Waves Don’t Forget: Surfers Honored One Year After Tragedy in Ensenada
Exactly one year after tragedy hit the surf community near La Bocana, Ensenada—friends, locals, and fellow wave-chasers gathered to remember Callum and Jake Robinson, two Australian brothers, and Carter Rhoad, their American companion.
They weren’t just surfers. They were sons, friends, explorers—and now, symbols of a community’s heartbreak and resilience.
A Memorial Where the Waves Still Break
On Tuesday, May 28, the community unveiled a memorial site near Punta San José, just south of Santo Tomás. The gesture was simple, but powerful: three surfboards standing tall—one for each life lost—and a plaque with their names etched in the wind.
Attendees included locals, international surfers, and even Australian Ambassador to Mexico Rachel Moseley, who joined the tribute with a few quiet words and many long gazes toward the horizon.
There were no speeches trying to make sense of it. Just flowers, surf wax, tears, and a few brave smiles.
What Happened?
In case you missed last year’s headlines: the three surfers went missing in late April 2024 during a surf trip along Baja’s rugged coast. Their bodies were later found in a remote area, sparking outrage, international headlines, and soul-searching in Baja’s outdoor tourism circles.
The suspects were caught. But justice can’t fix grief.
What remains is this: a community that refuses to forget.
Not Just a Surf Story
This isn’t just about surfers. It’s about travelers and dreamers, the ones who find joy off the grid and expect the basics—respect, safety, and humanity. The memorial is a quiet but permanent reminder that what happened here matters. And that we owe it to each other to protect more than waves.
A Moment, Not a Headline
No protests. No press circus. Just footprints in the sand and boards facing west.
Because sometimes, the loudest messages are the ones carved into silence.
📍 Memorial at Punta San José, unveiled May 28, 2025
🌊 Read more about how Baja’s surf community is working https://ggnorth.com/2025/05/waves-of-love-kids-with-disabilities-ride-in-rosarito/
