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Once you're a Surf Sister, you're always a Surf Sister!

Year after year, staff come back to be part of this amazing 'family'. They are inspiring, strong, independent, confident crew who do what they love and love what they do.

Check them out! Send them snailmail. Give them treats. It's the simple things that gets them excited.

 

Krissy (AKA Surf Momma)

The mother hen. Inspiration to all. Story teller extraordinaire. This girl has passion, drive and and dedication. She works hard and pours her heart and soul into supporting her staff, friends, family and the community. She's the best boss and friend you could ever ask for. Talk to anyone about Krissy and they'll light up and probably have a story or two to share. She knows how to have a good time! Krissy loves long boarding, short boarding and isn’t afraid to throw down on a boogie board if the conditions call for it!

Tiff

If you are looking for a good time, track down this beauty by following the echoes of her contagious laugh. This girl pours her heart into making sure anyone that walks through the doors at Surf Sister has a good experience and surf lesson. She cares so much about surfing, we are certain she wants you to enjoy it as much as she does. Tiffany inspires us all to be better surfers with her early morning surfs almost every dang day and her yoga practice that keeps her shreddin'. She is the queen of the big hugs and and if you need it she'll pet your head like a cat. We love Tiffany almost as much as she loves birds… Almost.

Kate O

Our Surf Sister shack mama! Kate has a contagious personality and if you are lucky enough to take a lesson from our Surf Shack location, you were probably greeted by her big smile, her epic tales from her extensive travels and of course - Salty Dog, our favourite furry shop mascot. Kate makes surfing fun, and she looks freaking cute and badass doing it. We hope you get to meet Kate one of these days, because Surf Sister wouldn’t be the same without her.

Ava

Ava was raised on the West Coast of BC, a pluviophile through and through! She fell in love with Tofino and Surf Sister after taking her first surf lesson with us at the age of 12. Since joining the team in 2019, Ava has developed a deep love and appreciation for instructing and sharing her stoke for surfing. The most rewarding part of teaching for Ava is connecting folks to the power of the ocean and encouraging bodies to move in a new way. Ava spends most of her time with her dog, in the woods, on the beach, or in the water. A few of her other favourite things include oysters on the half shell, bowling, the Rolling Stones, travelling, tall trees, and great clothes. Be sure to say hi if you see her, she loves to make friends in the water!

Liz

Liz has always been a water baby, spending her childhood swimming in rivers and lakes. While traveling, she got to know the ocean and became deeply curious about surfing. Liz took her first surf lesson in Byron Bay, then made Tofino her home break. Liz always wants to remember what is was like to be a beginner and how to simply have fun! For her, surfing is a lifelong journey where there is always something to learn and discover. She believes that no one is too old to start surfing (or anything) and loves it most because it’s like dancing on water. Liz is also a yoga instructor, plant based chef and volunteers with the SurfRider Foundation!

Ruby

Ruby is a local girl who was born and raised in Tofino. She grew up surfing the west coast and her other passions include photography and ultimate frisbee. Ruby loves being on the water and is quite knowledgeable about the local wildlife. She spends a lot of her time on boats, camping, hiking and adventuring around the coast. Although Ruby favours her longboard and surfing warm water peaks in Mexico, she doesn’t think winter in Tofino isn’t too bad either- she’s just stoked to be out in the water!

Jess

Rachel

Rachel was born and raised on the island and feels very lucky to have had it as her playground. She has been in the water with us for a year while living the van life. She’s addicted to learning new skills, whether it be ripping on a new board, playing an instrument or making preserves from her yard. You might even catch her cruising on the MUP. If you can’t find her in a wetsuit with her surfboard, you’ll find her in a pair of overalls with her chickens. Tofino is where she fell in love with the culture and sport of surfing. We are so excited to have Rachel at Surf Sister this summer before she heads back to the mountains for her nursing program.

Issy

Originally from Muriwai Beach, on New Zealand's West Coast, Issy brings a wealth of surfing experience and a deep love for the ocean having first learned how to surf from her dad. The ocean quickly became her happy place, shaping her childhood and igniting a lifelong passion for surfing. Issy began her first job at a surf school as a teenager, whilst studying Fine Art at university. Her dual passions for art and surfing shaped her unique approach to instruction, blending creativity with technical skills. Driven by her love for adventure and new experiences, Issy moved to Canada with just a backpack.

Katie

Katie grew up an east coast girl but is slowly being converted to the  “west coast, best coast” mentality. She has dedicated her studies to ocean conservation which is what initially drew her to a life by the ocean. Being on the water with Katie, you can count on big smiles, laughs, and nerding out about ocean fun facts including seaweed and bird ID-ing (so fun!). When not out for a paddle, Katie can be found knitting, sewing, hiking, and attempting to perfect the ultimate vanilla oat cortado.

Noah

Born and raised on the rugged shores of Tasmania, Australia, Noah developed an early passion for surfing along the island’s southeast coast and peninsula. With a thirst for adventure, he ventured to Canada where Noah soon discovered himself in the chilly waves of Tofino. A dedicated surf instructor, Noah finds pure joy in sharing his expertise and stoke for surfing with others. Whether he’s guiding beginners through their first waves or carving the surf himself, his infectious enthusiasm and unwavering smile are constants. Beyond surfing, Noah fills his days strumming tunes on his guitar and creating art under the warm sunshine, embodying a lifestyle that blends creativity, passion, and the great outdoors.

Eveline

Eveline grew up in Western Australia where she loved spending her days by the ocean. After spending three years as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist, her love for travelling and exploring new places inspired her to move to BC. Tofino feels like a home away from home for Eveline and this will be her second summer here as a surf instructor.  A perfect day for Eveline consists of an early morning surf followed by a coffee, a nap in the sun and ending by watching the sunset at the dock. When she’s not surfing, she’s likely crocheting,  planning her next adventure or thinking of a new recipe to cook.

Piper

Piper loves to surf. She also loves dark chocolate, Fleetwood Mac and road trips with her favourite people. Being born and raised in the adventure town of Squamish means Piper has spent a good chunk of time adventuring in the backcountry of British Columbia. Since she was six, Piper has made yearly trips to Tofino, which has fostered a deep love for the small surf town. She caught her first waves here but has since chased swells in Costa Rica, Mexico, and El Salvador. A perfect day for Piper? Salty hair, tired arms, a taco in hand, and a North Chesterman sunset stretching across the horizon.  

Erin

Originally from Ottawa, Erin spent the last two years living in Oregon completing a Master’s in Folklore and Public Culture. She’s always had an affinity for the water, spending eight years lifeguarding at beaches, pools, and lakes and teaching swimming, sailing, and canoeing. Erin first started surfing in 2019 and fell in love with the sport, so she came to the island to follow the surf! This will be her second summer working as a surf instructor in Tofino. When Erin’s not out surfing for herself, she likes to play music, dance and in the winter she skis a lot. But for now, she's just excited to take you out in the waves!

Kate

Kate (aka Irish Kate) has a love of the sea and all things sports related around our coast. They grew up sailing, more recently scuba diving, wakeboarding and windsurfing. She fell in love with surfing on a random stormy day with her best friend. She has been captain of her college surf team for the last two years and the highlight of her college career has been getting to introduce new people to the sport every session. She is excited to now be at Surf Sister and to explore Tofino!

Liv

Liv was born on the east coast but grew up in Ontario missing the ocean. After visiting Tofino (for one afternoon) on her first trip to BC in 2022, she began planning her move out west! Liv has lived in big cities like Toronto and Paris as an Aupair, but did a full 180 when she fell in love with small communities and surfing. It was then that she knew Tofino was where she wanted to be for a long, long time. Liv loves longboarding and the health benefits the ocean and surfing has brought to her! When she’s not teaching, Liv spends her time reselling vintage clothing, sewing, creating art, and researching herbs- but mostly, cuddling her cat.

Jules

Jules was born in Alberta and grew up downhill skiing in the mountains, but her heart was always drawn to the ocean! Throughout her childhood she frequently travelled to the West Coast and Gulf Islands and knew she needed to end up by the ocean. In 2020, she moved to Victoria to study Marine Biology and Environmental Studies at UVic. Looking for a way to unwind from school, Jules and her friends decided to take up surfing, and quickly fell in love with it! She also began volunteering for Surfrider Canada, advocating for plastic-free oceans and clean coastlines. Through her academic background and hands-on volunteer experience, Jules recognizes both the beauty and fragility of marine ecosystems. She hopes to share her love for the ocean and inspire others to protect it through the joy of surfing!

Hannah

At the age of 17, Hannah packed her belongs in her red Toyota corolla and moved to the Byron Bay with two of her close friends. It didn’t take long for her to fall in love with life on the road, travelling and the laid back lifestyle of surf culture on the East Coast. Surfing has led Hannah to some amazing places, such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Mexico and Canada! When she isn’t surfing for herself, or spending her days by the beach, you can find her behind a camera taking the perfect photo, or whipping up some short videos of the cool adventures she gets up to with friends.

Rachael

Rachael grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where cold winters sparked her love for chasing the sun. Her solo travels led her through Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Vietnam, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii, but BC quickly stole her heart. Now in the Adventure Guide program at Thompson Rivers University, she’s found a passion for surfing and sharing that stoke with others. She’s always been drawn to the water, from synchronized swimming to earning her scuba certifications in Thailand. When she’s not in the ocean, you’ll find her exploring new trails, practicing yoga or crocheting her next project.

Mev

Mev was born and raised in Saskatchewan where she spent her time skateboarding between swim practices. She began to dream of a life of surfing after taking a surf lesson in Hawaii in 2019. Someone once told her that Vancouver Island was the Hawaii of Canada, so she moved there for University to fulfill her destiny and learn some math. Now she spends her time surfing, skating and painting, basically living her dream

Sand

Coming from the wild and cold North Atlantic ocean off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, Sand has made it his mission to share the stoke of surfing! He's been playing in the waves since childhood but discovered his passion for surfing after taking a surf lesson in Tofino way back in 2015. Since then he's traveled to far flung surf breaks around the world in his pursuit of adventure and waves. He's favorite waves so far have been in New Zealand and, of course, Tofino. When not surfing you can find him adventuring in the mountains skiing and rock climbing or basking in the sun on a warm rock; he's never one to miss an opportunity to catch some rays.