The trek from Tofino to Tahiti is an inspiring Olympic surfing odyssey. To appreciate how the sport has evolved from fun, sun, sand and surf to the biggest worldwide competitive stage — and its quest to remain an evolving Olympic staple — take a journey of self discovery and unbridled passion with Sanoa Dempfle-Olin. The 19-year-old dynamo was raised in the supportive surfing culture of tiny Tofino, B.
C., a Vancouver Island mecca for those who crave crazy, crashing waves in any weather, and she’s the first to represent Canada in shortboard Olympic competition later this month in Tahiti. It’s part of a 2024 Paris platform to reach a wider athletic base and audience, and to address the surge in surfing with a commitment to the sport that commenced in its 2020 debut at Tokyo.
Dempfle-Olin punched her Olympic ticket by claiming silver in the 2023 Pan-Am Games at Santiago, Chile, and will attack the renown Teahugp’o wicked waves in Tahiti from July 27-30. The site has been a favourite stop on the World Surf League professional calendar for more than 20 years. And because Dempfle-Olin believes everything happens for a reason, it’s going to be appointment viewing.
“Earning this is a dream come true,” she told Postmedia. “I’m just very grateful and excited to see where it brings me with all the fun times and the learning that is going to come with it. I just feel super grateful for my family, friends and my whole team.
” Surfers crave competition that comes from .