Surfing History

Let’s imagine for a moment Los Cabos with its recently built transpeninsular highway in the early ’70s.  The first surfers of the new California started to discover good breaking waves and warmer waters, wherein less than two miles of coast, there are four beaches to surf.  If you do not believe it, park your car at the Mirador de San Jose del Cabo.

Surfing in Cabo

With these waves obviously emerged the first local surfers among the Castro and Vargas families.  With time the interest increased, giving signs of liking for this sport because of it’s one surfing association and active participation in various tournaments, like the one recently celebrated at Boca de Pascuales, Colima, to take part as the national team that will give us representation in the world championship of surfing.

Surf in Los Cabos

Breaking points

Surfing-loving people at Los Cabos are privileged to have different beaches and privileges for being able to take a wave all year round:  from April to November for the tourist corridor, one can find el Monumento, el Tule, Acapulquito, la Roca, Pescadito and Zippers.

Surfing

To the east of San Jose del Cabo is Punta Gorda, Shipwrecks, Nueve Palmas or Rancho Santa Elena and Punta Perfecta.   From November to March at its peak, by the Pacific Ocean at the Todos Santos zone, Santa Lucia de Los Cerritos with its famous Derecha and San Pedrito and the Pastora with expert only waves. But if all you want is to start surfing there is no better place than Acapulquito, in the Costa Azul zone, in San Jose del Cabo.

The Surfboards

The making of the boards has turned into an art.  Its process has not changed since the appearance of polyurethane that goes over the board.  This material was inherited from the technological advancements from the Second World War and has been a great improvement because before rafting wood was used which was a material that was much harder to work in.

Longboards

A surfer is a “nobody” without his board.  If you are going to buy one, you have to take certain points into account such as your experience, your style, and the waves that you are riding and of course your weight and height. 

The aforementioned is determined by the dimensions of the board, but in practice, one takes into account mainly the length, width and thickness.  Shapers typically sign the boards including the sizing, which has helped us to make a board that has worked well for us.

Surfing in Los Cabos

In Los Cabos you will find boards that adapt to your characteristics and types of waves you ride, as well as the suitable people for its fabrication and repairs, besides places to receive information, buy products, rent boards and take surfing classes with experienced instructors that facilitate the introduction to the marvellous world of surfing, there are manufacturers of fine boards of excellent quality made by hand, like Alejandro Olea, who shapes his own boards since 1986.

One single language

While you are waiting for a wave at any beach of Los Cabos is common to be surrounded by surfers of different nationalities: Australians, Japanese, Spanish, Italians, North Americans from different states such as California, Nevada, New York and obviously Mexican surfers.

Surfing in Loreto

Famous surfers can also be next to you.  Occasionally you will find in surfing world championships famous people trying to ride a wave next to you;  Hollywood stars, models, and even politicians (perhaps environmental problems could be solved if there were more), and businessmen.

Everyone tries to share our experiences while waiting for a wave.  We speak one language, having the same elements such as the board, the wave and the senses to enjoy that sensation.  It does not matter your nationality, age (as long as you know how to swim or your physical abilities permit it), gender, or religion.  The sea does not recognize the stereotypes created by humans, that is why it makes us an invitation to make us feel free and to grow spiritually.  I call it a “feelings cocktail”.

Surfing is living

Protect yourself from the sun, eat healthily and come to enjoy the extremes of the sea at Los Cabos:  Surfing.

Author: Lands End Magazine

Thanks to:

Alejandro Olea
Costa Azul Surf Shop & Olea Surf Co-Manager.
Transpeninsular Highway, km. 28
Plaza Costa Azul Number 8  San José del Cabo, BCS, México 23400
Tel. 624 14 2 2771
E-mail:[email protected]