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Solarlove
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Registered: 9-3-2019
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San Felipe windsurfing
Hello, new to this group. Been surfing, snorkeling, kayaking and whale swimming down in South Baja but as a San Diego resident I’ve been interested
in what I can do on a trip to San Felipe. My husband and I would be very interested in heading down and renting/taking lessons windsurfing. I know
there are places down south and would not rule that out in the future but I have been interested in checking out San Felipe for a while now, but
don’t think I’d drive down with out knowing for sure I can make reservations to rent/take a lesson or two. Does anyone here know of anyone or
anyplace that rents/gives lessons? And what is a good season for beginners? (Also any input on where to stay or eat or tips on driving welcome😁)
Thank you!!!
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JZ
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Most ppl kite board these days. Very little windsurfing. The best kite boarding that I've seen in Mexico is in San Carlos, Sonora. 80 miles
straight across from Santa Rosalia.
It's world class in the winter months because the wind blows consistently from the NW and there is a big reef that blocks the ocean waves. So you get
the fast wind without the rough waters.
San Felipe is awful for water sports. I've heard there are good places to kite board on the East cape, but haven't seen them personally. I'm
guessing some very good spots in the Seven Sisters as well.
For Kayaking, again avoid SF like the plague. No islands, no coves, terrible tides, dirty water. Gonzaga bay is very, very nice for kayaking.
Loreto and La Paz are world class. Incredible places to go/see. Lots of spots on the Pacific as well.
[Edited on 9-4-2019 by JZ]
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mjs
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Location: Off grid in San Felipe
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JZ doesn't have a very high opinion of the San Felipe area and while he's entitled to his views it clouds his response.
Can't help you with any info on lessons or rental but we get organized groups of kite boarders a couple times a year along with individuals and an
occasional a windsurfer. Trick is to be here (south of town) when the conditions are right.
Maybe somebody with experience can give you better information.
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JZ
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Quote: Originally posted by mjs  | JZ doesn't have a very high opinion of the San Felipe area and while he's entitled to his views it clouds his response.
Can't help you with any info on lessons or rental but we get organized groups of kite boarders a couple times a year along with individuals and an
occasional a windsurfer. Trick is to be here (south of town) when the conditions are right.
Maybe somebody with experience can give you better information. |
In a place like San Carlos, the conditions are good 70-80% of the time from late November to late February.
In SF, you get good conditions less than 15% of the time, plus you don't have a reef to calm the waves and the wind is blowing you offshore. Very
dangerous.
[Edited on 9-4-2019 by JZ]
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David K
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The very first place I saw a sail attached to a board was at Bahía Santa María, 25 miles south of San Felipe... This was the early 1970s. The calm
water in the bay there seemed ideal for the new sport. I still see windsurfers (sailboarders) there.
In 2006, I photographed some kiteboard surfers at Bahía Santa María from Shell Island...
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gnukid
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San Quintin can be good. San Felipe can be good but you need to time it with the tides. San Carlos, Baja near El Rosario is one of the great windsurf
in waves spots.
[Edited on 9-4-2019 by gnukid]
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David K
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| Quote: Originally posted by gnukid | | San Quentin can be good. San Felipe can be good but you need to time it with the tides. San Carlos, Baja near El Rosario is one of the great windsurf
in waves spots. |
www.solosports.net
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mojo_norte
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They're beginners so West Coast is out
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4x4abc
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well, as for Windsurfing trivia:
San Felipe (or south where David saw them) was the first place Windsurfers were ever used.
The 2 inventors Hoyle Schweitzer and Jim Drake were from Los Angeles, but to not draw too much attention before filing a patent for this new thing,
they tested them far away from Los Angeles - in San Felipe.
Now you know.
Harald Pietschmann
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David K
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I will see if I have any photos of the windsurfers in the 70s, since it may be historic!
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4x4abc
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those images would truly be historic
you might be the only one with images of the Mexican roots of Windsurfing
I started in the late 70's in Kenya
Harald Pietschmann
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David K
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1977
Found one... from 1977... at Bahía Santa María...
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AKgringo
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In reply to the original post, have you considered Puerto Penasco/Rocky Point? Although it shares the same tide issue that San Felipe has, I remember
the beaches and water being nicer than S.F!
I have not been there in 20 years, so I cannot recommend going there without further research, but it is only a couple of hours further for you to
drive. I have not been to San Carlos (Sonora) in over thirty years, but I liked it way back then!
The only windsurfing I ever did was in the early 70s, when my brother moved from Santa Cruz to Truckee CA and brought one with him. I never got very
good! High altitude, cold water, constantly shifting winds....Donner Lake and Tahoe were tough places to learn!
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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Solarlove
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Wow what’s response. I may not be any further along in finding rentals or lessons but I’ll look into the places mentioned and instead of
exploring northern Baja and hoping for a road trip destination to try a new sport I’ll stick to the southern spots it’s a quick flight anyhow.
Ventana looks like a good spot next time we are down no tide issues and professionals to learn from before I head into the wind... of course I’m
sure it warmer and clearer as well. Thanks for the pictures and historic information, it was great read for my lunch break and has me excited. Thanks
again everyone!
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Solarlove
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And MJS I would love to hear when you plan a trip if we could! My interest was definitely for wind surf than kite surf though my husband would
probably be into either 😁
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JZ
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Here is kite boarding in San Carlos, Sonora.
https://youtu.be/GKTBVCIQ_z8?t=113
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mtgoat666
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Ventana is THE place to go, in season. Several outfits there run classes. Mostly kites.
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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Solarlove
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So I have to ask you all one more question. I feel windsurfing looks safer and possibly easier... opinions? I currently surf and sail and that has an
appeal that they would go together, why does it sound like it’s a thing of the past?
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4x4abc
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| Quote: Originally posted by Solarlove | | Wow what’s response. I may not be any further along in finding rentals or lessons but I’ll look into the places mentioned and instead of
exploring northern Baja and hoping for a road trip destination to try a new sport I’ll stick to the southern spots it’s a quick flight anyhow.
Ventana looks like a good spot next time we are down no tide issues and professionals to learn from before I head into the wind... of course I’m
sure it warmer and clearer as well. Thanks for the pictures and historic information, it was great read for my lunch break and has me excited. Thanks
again everyone! |
La Ventana is your best bet
both windsurfing and kitesurfing
good schools
no swell
moderate wind in the morning for learning
Harald Pietschmann
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David K
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Harald, any thoughts on the historic value of my photo?
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