Tim Mattson Baja Kayak Surfing Adventure

On October 3-12, an international team of kayakers journeyed to a remote surf camp on the Baja Peninsula. Our goal: to explore the area in our kayaks, surf as much as possible, and play in rock gardens (AKA rock hopping). As the following pictures show, we succeeded on every count.

Members of the expedition were:

  • Ginni Callahan - our fearless leader, Ginni is a professional kayak guide and instructor. She has been guiding kayak trips in Baja for over eight years.
  • Tim Mattson - a rock-hopping fanatic and obsessive kayaker. Tim is best known for his work with Greenland style kayaking.
  • Axel Schoevers - a well known kayak instructor and guide from the Netherlands. Axel has paddled all over the world and is deeply involved with coaching in the BCU system.
  • Gemma Rawlings - a member of the first women's team to circumnavigate Tasmania, Gemma is a frequent paddling-presence in the famous Anglesey area of Wales.
  • Jim Green - a serious coastal paddler, kayak surfer, and kayak instructor. Jim is active with the Shellbacks, a well known Pacific Northwest extreme coastal paddling team.


Tim on the water at sunrise after experiments with dinoflagelates and surfing in the dark.
Axel in rough water scoping out the next rock hopping problem.
Tim just peeking over a large swell … the pictures was taken from Ginni in the trough.
Jim trying the impossible slot, getting stuck, and then getting spit out. Amazingly, he didn't bleed.

Axel showing the exciting way to finish a surf run
Gemma showing why rock hopping is so incredibly beautiful
Tim in his white water boat enjoying the surf.
A typical beach on Baja with the group eating lunch in the only shady spot for miles around.

Ginni, Gemma and Tim playing in the waves.
Axel and Ginni surfing in white water boats just off from our surf camp.
Ginni showing off her tremendous balancing skills (and her surf swimming skills too)
Tim and Ginni surfing in white water boats just off from our surf camp.

Tim surfing a surge into a rocky slot
Jim starting a bow squirt.
The ever graceful Ginni on a simply delightful wave.
Tim waiting for an interesting wave among the rocks, and then getting mashed.

Tim in the Rockpool Alaw Bach getting his sinuses flushed.
Axel riding a surge through a rocky slot. The white stuff on the rocks is bird shit… and it really stank.
Gemma watching Ginni get munched by a wave
Gemma paddling on the sparkling water off Baja.

Axel surfing in a Tempest 170
Jim side surfing in his Tempest 165.
Gemma cutting across a wave face in her beautiful Rookpool Alaw Bach kayak
Tim paddling "in the soup" with Pelicans

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