KARMA SURFER 2026 XVIII Edition

More than a tournament, a community.

By: Raul Monroy, Photos: Aura Estudio Creativo

There are tournaments you compete in and tournaments you live. Karma is one of the latter.

This September 12th and 13th, Playa Las Escolleras in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo once again became a temple. Not just because of the waves, which rose to the occasion, but because the 18th edition of the oldest Traditional Surf Championship in Guerrero was being celebrated. A championship born in 1992, paused, and that the Pérez Yáñez family refused to let die.

This year, the dedication carried double weight: to Alex and Beto Pérez Yáñez, the pioneers, and also to Judith. That's why every heat felt like a tribute.
The same format as always, the level of never.

By 7:00 AM the judges were already in their white KARMA shirts. At the helm, Alan Robledo, ISA Certified Head Judge, with a luxury panel: Martín Torres, Alejandro Pérez, Raúl Monroy Salinas (Technical Director of the Guerrero Surf Association AC), Álvaro Rodríguez and Arturo Ayala. On the beach, Victor Almazán, with Marco García and Paulo Guzmán tabulating.

Two categories, four podiums, a single tide:

Surf Open and Bodyboard, men's and women's. No gimmicks. Shortboard and bodyboard against the sea. Colored lycras, loudspeaker, and the roar of the entire beach when someone closed out a wave right.

The names of the year:

The sea did not forgive. Luigi Bustos understood that better than anyone and took the Men's Shortboard, becoming Karma's Three-Time Champion. A guy who is already a local legend. He was followed by Rey Hernandez, Roni Hernandez and Gilberto Rosas in a 100% competitive final.

In Women's Shortboard, Kristal Hernandez prevailed with solid, progressive surfing. Second, Brigit Castel — who pulled a double, also podiuming in bodyboard — third Sahian Guerrero and fourth Elfi Teusch, all the way from Germany to compete at Las Escolleras.

Men's Bodyboard was a war of its own. Andy Medina took the men's title over Carlos Cruz, Kalani Favela and Arturo Ayala. In Women's Bodyboard, Kelly Hernandez, just 13 years old, dominated, followed by Yareli Ramírez, Aida Ponce and again Brigit Castel. 50 athletes in the water. Puerto Escondido, Caleta de Campos, Los Cabos, Acapulco, and that mix that makes Karma a national qualifier without ever trying to be one.

What doesn't show up in the results:

Friday, pre-event meeting at Catcha L'Ola at 6 PM.
Holistic Ceremony of Mujer Mágica Lunar asking permission from the sea.
Yoga with Evelyn Valdovinos at sunrise.

Red Cross on standby, kids running with boards bigger than they are, nearly 150 spectators and the Municipal Government of Zihuatanejo — with Liz Tapia Castro at the forefront — understanding that surfing is no longer a hobby, it's a tourism engine and an Olympic sport. A prize purse of $66,450 pesos plus in-kind prizes, yes. But nobody came for that.

They came because Karma is the only tournament in Mexico where you're still awarded with a hug from the organizing family and where the event director, Alejandro Pérez Thompson, calls you by your name even if he hasn't seen you in a year.

At the closing, Sunday the 13th at 7 PM at Catcha L'Ola, with boards leaning against the wall and the sun already down, one thing was clear: Ixtapa Zihuatanejo doesn't want to be just a beach destination. It wants to be a sports capital. And Karma is its anchor.

See you in 2027.