'It's a sense of freedom': Senior surfers in N.S. aren't letting age slow them down
A group of surfers in Lawrencetown, N.S., is well-known in the area, thanks to their presence and dedication to the sport over the years.
Their pictures and descriptions hang on the wall of a Lawrencetown surf shop, along with the word "Wanted."
No crime has been committed and no search is underway.
However, if it was, you’d be sure to find the culprits on the beach. Their only crime is being pioneers in the local surfing scene.
“If you see them in the water you should give them respect,” said Jason Beach, owner of Kannon Beach surf shop. “They’re pioneers in our area and they deserve to be respected.”
Jim Leadbetter is one of the senior surfers. The 72-year-old became hooked on the sport in high school.
“And I’ve never stopped since. It’s just a great feeling,” Leadbetter said.
In the winter, the water can be cold, but he said going from a surf in the Atlantic Ocean to a hot shower almost gives someone a high.
“It’s like a spa. A giant spa,” he said.
Five decades ago, Leadbetter and his friends mainly had the waves to themselves. But in the last 10 to 15 years, the sport has gained popularity and COVID-19 has only accelerated that.
“You’re not close to one another. It’s safe from a health perspective and it’s just a very stimulating sport. Once you start it, it’s hard to quit,” he said
Lesley Choyce, 70, has also been surfing since he was a teenager.
“The inner me, the inner experience that I have surfing now is pretty much the same as when I was 13 or 14,” he said.
And if you watch him surf, it’s clear he still has it.
“The surfers were always kind of like, the lazy bums. The anti-social, partying too much, surfing too much, not working at all, kind of people. And we sort of aspire toward that, you know,” Choyce said.
Vic Ruzgys, 63, said his signature move is a nose ride -- a move when a surfer walks to the nose of the board, hangs their toes over the edge and rides the wave.
When he checked the temperature of the ocean, his thermometer read zero degrees. Still, he doesn’t think anyone is nuts for jumping into the Atlantic in the winter.
“I think you’re nuts to go to a ski hill and stand in a line to wait to go up on a chair lift for a little ride down a hill. I think that’s crazy,” he said.
“It’s a sense of freedom and kind of an escape from day-to-day realities.”
As for their age, they say it's just a number. These senior surfers say they are more interested in counting waves, knowing there are still plenty left to catch.
“I’ll give it up when I have to. Not until I have to,” Leadbetter said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
BREAKING Police make arrests in grandparent scam that defrauded victims out of $739K
An interprovincial investigation into an 'emergency grandparents scam' that targeted seniors across Canada has led to the arrest of 14 suspects, Ontario Provincial Police say.
Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails
A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.
B.C. child killer's lawyer walks out of review hearing
The lawyer representing child-killer Allan Schoenborn walked out of his client's annual review hearing Wednesday – abruptly ending proceedings marked by tense exchanges and several outbursts.
How to avoid the trap of becoming 'house poor'
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
Calgary man charged with manslaughter in death of toddler
Calgary police say Winston Campbell, 45, has been charged in the death of a two-year-old girl in 2022.
'Wild, wild west.' Families say organs of deceased Alabama inmates have been removed without their consent
The state Department of Corrections and the University of Alabama at Birmingham face disturbing allegations from the families of five inmates whose organs were removed and reportedly kept without consent, according to a series of lawsuits.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Juror dismissed from Trump hush money trial as prosecutors seek to hold former president in contempt
A juror in Donald Trump's hush money trial was dismissed Thursday after expressing doubt about her ability to be fair and impartial, and the status of a second New Yorker picked for the panel was in limbo amid concerns that some of his answers in court may not have been accurate.