Mexican Manifesto!

Our Mexican adventure was like no other stoke mission to date. Mexico was stop eight of our 100 Board Project. We teamed up with Mexican big wave charger Coco Nogales. Over the span of several months we planned an impact in a town called Bahia San Agustin in the state of Oaxaca. As we flew over the area you could see crystal clear water and a lush landscape. Our team was eager to land and meet Coco and go straight to see the kids. As soon as we met Coco we knew we were in for a great week full of fun and valuable lessons. We strapped all 10 boards to an old beat up red car and soon enough we were on our way to see the kids. Because we didn’t want the kids to see us we drove straight to our casita and hid the boards in the room. Coco had not informed the kids that we were bringing brand new Firewire’s for them. As quickly as we dropped the boards we were immersed in kids yelling “Coco, Coco”! They all wanted his attention. He is so amazing with the kids. The presence of this big wave surfer demanded respect and the kids loved being in his space. He also has an tremendous ability to make each child feel special. Because he is making a movie he filmed the entire time we were there. He went so far as to personally interview each kid who was part of the AHAVA Surf Project that night. Every kid has their own importance in this world. The next morning our event kicked off with a rocky start. A Share The Stoke Ambassador and I were playing volleyball with about ten kids when a fist fight broke out. We managed to pull them apart. It was super intense and the mood changed drastically around camp. After Coco got wind of the fight that had occurred there was a big lecture with the kids about being good and treating people with respect. There were some rough consequences for the kid who started the fight as Coco asked him not to come to the event later that morning. It was a total bummer for him but I suppose nothing changes unless there are consequences. Soon after the incident we kicked off the AHAVA Surf Project with Coco talking to the kids about things such as discipline, being a good person and the importance of doing well in school. Coco and Share The Stoke Foundation share this same commitment. It would not be enough to simply surf with the kids. The lessons around surfing are what matters. The lessons were interactive and when the kids were questioned about some of the things they learned they got a prize like a Hurley shirt, hat, or maybe a Dragon Alliance tee shirt. If they couldn’t answer the question they had to drop and give us 15 push-ups. Because the kids are aspiring surfers we figured getting a few pushups in couldn’t hurt. After the morning lessons we all broke for lunch and were to meet again at 3:30 pm.

Next on the agenda was to teach the kids some good physical activities that will help them get in shape for surfing. Coco had them running on the beach for half a mile. They all returned huffing and puffing. They had never run like that before. After they all caught their breath he started with proper surf lessons. Some of the kids had never surfed before but most had. They had a lot of fun popping up and pretending like they were riding the wave of their lives. As this was going on the STSF crew brought over the Firewire surfboards and sneaked them up to the palapa. We didn’t want the kids to see us add our boards to the ones Coco got donated. We got super amped because we knew that next on the agenda was the distribution of the boards to the kids. One by one we brought them up the stairs to the surfboard home base and gave them their very own surfboard. Coco talked about the significance of what a gift a surfboard is and the gifts it will bring them in their lives. We gave away a total 15 boards. After the surfboard bonanza we all met downstairs and Coco talked again about discipline and that a certain level of responsibility comes with owning one of the surfboards. After we left to go to the cabanas for the night Coco noticed the kid who was banned from the event was hanging around watching and called us all to come back. He spoke to the boy in front of everyone and talked about that it is okay to make mistakes. He shared that we all make mistakes but when we learn from them we can ask for forgiveness. The two boys who fought met in the center of the circle and apologized. They shook hands to make things right. Coco talked about the importance of being good and taking care of each other. This moment was the defining moment of the event. Not only was there a lesson for the kids but for us too. It was a beautiful reminder that we can make things right if we mess up. Everything is repairable if we ask for forgiveness. The young boy was invited to join us in the event the following morning and to surf with everyone. It was a beautiful thing.

The next morning all the kids showed up early including the boy who did not get a board because of his behavior. He had his beat up old boogie board while all the other kids had their fresh new boards. First on the agenda was how to take care of a surfboard, how to put on fins, traction, leash and wax. Coco demonstrated and then the STSF crew put them on quickly for the kids so the kids could get in the water as quick as possible. There was a lack of waves so we had the kids do paddling practice. They would paddle way out to a buoy then paddle back.

They were stoked to be on their new boards. After all the kids got a chance to paddle we closed the weekend with Coco saying a few words. After he thanked everyone he had someone go get the last board he had saved. He called the boy who started the fight and told him that he believed in him and that he is good. He explained we wanted to give him a board for taking responsibility for his actions. This was a magic moment. Everyone was so stoked and the applause could probably be heard all the way down the beach. We are unclear who got more out of the weekend for the kids, us or them. We all were reminded that through surfing, anything is possible. Huge thanks to Coco Nogales for letting us be a part of the AHAVA Surf Project and we cannot wait for the next one.