Congratulations Bob Gove
2019 Walter Coloca Surf Open Kneeboard Champ

The Walter Coloca Surf Open put on by the Baja Surf Club opened up their contest with a kneeboard division for the second year in a row.  The Walter Coloca Surf Open is the second contest in the Baja Bound Surf Series, along with the Dempsey contest.  The contest is held at San Miguel near Ensenada.  It’s not often you get a chance to surf a world class point break with just a couple of other surfers in the water.    We were stoked to be invited back for a second year after a great experience last year.

As we crossed the border and made our way down the Baja coast towards Ensenada, the sky was grey and threatening rain.  We knew the forecast was for a building swell and we could see surf spots breaking along the way.  Soon after we arrived light rain showers began and would continue off an on for much of the morning.  The weather started to clear and the wind remained calm through out the day.  The surf was small and inconsistent when we first arrived but continued to build into excellent contest conditions.

Appropriately, Bob Gove, Mr. Baja, claimed the top spot in the kneeboard division.  The judges were impressed with Bob’s smooth style.  Manny Vargas, a multi-talented waterman took the runner up position in his first kneeboard contest.  This was obviously not his first time surfing San Miguel.  Brad Colwell took the third position followed by Randy Morris in fourth.

All photos by Bob Gove and Carol Ravago