"Did I forget anything? Did anyone check the weather? Where are we sleeping anyways? What should I bring? It always leads to great memories. "
When it comes to surfing on the east coast of Canada, quality waves can be elusive. You never really know for sure if the forecast is accurate so, when it seems like some might be rolling in, you pack up and go. Loading up camping gear, surfboards and waiting around for that last guy to show up is all but routine. Once you hit the road, it’s like you’re in a moving capsule full of good people, good music and good times.
First official stop on our way into town is the liquor store-grocery store combo. This is where we carefully calculate the campfire-worthy foods and volume of beer required to keep us going. As we roll into Halifax, our destination is set to go check out Vandal Doughnuts and their amazing creations. We aren’t too sure if we’re at the right place considering we walked into what seems like an old rundown bar. In the end, we grab a baker’s dozen of delightful pastries, have a good laugh as we indulge in a creative depiction of the beloved Mr. Trump.
After a few rounds of sugar pastries and craft beers in town, it’s time to hightail it to the ocean and see if mother nature graced us with some surf. As the crew rolls into Kannon Beach for some last minute rentals, we run into an old hometown friend who’s out for an evening session. Walking out to the cliffs, we scope out the point break which seems decent so a few of us decide to rush out and catch the last few moments of daylight while some of us look on wandering the rocky shores of Nova Scotia. The tide turned and the surf picked up late into the evening so the guys ended up catching some decent waves.
I must say, there’s something magical about the ocean. As I sit there looking out into the openness, I realize how insignificant we are in the grand scope of things. As the sun starts to set, we take in the scenery on top of the cliffs with a few choice refreshments and start the celebrations early. After a few rounds of cheap beer and strong caesars, it’s now pitch dark so we decided it would be a good time to go set up camp at Porters Lake.
"As I sit there looking out into the openness, I realize how insignificant we are in the grand scope of things."
Once at the campsite, it’s all hands on deck to pitch the tents, strap up the Tentsiles, hang dry the surf gear and prepare the evening feast. This is when the crew is introduced to Ced’s Secret Camping Recipe: Prepared chicken & veggie skewers on top of Oriental flavoured Mr. Noodles. (Amazing!) Evenings can get pretty chilly along the Atlantic Ocean. TUXY’s seem to be the preferred fireside comforter. As the bonfire grows and the beers empty, the crew is later joined by a few friends who made the trip up for tomorrow’s expected surf and we invited another group who happened to be travelling in the area to join in on the fun. The East Coast of Canada is a good place to be in the heart of summer.
"TUXY’s seem to be the preferred fireside comforter."
Sunrise at Porter lake is pretty awesome. As the rays reflect off the lake, find their way through the trees and seep in through the tent walls, you can’t help but get your ass out of your sleeping bag, brew the first pot of coffee and enjoy the morning sun. The crew is in high spirits even with the aftermath of last night’s festivities still lingering. After a quick bite and a lot of coffee, we packed up the truck and headed out to check the surf. The forecast was a little misleading and the breaks are less than ideal. We make the best of it by hitting up the beach breaks and hang out in the cold water on this beauty of a morning.
After a few hours on the water chasing anything that seemed rideable, the crew decides to call it a day and hit up the Rose & Rooster for some desperately needed calories and more coffee. The sun is out in full force and we chill out on the back patio which offers a nice view of the neighbourhood. We recall and replay last night’s antics and have a good laugh before we draw straws to decide who’s stuck driving while the rest of us sleep on the drive home."The crew is in high spirits even with the aftermath of last night’s festivities still lingering. "
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I wanted to be a firefighter ever since I was a little kid, there was a firefighter who lived in my neighborhood who I have always looked up to. I saw how his lifestyle was, how he helped his community and that he always had lots of family time, so I was really interested at a very young age. As I grew up I asked for his guidance and pursued firefighting full time.
For us, we work 24-hour shifts, so we are here for a quarter of our adult life and you get to know everyone here and they eventually become your second family which makes the hall your second home. At any moment we can get calls about structural fires, medical calls, rescues to natural disasters. I’ve been with the Fire Department for 12 years now currently station at the busiest engine in the whole city.
To be a firefighter physical fitness is something that is key, so I got into Cross Fit which keeps me active as well as coaching it and teaching others. After a while, I branched off into Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting, I then competed nationally and broke a world record for back squat (240Kilos/528lbs).
After that, I was looking for more than just adding another weight to the bar and something that I could do for the rest of my life and continually learn, that's where Jiu-Jitsu found me. It’s an extremely humbling sport where you could be the strongest guy in the room and then get choked out by a guy who’s 50lbs lighter than you. It’s all technique and a lot of hard work, and I love that you are constantly learning. I always find I’m pushing myself to gain more experience and to keep pushing myself in this field. I try my best to get on the mats 3-4 times a week and to spar with other people to learn their techniques. It certainly replaces my itch for weightlifting as it's not simply adding another kilo to the bar. It is a forever pursuit.
So after working a 24 hour shift, I’m always looking forward to getting back home and spending time with the wife and kids. The kids love coming by the hall and seeing the rig and I make a point if I’m driving by in the neighbourhood I'll honk the horn and turn on the lights. My wife certainly always worries about the line of work I do but she understands and supports me. Having 3 kids (Noah 4 and a half and he’d be sure to tell you that, Mia 3, and Issac 7 months old) at home is certainly hard to juggle but we make it work as we are fortunate enough to both do shift work. This certainly gives us more of an opportunity to spend time with them especially with them being so young, I make sure to cherish all those little moments.
I try my best to balance it all and if I see something slipping I need to reassess and make sure my priorities are straight and that my main two; family and work are always taken care of. So I might not always make it to Jiu-Jitsu or to CrossFit but I make sure I’m there to spend time with my family at home and at the hall.
After all that I gotta treat myself to a cheat day, Pizza is my #1 go to and sometimes having a few of the kid's cupcakes! But when I want to just lounge around, I usually get up early before the family get in my Tuxy and do some yoga and read for about an hour. Once the kids are up I get breakfast made for the whole gang and hang out with them by sitting on the couch and watching Disney movies with the kids.
We are fortunate enough that my wife and I work shift work so we are always juggling schedules but it means we can spend more time with our kids. They usually tag along to the gym or Jiu-Jitsu and then we make sure to go to the pool or the park and have some fun with them there. It is fun to see them mimic me as I work out, my oldest joins me on workouts sometimes, I guess they like following dad, maybe one day they'll grow up to be firefighters too!
Hugo is a Director and Cinematographer based in Quebec.
With more than 20 hours of airtime on national and international channels; working on projects such as Hooké since the beginning, he is specialized in outdoor production.
This specialization has led him to travel the world several times over, traveling and working in more than 20 different countries. Including expeditions to the most remote and harsh places on the planet, from the Malvinas Islands to the Antarctic Peninsula, from the Russian and Canadian Arctic to the North Pole.
Throughout his travels, Hugo has met several hundred people. Passionate people with whom he likes to share their story, their culture, their lives...
Any terrain, on land or underwater (open water), in the air (more than 300 hours of drone flight), travel does not scare him. Spending long hours outdoors and talking with people he meets to bring out their personalities.
He has also worked on several short films, documentaries, and TV show.
Two years ago I was directing and shooting for a TV show called Hooké with Derek the CEO of Tuxy, the shoot was in the northern Quebec in Inuit country, above the arctic circle. One morning onboard our motorized canoe, we encountered a polar bear swimming in the middle of the estuary, it’s was so exciting, we were so close to this magnificent beast, and I asked our guide to be in safe and respectful distance from the polar bear and to put the motor to neutral to avoid the vibration to make for the perfect shot. He suddenly shut off the motor, and the polar bear faced me and swam directly towards our boat, It was so terrifying and exciting at the same time! Our guide tried to start the motor again but had no luck, suddenly the motor restarted and we left this beautiful beast in peace, it's was a moment that I will remember for the rest of my life.
Hobby:
Fanatic of travel, exploration, cooking, microbreweries, aviation, outdoors, music, art, and cycling!
How do you chill/relax?
I don’t have a lot of time to relax, but when I do I like cooking for my friends/family and taste (sometimes drink too much )microbrew beers, and also travel between projects.
Describe your ultimate dream lounge setup:
Wide open air, bbq, and smokers draft beer machine, a chill garden, and good music!
Favorite Junk Food:
Fried chicken with hot sauce and pickles!!
Favourite Travel Destination:
Polar regions
To face unpredictable and challenging weather that I faced on the regular during my expeditions and adventures, rugged and quality gear is essential. I think the Storm suit gathers these two principal aspects. In addition to that, the Storm suit is so small and versatile that I can take it with me everywhere and in such varied terrain, it not only keeps me dry it also covers me from the wind and the cold while being well insulated with base layers.
I feel very comfortable and confident in the Storm, it’s like my Patagonia fleece that I wear 80% of the time while on shoots which I've had for years now. I think that there is sentimental value in each piece of clothing you own, like my camera equipment, this creates trust between physical tools that keep you effective in all situations.
Photo credit: Denis Duquette & Derek Martin
Words by: Hugo Perrin
Video: Hugo Perrin
The van life is composed of a new generation of modern-day hippies, not so much the dirtbag vagabonds it used to be. It's something everyone wishes to do in their lifetime, and if not, then it should be. You get this sense of minimalism and adventure that makes you step out of your comfort zone and escape the big city routine. You find yourself in places you've never been before, feeling more comfortable than ever imagined. It will open your eyes to how much is possible with so little, you will come to realize that there is so much more than a big house and a fancy car. Life should be made of memories exploring this beautiful earth we have at the palm of our hands.
In our past generations' perception of a normal life, so many places are left unseen, so many mountains are left unexplored and so many precious moments are left unlived. Making the trip with a friend makes it that much better, being able to share those moments with somebody who is equally as passionate about snowboarding makes for incredible days in the mountains. Let alone having your other friends fly in just to catch some lines does add to a unique trip.
The hardest part of living in a van is keeping your Tuxy Suit clean. But seriously, how could living in a van be so hard. Waking up warm and cozy, cooking breakfast with morning music, having a coffee while reading a book and preparing for the day's adventure. Traveling around the country chasing weather system that will dump loads of snow in the mountains. Scoping lines from the highway only to hike up and shred deep, fresh snow on the way down. There is so much terrain to be discovered and so many lines to be ridden, having the ability to reach those high peaks and shred those gnarly couloirs is a different game, it's an adventure you can't get enough of, it's a sort of addiction. Making our way to Nelson to chase winter is exactly what we did when we saw the weather system was booming down there!
For me, backcountry ski touring gives me a sense of achievement and adventure. Climbing 3000 vertical meters to reach a summit is only part of the expedition, strapping in and riding down steep faces and perfect pillows is the cherry on top of it all. Some people think we are out of our minds. Why would you walk up if you can take a snowmobile, or why don't you ride resort? But it's not about that, it's not about having 10 or 15 runs in a day. It's about planning your adventure the night before, reading maps and books, finding new lines, connecting with nature and finally, getting rewarded with deep and fluffy snow with no tracks in sight. So that's exactly what we did!
Each mountain range is so different yet so the same. Vast snow valleys, rugged peaks, and perfect open trees make for quite the sight. Each presenting itself with the same challenges, Avalanches. Being caught in an avalanche is everyone's worst nightmare, it's not a topic to ignore. Especially not in this type of terrain. It needs to be studied, rescues need to be practiced and caution needs to be present. It's always a risk you need to take but with proper preparation, you greatly reduce these risks. It's really important to test the snow and make the right decision even if it means turning around after hiking for 3 hours and not even having gotten to the top. Fatalities are not unusual in the mountains; therefore, you need to take this into consideration before heading out for a day of backcountry riding.
The best part about backcountry touring is the feeling of being so little amongst these massive mountain ranges, you have no control over the environment, you need to listen to the mountains and you need to enjoy the views they offer. The ride down is really where you find yourself, the perfect snow, and the perfect terrain makes for a snowboarder's best days. You have this feeling that is unexplainable. A sense of pure happiness, not a worry in the world. Once you get the feeling, there is no way of getting it off your mind.
This is why the Tuxy suit is a game changer, after a long day in the mountains, slipping in my suit make my day that much better! Complementing the sense of achievement from the day's adventure. Getting back after a day of touring, enjoying a beer is quite rewarding. Physically exhausted with a clear mind and endless joy thinking about the day. Sit back and enjoy a nice supper in the van only to do it all again the next day.
Words by: Ced Girouard
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When the climb is done, you’re on top of the world. As you put away your skins and start strapping in for the ride down, you start scoping out your run. You can feel the tension and excitement in the crew. Everyone is stoked to get theirs. Adrenaline, fresh snow and deep turns await. When it’s your turn to drop in, the world kinda stops turning for a minute. Time stands still as you charge your way around the trees as hard as you can.
Cabin life is hard to beat. After touring and riding in -30 degrees for a full day, it’s time to reward your adventure. Slip into your TUXY, grab a few fireside beers and settle in for some serious après-ski lounging. As the fire dries off the gear for the next day, it’s time to scope out tomorrow’s destination to go out and do it all over again.
It all started with the goal to try something crazy! We did that and more, working nights and weekends at our kitchen tables. What started as a fun project soon started feeling like something worth pursuing and full of opportunity.
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