instructor Michelle Richards. “Surfing will help increase your physical fitness, balance and the size of your smile. It also helps reduce stress levels.”
Richards and her surf crew are gearing up for their annual Summer Surf Program at Point Michaud Beach on Cape Breton Island.
Now in its seventh year, the program starts on Saturday, July 4 and will be held everyday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until the end of August, weather permitting.
The program features surf lessons from Richards, Carli Boers and Nicole Boudreau. All three woman have five to eight years surfing experience and two to six years experience as surf instructors. They also have Bronze Cross lifesaving certificates as well as First Aid and CPR training.
Lessons are an hour-and-a-half long and include equipment (wetsuit and surfboard). Beginner students will gain a greater understanding of ocean conditions and water safety. They will be able to paddle, catch and stand up on their own by the end of the lesson.
Children under 10 will always be one-on-one with an instructor. Intermediate surfers can learn more tricks and manoeuvres and participate in surf-competition training.
Lessons are $35 each. Also available are a four-lesson packages for $100 each, or four-person group lessons for $100 each. Lessons are available to people of all ages, including seniors.
“It’s never too late to learn especially with our knowledgeable and patient surf instructors there to assist you,” said Richards.
The Summer Surf Program at Point Michaud Beach is one of the summer activities offered by the Richmond County Recreation Department.
The start date for lessons corresponds with the Point Michaud Sand Castle Contest during the first weekend of July.
Call Carli Boers at 631-2599 or Michelle Richards at 345-0741 for more information or to preregister. Or just show up at the beach in July and August.
The Summer Surf Program will culminate with the 6th annual Point Michaud Surf Classic on Saturday, August 29 and Sunday, August 30.
“It’s always a great event with lots of prizes to give away,” said Richards.
Outside of the program, surf equipment will also be available to rent. The cost is $15 per hour for a surfboard and wetsuit together, or $10 per hour separately for a surfboard or a wetsuit (includes booties and mitts).
This year, Richards and her crew will be providing daily surf report available by phone. The report will be updated every morning with beach and surf conditions. The phone number will be released soon and will be available in July and August.
Reader Comments
Hello:
What would be the best dates to go for the lessons? what time of the day the biggest waves come at?
My wife and I will be flying from Toronto only for the surfing lessons, so I will really like to know this ahead of time.
Anything else I should be considering before I go, please let me know, we would really appreciate it.
Thank you
Responding to the comment from the couple coming from Toronto for surf lessons or anyone else curious to know when the best time is to go surfing. I have written alot of info below. Just keep in mind (especially for the Toronto couple),Point Michaud for the most part always has great conditions to learn surfing. So, anytime that is best for you to come and learn to surf, just let us know and we can keep our eyes on the conditions about a week in advance if there are any sudden changes in conditions.
We will be posting a surf report line that everyone can call soon for up to the minute conditions. If the weather is extreme as in gusting winds, heavy rain and/or thunder and lightning surf classes will be cancelled on those days and indicated on the surf line.
If you want to look for perfect conditions yourself read the info below. Buy a nautical chart for the area you want to surf for the people wanting to get hard core about it. Hope all this info doesn’t hurt your brain to much.
One of the amazing and challanging things about wave conditions is that they are always changing.
Waves occur when we have a swell that was created in the ocean due to wind, low pressure system and/or some sort of turbulence. It is like when you throw a rock in the water and it sends out ripples. Same idea with the ocean only those ripples are much larger. As the swell travels, eventually it has to reach a coast line or shallower section. When the swell hits this shallower section it forces the water up which creates the waves.
Now the face and shape on the wave is going to be affected by wind and tide. These 2 factors are always changing too.
Tides: If we have a super high tide the wave may not be able to form until it reaches the shallower section being closer to shore. This results in a very short surfboard ride. If the tide is super low then the wave may be able to form further away from shore. Resulting in a longer wave to ride but sometimes the wave may all crash at once because it is too shallow.
Lets say the wave is 2 feet in height, it breaks in about 3 to 4 feet of water. If the wave is 1 foot it breaks in about 2 to 3 feet of water. A 10 foot wave may break in 15 to 20 feet of water. On a 1 foot swell day you may want to come at a lower tide.
Times for tides change everyday. Roughly every 5 and a half hours it switches from High to Low then Low to High. On full moons we tend to have much higher tides and very low tides.
Now the second thing affecting the wave is wind. For the perfect wave we want offshore wind (not gusting)or a very light to no wind. An offshore wind will hold the face of the wave up longer giving it a better shape.
If the wind turns onshore it tends to make the wave face crash earlier turning the wave to white water much sooner. White water is airated so it is unstable. A cross shore wind tends to put a bump or chop on the surface of the water and wave. This makes the wave harder to read, catch and stand up on.
Winds may tend to be light and offshore for early morning and closer to sunset. Sometimes in the afternoon they turn onshore or cross shore. This is because of land and sea winds. Just keep in mind this may not always be the case depending on weather systems.
Now ideal conditions for surfers would be to find the perfect wave. That is why many of us are checking websites that report swell size and direction, wind speed and direction. We are also seeing if the swell is a wind swell or ground swell. Ground swell is always better because it has had more time to get organised. Ground swell is the higher number when it says swell second period. Wind swell can be messy and will be indicated by a lower number on the section saying swell second period on the surf forcasts. Both are surfable though.
Most of these surf forcasting sites can give a rough 1 week prediction for conditions. Check this website http://www.scotiasurfer.com you are on now for those links.
Keep in mind we are trying to find the best wind being light to offshore. Tide (depends on the spot sometimes and swell size). If in doulbt go with a mid tide. Also look for the swell direction. This will depend which direction the shore faces. Example: East facing shores go with any variation of an East swell. Now look at the swell second period section. Usually above 8 is good. Try to avoid numbers like 2 to 4. This would be a very messy wind swell. Take all this information and try to figure out the best time to go.
Here is an Example for an East facing shore:
On Wednesday the surf forcast says 10 feet East Swell direction at 3 seconds with an 40 knot East Wind.
The next day it reports 5 feet East Swell direction with 8 second swell period with a West wind of 10 knots.
In this case the second day is better. Wind is offshore and the swell second period is better. The swell has had some time to clean up.
Most of the conditions we get in Nova Scotia are wind swells but during Hurricane season we are lucky to get warmer water and ground swell. Hurricane season is June to November. We tend to get the best waves from Hurricane ground swells September to November. In November our hurricane swells are starting to be replaced by our Nor’ Eastern storms which also create ground swell. However by this time the water is starting to be extremely cold and we need to switch to winter suits, boots and mitts.
Now the good news about Point Michaud Beach is that there is always some sort of wave for surf lessons. It is one of the most consistant surf breaks on Cape Breton Island. We have sand bar after sand bar that help the wave to form. The wave itself is very easy and forgiving. Perfect for beginners. We are very open to the ocean so we tend to pick up South, South East, East and North East swell directions. Some days we do get a cross shore wind in the afternoon. Which is not the best wind but it is still surfable. No matter how small or big the swell is at Point Michaud it is a great place to learn.
Point Michaud faces South East. Best on a South, South East, East or North East swell. It can pickup South West Swells if it is larger or has a higher swell second period. Wind direction is best on a North, North West, West or light wind. Works good on all tides but if the swell is only 1 foot then come at a lower tide.
Hi: We’re in Cape Breton for a family reunion in July and have many children interested in surfing. Our dates are Sunday, July 12 – Sunday, July 18. Would a particular day be preferable? Should we call in advance to book? We would likely be a party of seven or more surfers, but all over 11 years of age, and all beginners. We’re staying at Margaree Harbour and would consider something closer to our home base but I don’t think anything exists. I’m guessing it’s about a two hour drive from Margaree to Point Michaud.
Please let me know what’s best.
Janine
Starting July 4th the Point Michaud Surf Report line will be up and running. Call (902) 227 1230 for bookings, information and surf conditions. There is no cell service at Point Michaud so the answering machine will be checked early every morning and evening when in Lower L’ardoise at the surf house.
Any day is a great day to come for lessons but if you want to know before you go call the 227 1230 number for surf conditions recording. You can also email surfinglassie@yahoo.ca now but during the months of July and August I do not have computer access on a regular basis.
We can take up to 10 people at a time for surf lessons. Surf lessons are available on the spot but on very busy days you will only ever have to wait 1 hour and 30 minutes at the most if you did not pre book.
Hey, just a quick question! I have my own wetsuit from lifeguarding, but do not have the mits/boots. I’ve never swam at point michaud so just wondering how cold it would be without these, and how much it would be for the mits and boots. Thanks for your time.
The water is starting to warm up at Point Michaud. Some people are going in without boots and mitts now. I think it is at about 15 degrees celcius right now. In August we will have days that the water is so warm, you don’t need a wetsuit. I will however have wetsuits, boots and mitts for rent everyday this summer. Just come see us at the tent.
Hey Michelle,
How about the surf classic on August 29th – are you promising killer breaks and lots of prizes! How about the party at the surf house – can’t beat that setting for a true surf party experience!
Cheers,
Surfer BoB