Undersold, Experiential

A brief case study of the Baja Sur strike.

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While on a recent series of deployments for Visit Baja California Sur—the state ministry of tourism—the team I was working with was charged with creating a “surf guide.” The ministry agreed with our pitch: undersold, experiential, and highlighting a pair of Mexican national wave riders, Leila Takeda and Stosh Lindsey. 

Takeda, handling a left wedge with a punch. Photo by Mark Kronemeyer.

While caroming around the desert, the goal was to play the margins, attempting to overlay solid swell, light winds, and uncrowded conditions. The production looked like a band on the run because we were—a case study to accurately reflect the Baja Sur strike-mission program. 

The confluence of past experience, local connections, and ripping Mexican surfers worked out. Indeed, the surprising, scalable surfing of Leila and Stosh made it happen. Knee-high to double-o, points to teepees, the understated duo got the job done. A rare and welcome interplay between core surf expedition and governmental support.

One of the many points on offer during the strike. Photo by Mark Kronemeyer.

[Feature image: Lindsey, reaping the Baja Sur bounty above the lip and at surface level. Photo by Mark Kronemeyer.]