I'll Follow You Anywhere

Just like almost every girl growing up in the early 2000s’, Blue Crush inspired me to want to become a surfer. The idea of being out in the waves and having that much control, that much grace, was just so appealing to me. I had always loved being in the water, and surfing seemed like the perfect way to connect with that need without actually being transformed into a mermaid.

Over the years I took a few lessons in Hawaii and California, but I was never really able to make it a serious part of my life. Mountain biking and cross country running took over my schedule, and because both of my parents aren’t big on swimming, I had no one to take me out on the ocean in Vancouver. When I moved to Toronto I gave up on the dream of ever really making surfing a sport I could master- I hoped one day I’d return to the west coast and try to learn as a retired old lady.

DSC_0138

DSC_0006

DSC_0086

DSC_0111

DSC_0042

A few months back my friend Rachelle started posting about Surf the Greats. At first I was pretty confused, and immediately messaged her to see what her posts were all about. Was she on vacation somewhere and I didn’t know? Was there an indoor surfing park here in the city that I somehow hadn’t heard about yet? Turns out, the answer was obvious: she was surfing on the great lakes!

I started chatting with Surf the Greats almost immediately after Rachelle introduced me, anxious to get out on the water and try surfing locally for myself. I heard tales of paddling out in crazy storms and saw photos of surfers in wet suits literally covered in icicles, but nothing deterred me. Even Antonio, one of the STG founders, warned me that I might be waiting for a long time before the weather worked in our favour and produced high winds, but after a few days I got the call: a had storm rolled in, and we’d be heading out early the next day.

Great Lake surfing is extremely temperamental and unpredictable, and as I crammed myself into Antonio’s tiny car with four guys I silently wondered what I had gotten myself into. We left the city as the sun was coming up, and drove for close to four hours to reach a spot with high enough waves. Though this company is just getting started, it’s clear that Antonio and his business partner Marcello are crazy passionate about surfing, and as we sped down the highway we discussed everything from their awesome apparel design, to their SUP beach cleanups and surf trips to Costa Rica (which I’m seriously contemplating signing up for!) Once we arrived at the beach, Antonio and Marcello took us through some land training before we headed out to the waves (which  for the record, looked tiny and choppy compared to the ocean).

Important note: lake waves are not tiny. Once we were in the water it quickly became clear that the stormy conditions we had been chasing after were in full force, and honestly there were moments where I doubted if I could continue to paddle out. Unlike the predictable swells of the ocean, these waves were sweeping in almost immediately after one another, sometimes from multiple angles, and though I’m a good swimmer there were times where I worried I might get swept away (and once I did!) That said, once I had managed to paddle out, there were so many waves to choose from, and I was surprised and thrilled to find it was actually very surf-able despite the intense conditions.

After a few hours of battling the “messy” waves, we headed to another beach around the corner where the swells were a little more similar to the ocean. With the sun on our backs we sat on our boards waiting for the perfect waves, and in that moment there was nowhere else in the world that I would rather have been. To say Surf The Greats swept me away is an understatement, and I’m already starting to plan my next adventure!

DSC_0017

DSC_0073

DSC_0104

DSC_0092

DSC_0125

DSC_0010

DSC_0084

Read more about Surf the Greats and shop their awesome apparel and services here!

I'll Follow You Anywhere

I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for horses and trail riding. Something about the open air and the partnership with another living creature just takes my breath away, and if I do one thing in my life, it will be to live on a farm at some point and go riding every morning.

For now though, I live in the city, and opportunities to connect with horses and head out to the country can be sparse. Luckily for me, my best friend Sarah got me a trail ride package for my birthday this year, and since she’s located in Vancouver, she asked Paige to come along as my cowgirl sidekick. Of course she couldn’t say no!

The day of the ride, Paige and I got all suited up in our cowgirl best, pairing Free People ripped jeans with cute embroidered lace tops, tassels, and ditsy floral prints. We took our time getting to the Niagara ranch, stopping at wineries and fruit stands along the way to pick up goodies for the ride home. When we were finally all saddled up, we rode out with a small group headed by a handsome cowboy guide to the beach, arriving just in time for the sunset.

After a walk through the woods back to the farm, we dismounted and said goodbye to our new four-legged friends. It was a truly magical evening, and I’m sure we’ll be headed back to the country very soon for more cowgirl magic and country air!

IMG_8968IMG_8990IMG_9038IMG_9021IMG_9033IMG_9056IMG_9069IMG_9093

I'll Follow You Anywhere

There are so many magical places in Toronto, but some days I crave something more. I dream of a place with fresh air and clear blue water that is always clean enough for swimming. My desire for these things often takes me to new places, sometimes on small road trips, and sometimes on bigger adventures that involve planes and trains and hours in the car. I suppose Bruce Peninsula falls somewhere in between these two.

I first journeyed north to Bruce Peninsula for my Mermaid Lagoon shoot with Bicyclette, and I fell in love with the famous “grotto” area immediately. A section of the park with deep, crystal blue water, gorgeous greenery, and plenty of cliffs to jump off of, the grotto is a mystical spot that looks like it should be inhabited by mermaids. Luckily, us mortals are invited too, if we’re up for the 4 hour drive that is (and yes, the water is COLD!)

DSC_0012

DSC_0021

DSC_0014

DSC_0051

DSC_0036

Dress Up

_MG_0272-web

A few weeks ago Paige from Bicyclette and I went on a big road trip to a very special spot to shoot some mermaid photos. We climbed cliffs in tight dresses and waded through icy cold water, but it was all worth it for this magical editorial!

Far across the sea tucked into a bay, there’s a magical grotto filled with treasure, turquoise waters and sequins. To the untrained eye it appears empty, a secret mystical spot that’s rarely explored, but if you wait till the sky turns pink and the sun starts to set, you’ll realize there is so much more to this tropical spot.

Even if you stay for weeks, you might only hear a whisper, or on occasion your eye will catch a lock of mint hair as it disappears behind a rock. They’re always careful not to be seen, but have no doubt, they’re here. They spend their days braiding each others hair, stringing pearls onto delicate necklaces to wear, and exploring the deep blue sea. With cheeks that gleam like opals in the midday sun, and glittering fingernails, they drape themselves in silks, pastel knits, and tulle.

They are mermaids, and this is their home: the Mermaid Lagoon.

_MG_0283-web

_MG_0288-web

_MG_0310-web

_MG_0379-web

_MG_0395-double

_MG_0423-web

_MG_0438

_MG_0446-web

_MG_0477-web

_MG_0525-web

_MG_0653-web

_MG_0707-web

_MG_0732-double

_MG_0738-web

Photos by Jason Matos