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4x4abc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4163
Registered: 4-24-2009
Location: La Paz, BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: happy - always
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don't know - 10 years earlier maybe
Harald Pietschmann
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64480
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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But, you said...
Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc  | those images would truly be historic
you might be the only one with images of the Mexican roots of Windsurfing
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I am disappointed! LOL
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windgrrl
Super Nomad
Posts: 1323
Registered: 9-2-2006
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Welcome to BN
Check out Vela Baja, associated with a “boutique” hotel on the beach in Los Barriles, about an hour north of the San Jose del Cabo airport:
https://velabaja.com/
They are open mid-Nov. to mid-March.
Easy transfer to LB from the airport, a small tourist town with everything you’re looking for and then some. Fantastic mountain-biking and
trail-running. Windy season is Nov-Jan. Water is warm up to November and then again in Feb. El Norte wind cycle wanes late January, but shoulder
seasons are less crowded and may be a better bet for beginners. Sailing/wind direction experience will help with learning. Lessons for both are about
the same cost, some think kiteboarding is quicker to learn and advanced tricks in both take years to perfect. Kiteboarding is more popular. Cost of a
board and kite or sail quiver are about the same. Smoother water in La Ventana, more amenities in LB. Lessons are a great idea. With the lucky winds
and perseverance, people are usually up and underway in a week or two.
When the way comes to an end, then change. Having changed, you pass through.
~ I-Ching
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SunDevil
Junior Nomad
Posts: 82
Registered: 8-13-2003
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Here is a link to a page with a good overview of Sea of Cortez winds. The page also has a forecast link.
https://blog.weatherflow.com/understanding-baja-winds/
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wiltonh
Nomad
Posts: 300
Registered: 2-2-2007
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I have windsurfed at San Felipe in the past. It was an okay place to learn but at that time you needed to bring your own gear. The water is quite
flat which is good for learning but you need to understand the tides. If you leave at high tide and come back several hours later, you may have to
walk or drag your equipment across several hundred yards of sand.
The other issue is shrimp boats. They have cables that extend out many times their boat width. There will only be a tiny ripple in the water where
that cable is connected to their under water gear.
If you have never done either windsurfing or kiting there are several things you should think about. The learning time for kiting is probably 1/5 or
less than windsurfing. The safety issue is also a concern. There have been a lot of equipment changes with kiting that make it much safer but it
will always be more dangerous than windsurfing. With a windsurfer you can always drop the sail and remove the power. A kite can have issues where
you need to eject the gear and people down wind can be affected.
As of last year I do not know of any beginner lessons at La Ventana but I would check out:
https://prowindsurflaventana.com/
as they have the gear and do lessons for more advanced sailors.
There are lots of kites and windsurfers at La Ventana. There is an island about 10 miles off shore that makes a wind tunnel which causes the wind to
be stronger than in many other areas. It also causes the shore break to be less than places like Los Barriles.
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JZ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9231
Registered: 10-3-2003
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: Originally posted by wiltonh | I have windsurfed at San Felipe in the past. It was an okay place to learn but at that time you needed to bring your own gear. The water is quite
flat which is good for learning but you need to understand the tides. If you leave at high tide and come back several hours later, you may have to
walk or drag your equipment across several hundred yards of sand.
The other issue is shrimp boats. They have cables that extend out many times their boat width. There will only be a tiny ripple in the water where
that cable is connected to their under water gear.
If you have never done either windsurfing or kiting there are several things you should think about. The learning time for kiting is probably 1/5 or
less than windsurfing. The safety issue is also a concern. There have been a lot of equipment changes with kiting that make it much safer but it
will always be more dangerous than windsurfing. With a windsurfer you can always drop the sail and remove the power. A kite can have issues where
you need to eject the gear and people down wind can be affected.
As of last year I do not know of any beginner lessons at La Ventana but I would check out:
https://prowindsurflaventana.com/
as they have the gear and do lessons for more advanced sailors.
There are lots of kites and windsurfers at La Ventana. There is an island about 10 miles off shore that makes a wind tunnel which causes the wind to
be stronger than in many other areas. It also causes the shore break to be less than places like Los Barriles.
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Great post.
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4x4abc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4163
Registered: 4-24-2009
Location: La Paz, BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: happy - always
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| Quote: Originally posted by wiltonh | There is an island about 10 miles off shore that makes a wind tunnel which causes the wind to be stronger than in many other areas. It also causes
the shore break to be less than places like Los Barriles.
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this site explains well why La Ventana sometimes has stronger winds:
https://blog.weatherflow.com/understanding-baja-winds/
Harald Pietschmann
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brucedog
Junior Nomad
Posts: 87
Registered: 10-26-2015
Location: Oregon/BCS
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: Originally posted by Solarlove | | 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 😁 |
Sorry I can't help you with lessons and instructor info but I will say this: I windsurfed for over 30 years and then learned to kiteboard three years
ago at age 55 (after years of resisting). Not only is it easier to learn but the equipment is so much smaller and easier to transport. My wife also
learned two years ago and she is a better kiter now than she was a windsurfer after 25 years.
La Ventana is the best spot in Baja to learn and Los Barriles is second (slightly more challenging with more wave action). The best wind blows from
November through April. Sadly, windsurfing instruction is becoming very rare but there are numerous kiteboard instructors all over the world. Hope
this helps
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