Unlike her mother, who is heartbroken when she sees her in the waves, Juniper does not question the dangers of the sport: as long as she surfs in the light of day, she is not afraid.
Sometimes I feel like some waves are going to kill me because they’re huge and I’m so small, but I’m still alive
underlines with a smile the one who is barely 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in).
Surfing brings her great pride, especially since finishing fourth at the 2022 National Championships in Tofino, British Columbia.
It’s not gold, but I’m still very proud of myself
says the teenager, showing her copper medal. When I left [de Nouvelle-Écosse]people were telling me: ”Bring us the gold!” I really felt a lot of pressure.
People in the community wanted to encourage her, but all the attention took a bit of a toll on her.
The surfer, accustomed to the smaller waves of the Atlantic Ocean, was beaten up by the larger waves of the west coast. Juniper even needed help, at one point, to get out of the water. But when she knew she was among the first, she did not hesitate to return to finish the competition and obtain fourth place. A memory she will always cherish.
Aline Carrier followed this competition closely. The Quebec-Senegalese living on Vancouver Island likes to surf, however, she had never felt at home in this type of high-level event before seeing, online, the announcement of the participation of Juniper.
The presence of the young black surfer from Nova Scotia had created quite a stir! Several influential people, including federal Youth Minister Marci Ien and Darmouth South MPP Claudia Chender, had sent messages of encouragement to Juniper.
When I saw [sur les réseaux sociaux] that she was going to participate, I said to myself: ”I have my place there too”
explains the oceanographer in a determined tone.
As she registered a little late, Aline was a substitute and she had little time to collect points. Although the competition didn’t go very well for her, seeing Juniper win the copper medal greatly inspired her.
She really fought until the end, the conditions weren’t easy that day
recalls the 36-year-old woman. She put a lot of effort (…) and it was really beautiful to see.
“ Seeing people of color participating encourages people of African descent or First Nations to see that they also have their place in surfing. It’s not just a white man’s sport! »
The oceanographer says that surfing is a very territorial sport since local surfers jealously keep the best places to practice it a secret. A young black girl like Juniper Balch fighting her way into the waves demonstrates great strength of character.
Juniper has a conflicted relationship with being one of the few black women who surfs along the Canadian Atlantic coast.
I’m the only young black girl and it would be nice to see more
specifies the one who also admits to appreciating the pioneering role that she plays in her province.
After a few hours of waiting for the waves, Toby Balch signals to Juniper that it is time to take a little trip to the sea. This time, they will surf a few minutes walk from the family chalet, a wooden shingle building whose Interior walls are covered in various artwork and surf photos.
They head to their shed full of surfboards. Juniper almost always chooses the same one, and today she even offers to wax her father’s board, something he says is unheard of!
Then, it’s time to put on your thickest surf wetsuit, provided by your sponsor Billabong. Sometimes it’s a little difficult to want to go to the water, especially in winter. I hate cold
Juniper insists, shivering.
She much prefers the waves of Barbados and even the more imposing ones of Costa Rica. It was there that she tasted true freedom on a board. A feeling that she now passes on to young people in her region.
