A plea from the head coach of Canada's national surfing team has helped secure local support for a high-performance surf centre on Vancouver Island's West Coast.
Tofino's municipal council has endorsed a proposal by the West Coast Multiplex Society to add a surf centre to a previously proposed ice rink and swimming pool facility after hearing a pitch from surf team coach Shannon Brown.
sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 not sure exactly what council needs to hear, but I see this as a really huge thing for the local community, especially for the local surfers,sa国际传媒� Brown said.
sa国际传媒淭heresa国际传媒檚 so many kids that are growing up in the area and taking to surfing, but itsa国际传媒檚 really limited here. Wesa国际传媒檙e so far away from the major surfing hubs that to have a future in competitive surfing, kids have to travel really far to have access to the competitions or the training facilities that they really need to excel to a level where they can compete against others on the worldsa国际传媒檚 stage. All of a sudden, we have a chance to tie in something that would benefit them hugely and give so many kids some kind of future in this sport that is a sport for life kind of sport.sa国际传媒�
Brown had recently returned from Teahuposa国际传媒檕, Tahiti, where he had coached Canadasa国际传媒檚 first-ever Olympic surfer and Tofino's own Sanoa Dempfle-Olin.
sa国际传媒淪hesa国际传媒檚 such an incredible story. She grew up on Cox Bay just up the road from here and, with obviously tons of support from the community, having had access to be able to travel and compete shesa国际传媒檚 gotten to the level where shesa国际传媒檚 qualified for the Olympics,sa国际传媒� he said.
sa国际传媒淪hesa国际传媒檚 done all that without having access to the types of facilities that wesa国际传媒檙e talking aboutsa国际传媒hatsa国际传媒檚 an incredible story and Isa国际传媒檇 love to see that story repeat itself. Theresa国际传媒檚 so many kids coming up that have potential to get to her level and if we can help that along and foster that talent, it would be amazing. I really hope that council gets behind this and writes that letter of support.sa国际传媒�
Neighbouring Ucluelet had already unanimously agreed to write the letter of support for the surf centre sa国际传媒� similar to facilities in Portugal and Australia but the first in Canada.
The surf centre, which the society is proposing to build adjacent to the proposed multiplex near Long Beach Airport on Alberni Clayoquot Regional District lands, would include a weight training room, an office with video reviewing equipment and a half-pipe facility with foam landing pits.
Both communities had voted to provide operating funds for a recreation multiplex in a 2012 referendum, but securing the capital costs to build the facility has been up to the society. The projectsa国际传媒檚 latest cost estimates stand at around $50 million.
Brown had been part of a West Coast Multiplex Society meeting with B.C.sa国际传媒檚 Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport Lana Popham who, he said, was excited about the potential addition of a high-performance surf centre.
The society plans to meet with the province again this month, adding an official endorsement from West Coast communities to the table as it chases funding.
sa国际传媒淭ofino, known for its world-class surf breaks, has a thriving surf community and attracts surfers from all over the globe. Including a high-performance surf facility within the multiplex will not only cater to local surfers and youth but also position Tofino as a premier destination for surfing (and other) training and competitions,sa国际传媒� read a letter signed by society chair Samantha Hackett.
sa国际传媒淭his facility will provide training opportunities for local athletes, make surf and other sports more accessible, diversify tourism, and foster a stronger, safer connection with the ocean, a vital aspect of our communitysa国际传媒檚 identity. Your support is crucial in helping us all realize this vision.sa国际传媒�
Hackett said the centre would be both accessible to locals as well as a draw for high-level athletes.
sa国际传媒淭ofino is already a place that athletes are coming to train,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淪o to be able to bring them into a facility that has some attention could really make those athletes then connect with our community. It would be something really inspiring for all ages and just benefit our community in general.sa国际传媒�
