14-year-old surfer from N.S. heading to national competition in B.C.

A 14-year-old surfer from the Halifax areais heading to B.C. this weekend to representNova Scotia at a national competition.

Juniper Balch of Lawrencetown is no stranger to breaking down barriers in the largely white sport. She's the only Black surfer to compete in her age category in the province, her mom said.

As a volunteer with the North Preston Surf Program, Balchalso helps introduce other Black youth to the sport that she fell in love with as a seven-year-old.

"Maybe I'll see one or two Black kids out on the water, and not just me," Balch told CBC Radio's Information Morning.

Her mom, Lisa Scott, said her daughter is a fairly quiet kid, but you wouldn't know it when you see her out on the water.

"When she gets out there, she's got a lot of courage and she's got a lot of gusto," Scott said.

Balch will be among about 250 competitors from across the country to take part inSurf Canada's national competition in TofinofromApril 8-10.

Balch, who won the last three contests in Nova Scotia in her age group, said she's eager to surf on the West Coast where the waves break differently than they do here.

"I'm feeling excited, but also very nervous," Balch said.

She learned to surf with her dad, back when daughter and father shared the same board.

"Any time he would catch a wave, I would stand up with him, and so then it went further and further and then I got on my own board," Balchsaid.

Surfing towards change in North Preston, N.S.

4 years ago

Duration 6:14

In one of Canadas historic Black communities, North Preston, N.S., people are reaching for surfboards to make the communitys beaches more inclusive.

Scott said she's very proud of her daughter, not only for her skills on the water, but for the way she representsthe Black community in the sport she loves. Balch alsoplays soccer and kayaks.

"For a 14-year-old girl to get out there and be the only one is something that maybe her peers or fellow competitors don't really understand how that might impact you and thatlittle bit of extra weight and extra baggage that you have to carry," Scottsaid.

Balch was adopted into a white family, and Scott said her daughter hasn't always had role models who look like her.

That's why she was especially thankful when a non-profit called the Black Wellness Cooperative of Nova Scotiasteppedup to fundraise and supportBalchso she could travel toB.C. for the competition this week.

But Balch said when she's out on the water competing, she doesn't think much aboutbeing a trailblazer.

"When I paddle or when I play soccer, I'm just there to really do the sport," she said.

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of.You can read more stories here.