From the cold lakes of Quebec to the sunlit waves of California, Carolyn Day has spent her life chasing adventure, building community, and breaking barriers.
Originally from Pierrefonds, Quebec, Carolyn’s journey to the U.S. began in 1999 when she joined Cheval Theatre, a traveling show created by members of Cirque du Soleil. There, she became the first woman ever to perform a back handspring on a galloping horse and served as the company’s media spokesperson. By 2003, she had settled in California, pursuing a career as a stuntwoman and building a life deeply rooted in both performance and the ocean.
Surfing soon became more than just a pastime, it was a passion. While California gave her warm waves and a thriving surf culture, Carolyn never lost touch with her Canadian roots. For the past six years, she’s returned annually on surf trips with her two teenage sons. Her 16-year-old is even set to represent Team Canada at the World Games this September, carrying the family’s surfing tradition to new heights.
Wanting to give back to the sport, Carolyn founded the Canadian Longboard Surf Club in 2023. The club creates opportunities for Canadian surfers, young and old, to connect with each other, participate in international competitions, and experience athletic development by participating in amateur contests with the very best Californai has to offer. Carolyn beams with pride as she sees the next generation embrace the sport, pointing to Canadian athletes like Sanoa Dempfle-Olin, who competed in the Olympics, and rising stars Liv Stokes, Reed Platenius, and Cody Young, who are already making waves on the professional circuit.
Her leadership also led to a historic first: a Canadian team entry in the Malibu Classic, one of the world’s most prestigious longboard surf contests, running for over 60 years at Surfrider Beach. “Canada wasn’t even on their radar,” Carolyn recalls. “But as a member of the Malibu Surfing Association, I raised my hand and said I’d put a team together.” Today, her team of 15 surfers, men and women, ages 8 to 66, from Nova Scotia to Vancouver Island, will proudly represent Canada at the Classic this September 6–7, 2025.
Beyond the waves, Carolyn’s commitment to community runs just as deep. As founder and Executive Director of Growing Hope Gardens, she leads food-growing programs in affordable housing communities and homeless shelters, as well as a quarter-acre farm where everything grown is donated. For her, surfing and gardening share the same roots: connection, care, and giving back.
Carolyn’s story is one of resilience, leadership, and passion. Whether she’s mentoring surfers, cultivating gardens, or cheering on her sons, she continues to bridge her Canadian heritage with her California home. And through it all, she’s keeping the stoke alive: making sure the ocean remains a space where everyone belongs.
Learn more about the Malibu Classic and the Malibu Surfing Association here.
Follow Carolyn on Instagram: @dayinthesurf and support The Canadian Longboard Surf Club on IG @canadianlongboardsurfclub and by showing up and cheering them on!
Canadians abroad are invited to show up big for the Canadian team at the Malibu Classic this September 6–7, 2025 at Malibu Surfrider Beach. Bring your flags, wear your red and white, and let’s make sure our surfers feel the love and energy from home. Look for the tent with Canadian flags and join in!