Representing your country at the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Longboard Championships in El Salvador is impressive enough, but to do it aged 53 is truly extraordinary and an outstanding achievement.
Best known locally for being a passionate food justice advocate, Topanga’s Carolyn Day is also a distinguished longboard surfer who has qualified to represent Canada at the ISA World Longboard Championships in El Sunzal, El Salvador, after taking second place at the Rip Curl Nationals Longboard Canada competition. The surfer who came first there was 22—a mind-blowing 31 years younger than Day.
“This competition is a defining moment for me,” said Day. “Not just as an athlete, but as a 53-year-old mother and nonprofit leader competing on the world stage. My journey is about resilience, breaking barriers, never giving up, and proving that passion and purpose have no age limit. I’m excited to represent Canada while also amplifying the message of sustainability, equity, and health.”
Day is competing in El Salvador against the world’s top surfers while proudly showcasing her dedication to sustainability and community impact. Beyond her surfing career, Day has a remarkable history of breaking barriers. She was part of the first group of women to compete at Pipeline in 2003. Pipeline, also known as Banzai Pipeline, is a renowned reef break on Oahu’s North Shore in Hawaii, famous for its powerful, hollow, and dangerous waves.
A French-Canadian from Montreal, Day first came to America in 1999 as part of Cheval Theatre, an offshoot of Cirque du Soleil, where she made history as the first woman in the world to perform a back handspring and land on a galloping horse.
Day has lived in Topanga since 2003 with her schoolteacher husband, Donald, and their sons Tristan, 15, and Simon, 11. Day’s husband and sons were all born and raised in Topanga.
Surfing must be in the Day family’s DNA. Tristan is competing at a qualifier competition for the Olympics and world championships later in May on Vancouver Island, with high hopes of making the Canadian junior national team. Donald has a US National championship title from 1999.
Carolyn Day’s journey of athleticism, artistry, and resilience continues today through both her surfing career and her commitment to environmental sustainability. As the founder of Growing Hope Gardens—a nonprofit organization focused on foodjustice, urban regenerative agriculture, and sustainability—Day works to create urban farms that provide fresh, organic food to underserved communities while educating people on ecological stewardship and environmental responsibility.
As Day prepared for the ISA World Longboard Championships, she faced ongoing challenges. The Palisades fire aftermath continues to disrupt her training and destroyed part of her community, making access to surfing more difficult. Despite these setbacks, Carolyn Day remains committed to both her athletic goals and her broader mission.
Day is seeking sponsorship from brands and businesses that share her values of sustainability, wellness, and community impact, offering them visibility among a rapidly growing network of global supporters and fans.
Paraphrasing the iconic line from the movie When Harry Met Sally, I’ll have what Carolyn Day’s having.
carolyn@growinghopegardens.org or 310 467 4949
Authors Note: Representing Canada, Topanga’s Carolyn Day, 53, came 55th out of 140 competitors International Surfing Association (ISA) in El Salvador – an especially amazing achievement considering she had a badly injured ankle and was the oldest competitor by a mile.
“I was unable to nose ride properly due to the twisted ankle but I made good wave selections and turns. I feel blessed, proud and inspired to keep competing at this level,” said Day.
The youngest competitor was 14—a 39-year age gap. A record breaking 143 athletes represented 44 nations with, for the first time, parity with the number of men and women competitors.
Speaking of records, the organizers are looking through their archives to see if Carolyn Day might be the oldest competitor ever, in which case she can file a Guinness World Record request.
