Mathea Dempfle Olin is riding a wave, maneuvering her longboard in pursuit of speed, power and flow, the holy trinity of surfing skills and the elements that judges watch for in surfing competitions. On this day, the 12-year-old surfing phenom isn’t competing with anyone, except perhaps her younger sister Sanoa, 10, who like Mathea has been surfing for since she was eight and for whom the roiling Pacific Ocean is back yard and playground rolled into one.
When competitive surfer Mathea Dempfle Olin isn't being home schooled, she's surfing until the sun sets in Tofino, B.C.
Mathea is pictured on North Chesterman Beach in Tofino, BC.
When Mathea isn't surfing, she's in gymnastics class in Port Alberni, BC.
Mathea makes her way into the ocean on North Chesterman Beach in Tofino, BC.
Mathea carves a wave on North Chesterman Beach during a surfing lesson in Tofino, BC.
Mathea stares at the horizon just after sunset waiting for the perfect set of waves off of North Chesterman Beach in Tofino, BC.
Mathea and Sanoa's mom, Dion Olin, checks on the ocean conditions with her son Maveric on Cox Bay Beach in Tofino, BC.
Sisters Sanoa (L) and Mathea Olin scope out the weather and the waves off of Cox Bay Beach in Tofino.
Sanoa and Mathea make their way into the ocean for their second round of surfing.
Sanoa and Mathea walk along Cox Bay Beach in Tofino, BC.
Sanoa (L) and Mathea Olin rinse the salt water off their wet suits at their home in Tofino, BC after surfing.
Mathea makes her way home along North Chesterman Beach after surfing till after sunset in Tofino, BC.