BAD KARMA: The True Story of a Mexican Surf Trip from Hell

In the summer of 1978, twenty-one-year-old Paul Wilson jumps at the chance to join two local icons on a dream surf trip to mainland Mexico, unaware their ultimate destination lies in the heart of drug cartel country. Having no earthly idea of where he’ll get the money to pay his share, and determined to prove his mettle, he does the only thing he can think of: He robs a supermarket. And, if karma didn’t already have enough reason to doom the trip, he soon learns one of his companions is a convicted killer on the run, and the other an unscrupulous cad. Mishap and misfortune rule the days, and mere survival takes precedence over surfing.
Original photographs (including pre-kingpin El Chapo), and Wilson’s strong narrative style, combine to make this true story personal—in the tradition of Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer, and Barbarian Days, A Surfing Life by William Finnegan—except this tale had to wait for the statute of limitations to expire before it could be told.

“Bad Karma is one badass piece of work.” – Jan Goode

“Hangin with El Chapo. Wow.” – JBA

“What a great read! Very captivating and thrilling! This book had me hooked since the beginning!” – Sam Pilot

“One of the funniest true stories I’ve ever read.” – Penny Pennell

“Paul’s writing is so colorful, so real…” – Jean Ready Froning

“What an awesome adventure! Easy reading that I couldn’t put down. – Laura Herron