About
A lifetime of paddling and surf experience. Over 13 years of operation in Tofino. Fun and compassionate surf education is what we’re about.
Emre Bosut owner and creator of Swell Tofino (Swell Education Ltd. | Swell Paddle + Surf Tofino) has been on the pursuit of surf for most of his life. Swell is the latest way for Emre to share his passion for being in the ocean.
Swell Tofino actually started off as T’ashii Paddle School with origins of the company dating back to 2013 when Emre and Tsimka Martin began offering paddling and outdoor education for tourism and locals. In 2018 the paddleboarding, surfing and first aid products of T’ashii were moved over to Emre’s new company Swell Education Ltd.
Learning while having fun in the water and the outdoors is our passion.
Swell Tofino is located in a sweet spot right between the inlet and North Chesterman beach. You can find our shop on the south side of Hotel Zed. We’re offering surfing and lessons and surfing, paddleboarding and bike rentals to meet all your beach needs. We’re excited to help you live the Tofino Beach Life through rentals and instruction so we can share our passion while continuing to grow and learn with the new energy that life and the ocean provides.
Check out the Virtual Tour of Swell Tofino surf shop
Meet Our Team:
Owner, surfer, Paddle Canada Instructor Trainer, and Red Cross first aid instructor. Paddling and surfing have accompanied Emre on his journey through life. It started in a whitewater kayak searching for waves along the shores of Lake Ontario, where he grew up in Burlington. It's been a long and exciting journey, working across the country and internationally as a guide and instructor, to his current home in Tofino, BC, where the waves are much bigger. One thing that hasn't changed is Emre's love of being on the water, which today is usually on a paddleboard or surfboard.
Emre is passionate about instruction and learning with people. He is excited to be developing Canada's most comprehensive SUP and Surf instruction resources, drawing upon his instructional experience of working as an instructor and guide throughout his professional life. Emre's experience includes instructing and guiding programs (the COLT Program, Canadian Outdoor Leadership Training), Whitewater kayak instruction with Madawaska Kanu Center, Sea Kayak guiding in Clayoquot Sound with Paddle West Kayaking, first aid instructing as a Canadian Red Cross first aid instructor, and, most recently a Paddle Canada SUP Instructor Trainer and chair of the Paddle Canada SUP development committee.
Emre is always stoked to share his love for catching waves and learning in the outdoors. If he's not figuring new ways to share the world of paddling and surfing with others, you know where he can be found: in the surf.
Where are you from, and what brought you to Tofino?
From Montreal, Quebec. I came to Tofino for the first time in 2021 on a road trip with some friends, and I fell in love with the small surf town vibes, so I decided to come back to work here the following years! Living so close to the ocean is awesome.
How many seasons have you been working with Swell Tofino?
This is my second season with the Swell Team!
What’s your advice for beginner surfers?
Keep getting out there as much as you can, that will help with your muscle memory, technique, and you'll experience different conditions and learn how to read the waves better!
Which Tofino beach is your favorite to surf at?
North Chesterman in the winter for sure, fast, steep waves!
If you had to pick only one, would you choose a longboard or a shortboard?
Shortboard for sure, but I do enjoy longboarding in the summer when the waves are smaller!
Where are you from, and what brought you to Tofino?
From Protection Island. I was on the tail of a California surf/bike trip, decided to come to Tofino for some surfing, and things fell into place, and I'm still here.
How many seasons have you been working with Swell Tofino?
Started my first season this past Winter!
What’s your advice for beginner surfers?
You won't get different results if you do the same things, be kind to yourself, and look where you want to go.
Which Tofino beach is your favorite to surf at?
Haven't surfed them all yet, but North Chesterman with a nice offshore wind is a heckin' good time.
If you had to pick only one, would you choose a longboard or a shortboard?
Longboard, definitely. Whatever keeps me surfing into a ripe old age.
Where are you from, and what brought you to Tofino?
From Adelaide, Australia. I came over to Canada in 2024 for a ski season in Banff. I fell in love with the mountains, snowboarding, and cute mountain town charm. After over a year in Banff, I missed the ocean badly and decided to swap the snow for sand and beaches, so here I am!
How many seasons have you been working with Swell Tofino?
This is my first season at Swell, and I am stoked to be a part of the team and surfing community.
What’s your advice for beginner surfers?
Be patient with yourself and have fun! But also, don't forget your sunscreen!!
Which Tofino beach is your favorite to surf at?
North Chesterman! Bonus when it's a low tide, so I can search for starfish on the rocks.
If you had to pick only one, would you choose a longboard or a shortboard?
A boogie board!!! (so fun)
Where are you from, and what brought you to Tofino?
I’m from Winchester, England. I came to Tofino in 2023 to work as a surf instructor for the first time. Since then, I’ve left a few times to travel and explore waves in places like Nicaragua and Mexico, but I always seem to find my way back here!
How many seasons have you been working with Swell Tofino?
This is my first season with Swell, and I’m stoked to be part of the team!
What’s your advice for beginner surfers?
There’s no substitute for time in the water. Getting out there as much as possible helps you read the waves and develop your technique.
Which Tofino beach is your favourite to surf at?
I love all the beaches here! Right now, North Chesterman is my favourite, but in the summer, I surf Cox Bay the most.
If you had to pick only one, would you choose a longboard or a shortboard?
Shortboard. I love the technical side of riding a smaller board and taking off on steeper waves. That said, in the summer, I enjoy riding bigger boards for smaller waves and catching party waves with friends.
