Tofino Surfer, Sanoa Dempfle-Olin, Rides Wave to Paris 2024 Olympics
Cue the Canadian flag waving! The first-ever surfing athlete named to the Canadian Olympic Team is Tofino’s own Sanoa Dempfle-Olin. Sanoa will represent Team Canada at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games—July 26 to August 11—when over 10,000 athletes will compete in 329 events and 32 sports, including surfing.
~~~~~~~~
100 Years of Olympic Surf Dreams
Surfing debuted in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games; almost 100 years after including three-time Olympic swimming freestyle champion and native Hawaiian, Duke Kahanamoku, began campaigning for the sport to be added to the Olympic program.
No Canadian surfers qualified in 2020, but that’s all changing in 2024 as Sanoa Dempfle-Olin gets ready to make waves in the women’s shortboard competition.
With Paris 2024’s goal to spread the Games and joie de vivre across France, surfing events will be held July 27 to August 5 on the French Polynesian coast of Tahiti at the village of Teahupo’o (pronounced: tay·uh·hoo·pow·ow).
The Legendary Wave of Teahupo’o
Described as monstrous yet magnificent, the legendary wave of Teahupo’o is considered one of the most perfect waves in the world. Renowned for delivering consistent barrels, this immense, heavy, glassy wave often reaches 2 to 3 metres (6.6 to 9.8 feet), and sometimes up to 7 metres (23 feet). Sure to be an Olympic-class challenge, Teahupo’o ranks high on the must-surf list for surfers around the world.
Riding High to Qualify
To get a firsthand take on Sanoa’s journey to qualify for the Olympics, we caught up with the pro surfer in Tofino where she’s training and chilling with family and friends before heading to Tahiti.
“Coming up to the qualifier events last fall, the Olympics was definitely on my mind,” nodded Sanoa. “It’s such a big goal, and these events are like ticking down the list of steps to get there.”
In September 2023, Sanoa won her first World Surf League Qualifying Series event at the WRV Outer Banks Pro in North Carolina. Career highlight!
A couple of months later, it was time to take on the next qualifier at the Pan Am Games in Santiago, Chile. And, well… prepare to be gob-smacked by this video of Sanoa’s medal-winning surf in Chile!
(Pssst! New to the sport? Heads up that Sanoa needs to be jet skied out to this wave, then paddle in. So, sit tight and wait for it.)
“When I won Silver at the Pan Am Games, only one girl and one guy could qualify for the Olympics. A Brazilian won Gold but had previously qualified, so winning second place meant I’d secured a provisional qualification for the Olympics.”
After competing at the ISA (International Surfing Association) World Surfing Games in Puerto Rico in January 2024, Sanoa officially locked in her ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympics—the first-ever surfer named to the Canadian Olympic Team.
“I was not expecting it, I was so surprised and so grateful. Having been born and raised in Tofino and growing up surfing, this is such an exciting opportunity. I feel so proud to be the first Canadian surfer to qualify for the Olympics, and now I’m going to do my best to prepare for it, train for it, and soak it all in.”
TIDEPOOLS + NATURAL AMBITION
This isn’t the first time Sanoa has made history. In 2017, when she was 11 years old, she was the youngest female surfer ever to win the Tofino Rip Curl Pro. (We’re talking the Women’s Pro/Am division!) Something she humbly describes as, “A very cool experience.”
“My older sister Mathea and I grew up in Tofino. Our house was right behind Pacific Sands and we learned how to surf in Cox Bay,” explained Sanoa. “When my mom wasn’t homeschooling us, she was surfing with us. Nature and the Pacific Ocean were a part of our lives from a really young age. I have so many great memories of playing in the tidepools and poking at sea anemones. We’d pull on our wetsuits and spend hours on boogie boards and surf boards.
“One year, we started entering local competitions for fun. My first contest was in 2014 when I was 8 and I tied for 4th in Tofino’s Queen of the Peak Princess division. The next year, Mathea was 1st in the Princess category, and I was second. We’ve placed, and sometimes won, almost every year since, getting better and better, and most of all, learning.”
Naturally, it was soon time to make waves worldwide on the Surf Canada team.
“International competitions opened up a whole new level of surfing with the best juniors around the world from places like Australia and California. The first competition I travelled to was the 2016 ISA Junior Championship in the Azore Islands in Portugal. I didn’t win, but it was eye-opening, that’s for sure.”
Preparing for The World’s Biggest Sporting Stage
When asked what she’s anticipating with the upcoming Olympic Games surf competition in Tahiti, Sanoa set the scene.
“Teahupo’o is a very famous wave that can get very big, and even when it’s small, it can be quite dangerous. Teahupo’o can look big, beautiful and crazy one day, or it can look like your average beach break on a reef the next.
“You don’t know what you’re going to get, so for training, I’m trying to be as fit as I can physically and mentally. Mindset is key, especially how I handle nerves or fears. Mindfulness and meditation are part of my process; giving my mind the space to decompress and process things. In competition, I have to trust my ability to perform no matter what the conditions. It all comes down to preparation and equipment.”
“I was training at Teahupo’o a few weeks ago to start getting used to the landmarks and swells. It was great to be onsite and I learned a lot. Hopefully those are the conditions I experience during the competition. We’ll see.”
After celebrating her 19th birthday at home, Sonoa heads back to Tahiti and Teahupo’o July 14th with the first round of Olympic heats starting July 27th.
“Mathea, my Mom and my brother are coming to Tahiti along with my Coach from Tofino, Shannon Brown. The Olympic Opening Ceremonies are in Paris, so I won’t be there, but my crew and I will be cheering Canada on from Tahiti!”
PACIFIC SANDS SUPPORT TEAM
To help support the girls that grew up living and surfing in our backyard, Pacific Sands now proudly sponsors Sanoa and Mathea Olin.
“Mathea and I are so thrilled to have the Resort partner with us. When it’s a brand like Pacific Sands—a Resort team and business that we’ve had such a strong connection with since day one—that’s who we want to collaborate with.”
What’s next, Sanoa?
“After the Olympics is when my competition season restarts again, so the next few months will be jammed. I’m excited about following the surfing path and seeing where it goes. But my favourite thing always is being back in Tofino surfing, camping, and hanging out with friends.”
Catch the Olympic Wave
For more on Teahupo’o (including epic video), the athletes, the judging, and to follow Sanoa throughout the Olympic events, tune into this extensive ISA event coverage.
Go Sanoa! Go Canada 🇨🇦!
