Tofino outfitter 'disgusted' by fiery surfing antics on 'pristine' lake

An adventure video filmed in Tofino B.C. has locals furious at a group of American surfers who show off by surfing a flaming log on a pristine B.C. lake in a Red Bull TV segment.

The video shows the professional surfers driving out in a rolling hot tub, surfing the beach then heading to a lake — allegedly Kennedy Lake — where they set a log on fire and surf over it at top speeds all set to adrenalin-pumping music.

"I felt absolutely disgusted," said Josh Temple of Ocean Outfitters in Tofino B.C.

"I see one of our local watersheds on fire. These guys are just pouring gasoline into our local watershed and lighting it on fire for the sake of their video."

Red Bull Media House, which produces Red Bull TV, declined to comment on whether a substance was used to set the log ablaze. 

In a following scene, a surfer grins while holding what appears to be a motionless fish, calling it Canadian sushi, before eating it.

"Cutting to a clip of a dead fish, a juvenile fish, right after that whole scene in the video just put me over the edge," said Temple who has worked in the adventure-tourism business for 17 years.

He believes the filming was completed in early spring. Multiple corresponding Instagram posts from the surfers date the filming to March.

Canada: 'Where bacon flows like wine'

The video is part of an online series hosted by Jamie O'Brien called Who is JOB? on Red Bull TV.

After complaining about wet suits that smell like urine, the group hit the waves at one of Tofino's beaches.

"It's freezing cold. We're in Tofino ... in the lovely land of Canada where the bacon flows like wine, and we are about to go surf some freezingness," said Cheyne Magnusson, a professional surfer from California and star of a reality show on surfing.

They brag about the instant crowds they draw, how they were all "rippin' it" and tease each other about using too much slang like "bruh."

The group then heads inland to a lake.

"We are basically just going into melted ice water now," said Magnusson.

One person takes a log and uses a chainsaw to even out one side. Then the log is somehow propped up in the water to create a ramp.

Using a Jet Ski to get speed, the men water ski and surf over the log.

After a series of trial runs and copious wipe outs — involving groin shots — the log appears to be on fire.

Flames spread across the water as if an accelerant was used.

'Sick to my stomach'

Temple described Kennedy Lake, the area where he believes the video was filmed, as the "pristine" home to species of salmon and other fish.

"To see celebrities come in and a massive international corporation come in to our backyard and behave like this made me sick to my stomach. I couldn't believe what I was watching."

Mike Fenger, the president of Friends of Ecological Reserves based in Victoria, also expressed distress in seeing the potential environmental degradation.

"It is odd that enjoyment of the natural environment does not appear to translate into respect for this environment," he said. "The video speaks volumes on the need for environmental education."

Fenger has contacted the ministry asking them to look into his concerns.

Temple says he also has filed complaints with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and B.C.'s Ministry of Environment, demanding an investigation. 

The B.C. Ministry of Environment said a complaint was received about the video, and officials are still determining whether an investigation will be launched.

Red Bull Media House declined to comment on how the log in Kennedy Lake was ignited but said an apology has been issued over the stunt.

"It has now come to our attention that this was done without permission from B.C. Parks," spokesperson Patrice Radden said in a statement.

"This should not have happened and we regret it. We have apologized to B.C. Parks and have taken down this video clip."