For a favor received. 2020. A lonely surfer surprised by a shark.

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for saving me from being bitten by a shark when I was surfing at the beaches of Baja California during my honeymoon. I’m grateful for staying alive and enjoying my marriage.

Rene Torres, 1990

For a favor received. A lonely surfer surprised by a series of giant waves.

On September 11, 2020, James Eddy and his son Felix, age 16, went swimming at Bocana Beach. Felix reminded his father about the strong ocean current at the north end of the beach and insisted they both stay close to shore but James, as stubborn as a mule, and sometimes as stupid, did not heed his wise son’s warning about the currents and pushed out beyond the break. Within minutes James was upside down and ass backwards inside the barrel of a large wave. He tried to swim perpendicular to the current but it was too strong and each time he surfaced for air he was pummeled by another wave. James knew he was in big trouble so he raised his hands high over his head, screamed out for help and prayed hard for a miracle. After several more minutes, when he could barely keep his head above water, he saw Viridiana Martinez Rios paddling up behind him with a surf board and Flora Liz Martinez Rios wading outside the rocks. He grabbed onto the board and Viridiana steered him through the rocks and pushed him safely back to shore. James gives infinite thanks to the Rios family for saving his life that day. This retablo was created in honor of their heroic act and in commemoration of James’ miracle.

Bocana Beach, Santa Maria Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico.

I give you my thanks, Virgin of the Solitude. Thanks to your mercy I was saved. I fell while surfing. I was covered by the big wave and lost my conscious. But thanks to the Virgin’s miracle I was saved in time and I avoided terrible consequences.

Augusto Peña Aragon
Zicatela, Oaxaca, August 10, 1969

Federico Guzman brings this retablo to Saint Peter in order to thank him for winning the surfing competition.

The surfer Jose Perez was about to be eaten by a shark. He prayed Saint Francis and got to the shore safe and sound. He brings the retablo for that.

I’m happy and thank you, Virgin of Juquila, because I won the surfing competition in Puerto Escondido.

Tomy Lee

I love surfing, but one day I fell off a big wave. I thank Saint Rita of Cascia with all my heart because although the falling was hard enough I didn’t get serious injuries and I can keep doing what I love the most. I dedicate this retablo for that.

Ramon Salgado
Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca

Erika Rodrigues went to the rock concert and decided to crowd-surf. But some bastards began to grope her instead. She thanks Saint Teresa of Jesus with this retablo for they were apprehended after the concert…

Holy Child of Atocha, thank you for your help. I went to the sea to test my surf-board. I was catching the waves when suddenly I got cramp. My surf taken by the waves floated away from me. I tried to reach the rocks, but the waves smashed me into them. However, thanks to my Holy Child everything ended up well. I was saved by two boatmen.

Ramiro Castro
Puerto Escondido, 1969

Virgin of Guadalupe, I thank you because the white shark didn’t eat me but my friend, although it was my leg that was bleeding while we were surfing. I thank you for that.

The surfer Mateo Robledo was attacked by a shark, and it bit off his leg. He thanks Saint Elias with this retablo for saving his life and for he didn’t lose his passion for sport.