Godart: Shaping a Surf Culture in Baja

By Erin Dunigan

The salty air of Rosarito carries a certain energy - it’s a blend of raw, untamed coastline mixed with the vibrant pulse of a culture that thrives on creativity born of resilience. It’s here, amidst the hum of coffee grinders and the serene focus of a yoga studio, that you’ll find Sergio David Godoy Artunduaga, a 24-year-old surfer with the soul of an artist and the heart of a community builder. His shaping bay, Godart Surfboards, is more than just a place where foam and fiberglass become vessels for wave riding; it’s becoming the epicenter of a movement.

Sergio’s story doesn’t begin in Baja, but its chapters are written on its waves. With a Colombian mother and a Chilean father, he arrived in Mexico nearly two decades ago, a transplant to a new land without a network. “It was really difficult,” he recalls. “We arrived here without knowing anyone.” But what they did have was a legacy of artistry and an unbreakable spirit. His father, a sculptor who goes by the artist name ‘Godfrit,’ instilled in him a creative spark. It was in his own name that Sergio found his destiny. “From my last names I saw God, and then art, that comes from my mother. Godart. I was excited when I discovered this. That is why I am here. My mother is someone who doesn’t give up easily - that is why I am here.”

That tenacity carried him from a difficult childhood to the challenging surf of Playas de Tijuana where he first began to find his love of the ocean. “In that time they called it 0T - for the poop, because it is a dirty beach,” he says with a laugh. “The current there is hard. I broke two boards when I was learning. It was a good school to start to surf.”

Learning to surf in Baja isn’t like in the US, where surf shops line every coastal town. Here, the equipment is harder to come by and more expensive. “It is an expensive sport. It was impossible for me at that time,” Sergio admits. He relied on the generosity of friends who believed in him. This early experience of community support planted a seed. He knew that if he ever had the chance, he would pay it forward.

The transition from surfer to shaper was born from that same blend of necessity and curiosity. “I took my first board, delaminated it and shaped it,” he explains. “I was just thinking that I was doing something for myself.” He didn’t have a grand plan to start a business; he was simply trying to solve a problem. But in that process, something ignited within him. “I discovered something different in me. I started making two boards, but then I couldn’t stop.”

He sought guidance from established shapers, but doors remained closed. Frustration could have ended the dream, but Sergio’s resolve, forged in the tough currents of 0T, held firm. “I didn’t give up. At that moment that I didn’t give up I got a call - from someone who wanted to work with me in a company of surfboards. It was a magic moment for me.” He took the risk, trusting his intuition and his love for the craft. The doors that were once shut began to fly open.

Today, Godart Surfboards is a manifestation of his journey. It’s part of a collaborative space shared with his friend Erik from Migrant Society Coffee and Andrea, who runs a yoga studio. The synergy is palpable - it’s a place where you can grab a coffee, practice yoga, and talk with Sergio about the perfect board for your style. This holistic approach is central to his philosophy.

“We need to train for surfing, but to also train your mind,” he insists. His surf training program is a testament to this belief. It begins not in the water, but in stillness. “We start with meditation and pranayama breath training, to improve your capacity of breath,” he says. He integrates physiotherapy, workouts like pull-ups and burpees, and theoretical knowledge about the ocean - swells, tides, and winds. For Sergio, surfing is a dance between preparation and presence. “You might have a goal in mind, but when you go out you have to react to the wave that is there - you have to be in tune with what the ocean is giving you. You can’t force it - you need to flow with it.”

This philosophy extends to the community he is nurturing. He works with everyone from absolute beginners to experienced surfers, helping them find the right tool to progress. “I make them the tools so they can discover what they want,” he says.

His vision is bigger than just his own shop. He’s actively working to strengthen the entire surf scene in Baja. The recent victory of Alan Cleland Quiñonez, the first Mexican to win the US Open, has sent a ripple of inspiration through the community. “It won’t be long before we have someone from Rosarito, or Ensenada…in the world tour,” Sergio says with conviction. “This will happen.”

As part of the larger vision he’s organizing an event on Sunday, August 10th. It’s a call to action, a gathering of the tribes. The goal is to collect used boards and wetsuits to give to aspiring surfers who lack the means. But it’s also a celebration of street culture, featuring skateboarding, BMX, and graffiti art. “The point is to make it easy for people here,” he says. “There is a lot of talent. Surfing is also a really good distraction for the bad things that happen every day.”

The event also has a serious purpose: activism. “Right now in Ensenada they are closing beaches in order to build on them,” he says, his voice tinged with urgency. He’s referring to the beloved 3M surf break just south of San Miguel. “This is sad because the few waves there are in Ensenada they are taking them away. We want to raise awareness that this is happening. Growing the sport is also growing the protection of the beaches and the oceans.”

Sergio Godoy Artunduaga is living his dream, but he’s not just living it for himself. He’s shaping more than surfboards; he’s shaping a community, a culture, and a future for surfing in Baja. He is a living reminder of his mother’s simple, profound advice: “Have fun, don’t worry, just go and have fun.”

For anyone standing at the edge of a new adventure, whether it’s paddling out for the first time or pursuing a long-held passion, Sergio’s message is clear. “Just take the first step, and go for it - that will make all the difference.” It’s a lesson learned from the sea itself - a relationship between trusting and letting go, between the struggle of the paddle and the bliss of the ride. It’s the art of Godart.

Follow Sergio and Godart Surfboards on Instagram.