About us

West Coast Outdoor Adventure has everything you need to explore the year round stunning location of Sooke, BC.

On a fast and stable foot powered Hobie kayak you can explore the Sooke Harbor, photograph the abundant wildlife with ease, explore the spectacular coastline or maybe catch a salmon for supper*!

For the more adventurous, you can do all of above on a Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP). With our qualified instruction, even first timers will be confidently gliding along the water and peering down into the clear waters at a world full of wonder and surprises.

Our bikes are ideally suited for the famous 56km "Galloping Goose" converted railway trail, but also able to take on some of the challenging terrain that BC is world famous for. We also have Electric bikes!

West Coast Outdoor Adventure logo

How was I was introduced to Hobie's MirageDrive? "Come and try it out on Thetis Lake"... well, like almost everyone else I was skeptical, but always willing to give something new a try I went along - 2min after getting on the water I was hooked! A couple of days later I purchased the i12s (inflatable) that I tried, and ordered another 7 - oh and I still have and use that first i12s Hobie kayak!

Shortly after I started West Coast Outdoor Adventure Rentals - renting kayaks and delivering them around the Sooke Harbour, I was invited to share a space within the relatively new Sooke Harbour Resort & Marina, it was (and still is) a really small space, but it's a great location and they still do all they can to help us succeed.

About the Owner

Our Journey - the long version!

G'day! Yep, for those who meet me - I am originally from New Zealand!

After almost 4 years of application process, in 2008 our family immigrated from England. I left my career in the UK Fire Service, Cath left her local government adult education job and we packed up our 2 girls (7 & 10 then) and headed for Canada, and more by luck than intention we discovered Sooke and made it our home.

A few months later I was in a local Victoria kayak/bike shop toying with a business idea involving inflatable kayaks, when I was introduced to Hobie's MirageDrive. "Come and try it out on Thetis Lake"... well, like almost everyone else I was skeptical, but always willing to give something new a try I went along - 2 minutes after getting on the water I was hooked! A couple of days later I purchased the i12s (inflatable) that I tried, and ordered another 7 - oh and I still have and use that first i12s Hobie kayak!

At the end of that 1st summer I was offered to purchase the bike rental side of the business from Sooke (Mountain) Cycle and the following year offered to become a Hobie Kayak Dealer - a bit of a no-brainer as I was consistently telling customers where they could be purchased on the Island. Stand Up Paddleboards were later added as the sport began to emerge, starting with standard type solid boards, and discovering the versatility and toughness of RED Paddle Co inflatable boards, so adding them to the rental and new product fleet.

I first visited Victoria in 1983 while on a weekend away while attending high school near Tacoma WA, USA. A few years later I was backpacking across Canada and met my wife Cath in Kingston, ONT.

30 years later, after we'd traveled a chunk of the rest of the world we returned to the country in which we met and made it our home!

We're Hiring!!

Join our Team

Based in Sooke, West Coast Outdoor Adventure Ltd provides unique Hobie pedal/paddle/sail kayaks, Stand Up Paddleboards, Surfboard and Bike rentals for locals and tourists to explore the Sooke area.
This is our 14th year of operation and as things start returning to “normal” coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic, we anticipate a busy summer season We have a full time and part time positions available - and potentially year round employment for the right person. Ideal applicants will be fit, outgoing and active, have the ability to be upbeat and engaging, even at the end of a long day while working outside in the sun, is paramount.
Although some office work will need to be carried out, much of the work will involve assisting guests to and from our dock and the cleaning of equipment. This involves lifting kayaks from the water on to the dock and carrying of paddleboards to/from the office/shop to the water. Full training will be provided.
Seasonal job 7.5 - 8 hours a day, 6 days on, 2 off for full time - 4 days on, 4 off part time

For full details and application process see:
https://indeedhi.re/3yBttrR