The First La Bocana Surfing Contest

First Ever Surf Contest in La Bocana

We live in a tiny fishing village in the southern part of Baja. A beautiful part of the world if you like the desert and the Pacific Ocean at your doorstep. We moved here in 2006 and have not looked back since.

In 2009, I was approached by some kids who asked me if I would help them put on a surf contest. Never having surfed but being a firm believer that sports is one way to keep most kids out of trouble, I signed on.

It was at our first brainstorming meeting that I realized I had taken on a huge responsibility: we had 3 age categories and separate male and female heats. Is it even called a heat??? I still don't know!


My goal was to provide first, second and third prizes for each group- first prizes would be surfboards, second prizes would be wetsuits and third prizes a combination of wax, leashes, boogie boards.

Surfers on Baja Nomad and Bloody Decks (chat groups) donated the surfboards, the wetsuits. I went to the States that Christmas and bought everything ocean related I could find: wax and boogie boards and leashes - boy, what an expensive sport!

So, things were rolling along. Surfboards miraculously appeared. Wetsuits in the right size miraculously appeared. I say miraculously because we live in an out of the way village which is 600 miles south of the border and practically unknown.

A major issue for us organizers was that La Bocana very rarely has good waves. Therefore, the local surfers and I agreed that we would hold the contest in nearby surf spot Punta Abreojos, but give the prizes away here in La Bocana.

Les's surfer son Marek is a graphic artist and he was able to make us a beautiful poster which we sent to all surrounding villages: Bahia Tortugas, Bahia Asuncion, Punta Abreojos. Once Marek was ready to roll, I had to choose the date......I wanted time, so I randomly chose the last weekend in January 2010. Heart was thumping as the morning of January 30th dawned and I looked out of our front window to see beautifully formed waves right in front of our house where we wanted to have the tournament! It was truly a miracle!

The whole town went to the beach that weekend - I cannot describe the intense pride that swelled inside at seeing everyone cheering for their kids! It was a wondrous two days and went off without a hitch and with much help from everyone in our community. That’s my Baja surf story.

Quote: Originally posted by woody with a view

So 6 years later are you ready for the 2nd "annual"?

Quote: Originally posted by TMW

Now you've done it. Every Tom, Dick and Harry will be crowding the beach with their surf board kicking the locals to the sand. Blanca some secrets are never to be told, especially on the Nomad Forum.

How many ways must it be said?!?!?!