South Padre

There are six of us kiters staying at a house in South Padre, Texas. We are getting out and kiting several hours every day, conditions range from marginal to very good. This blog post is short because the wind is already blowing at 9AM. Later.

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Nice Weather

This weekend we had really nice beach weather and enough wind to get out both Saturday and Sunday. Not exactly epic sessions but pretty good. I cut my last day short as I was driving up to Tucson later that night. I left real early and got to the border at 7 AM and there was already a half hour wait to cross. The line looked even longer but they were getting people through fairly quickly. A lot of the road between Hermosillo and Nogales is getting to be in bad condition.


There were plenty of people out enjoying the beach on the weekend including these three girls from Hermosillo. Margot, Marcela, and Belinda are all interested in learning to kiteboard. I hope so, it would be great to see them get into the sport.

This is March?

Normally March is a very windy month - but not this year. This week we only got a couple of days of decent wind and one day it was only in the morning. Other than a lack of wind, the weather has been beautiful. Good for kayaking, hiking, and just hanging out at the beach. Sunday night I am driving up to Tucson to get ready for a trip to South Padre, Texas so it will probably start to blow as soon as I leave.

What is up with this weather?

The wind barely picked up enough on Thursday and Friday that we could get in a couple of hours each day but in general there has been almost no wind. None today. It is warmer than usual and the water has started to warm up already. The water is still a bit below 70 but that is warm for this time of the year. Wish I had more to report. The forecast still calls for nothing but light southerlies for a while.

Still Nothing

We have had very little wind for a while now. And there is nothing in the forecast. Once in a while we get a little late in the day but it is hardly worth pumping up the kites, even the big ones. Daytime temperatures are near 90 degrees. The forecast makes no guess on how long this will continue, there is no end in sight. Good thing there are other things to do here. Plans have been made to go to South Padre Island with Stuart, Glenn, Jean-Francois, and I don't know who else. We will be there from the 29th of March until the 8th of April. Should be a blast with lots of wind. Yeeaa.

Where Did the Wind Go?

Saturday was one of those nasty 15 - 35 knot days that was not very inviting, especially since the forecast looked good for the following days. Well, the following days haven't lived up to the predictions. There has been some wind but rather light and only for part of the afternoon. Monday I got out the 30M monster kite and had a great session on it. The pull is incredibly steady and the jumps are not high but very floaty. Plenty of time to do your trick and spot your landing.

Yesterday the wind came up and I put up my 19.5 Cabinha Contra. I bought it because it was supposed to be an exceptional light wind kite. It is a good kite and I had a nice time on it but it really isn't anything special. While I was on my 19.5 Roberto was on his 10M kite and a skimboard. Gerald was on a 15M kite and had his best day ever, getting some nice rides in both directions.

Scott made it out too, just in time to set up his gear and watch the wind completely die. Today is supposed to be light as well and then should pick up again Thursday. Weather has been warm with the drop in the wind but the water is still cold, colder than last month. It is back down to near 60 degrees. Brrrr.

Still Blowing

The wind has been strong a lot lately. Gusts up to 30 knots, often times even higher. It is good once you are out on the water but it is real nasty on the beach. Sand is sometimes blowing head high.


Here is a screen shot of the forecast for four days. Bear in mind that these numbers are averages and that we usually get more wind than they predict out at the kite beach. Roberto and I launched off of San Francisco Beach near Champs today and Carlos came out a little later. Real spotty wind until you got out about a kilometer or so. We went way out, found the wind, found some waves, had fun.

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Great Wind in San Carlos

We got back on Monday and had great wind Tuesday and Wednesday. It felt good to be back on home turf with wind on my back. There aren't a lot of kiters in town right now and during the week it is mostly just Roberto and myself and Gerald. Gerald is still in the beginning stages of learning the sport and is an inspiration considering he is in is mid 70's. A lot of days this time of year are cold and gusty with winds up to 30 knots - not ideal for learning but Gerald is out almost every day. The rest of the local crew are working people so they show up when they can, weekends and after work. Sometimes the late afternoon session is the steadiest wind anyways. I've been back over a week now and although I am getting in a lot of kiting days I sure miss that warm Caribbean water.

Isla Blanca and Punta Sam

We left Jeff in Tulum and headed north, stopping first in Playa del Carmen. Really didn't care too much for Playa. Compared to Tulum the beaches there were small and crowded and the sand wasn't as clean. The water wasn't enticing to go swimming in either. Great place to go shopping and I imagine a great night life, but we weren't looking for that and since the wind wasn't blowing we continued north and got a place for the night in Puerto Morelos. Wind prediction the next morning didn't look good so we decided to go to Isla Blanca to check it out and to be ready for the Northerlies that were due the next day. We lucked out and there was wind on the ocean side of Isla Blanca (actually it isn't an island and it isn't an ocean) and we got in a good day of kiting. There was a kiting school there and they told us of a place to stay nearby. We went to Hacienda Punta Sam and got a nice room plus all meals and drinks for under $50 each. Very good food. The place was a real bargain. It was right on the water as you can see in the photo below.

The northerlies came as predicted the next day, along with a little bit of rain. We went to the beach early and there were already some kiters out tearing it up. They were also having an instructors clinic going on so there were more than a few people, all of them helpful and friendly. The beach launch was small, but you could also launch from the water as it stayed shallow for a long ways.
The wind was gusting well over 30 knots most all day and was a bit much for my 12M Rhino but later the wind dropped just enough that I could get a session in. The next day was Saturday and the wind was light. A few people got out from time to time on big kites and finally the wind picked up enough that I could get out on my 12M, the only kite that I brought on the trip.

The next day was Sunday, our last day. It started out rainy and didn't seem too windy. We drove out to the beach and it was already nuking. Another 30+ knot day. The local guys were out catching lots of air on 7, 8, and 9 meter kites and I had to wait a while before I could get out. The wait was always worth it as the whole lagoon is shallow and even when the wind is howling there is very little chop.

Next morning it was off to the airport and after a stop in Mexico City we were back in Hermosillo. The bus from there to Guaymas was only $5 each and we were back in San Carlos.

I think I got in 7 days of kiting out of the 2 weeks that we were gone but most of those days were in marginal conditions. If the wind was better, I would definitely spend most of the winter in Tulum. It really was nice there. The best wind was at Isla Blanca, which is just north of Cancun, but the drive out there was long and Cancun is expensive.

Tulum

We stayed a week in Tulum. Loved the place. Weather was great; low 80's, some clouds, some rain. The town itself is along the highway and is only several blocks long and goes a few blocks in on both sides. Lots of restaurants and shops and a few cheap hotels including a couple of hostels that are less than $10 a night. Food was excellent and cost was reasonable. Had a huge piece of yellow fin tuna that was one of the best meals I've had in a long time. The beach is down the road a mile or so and has mostly small resorts cut out of the jungle.

We stayed at the Maya Hotel which was in town right on the main drag. We had a second floor room facing the road with a large balcony that gave us a view of what was going on below. It was almost next to the Hostel which was filled with young European travellers so it was great entertainment just to sit and watch and maybe drink a beer or two. We paid about $45 a night for the three of us.
The wind was light most of the time while we were in Tulum, but we did get out kiting a couple of times.
We also had plenty of time to explore the Mayan ruins of Tulum and Cobá.
The water was warm enough that we could go snorkeling without wetsuits. One day we went out from the beach and saw a good size shark feeding on something on the reef, a small school of BIG barracuda, and a couple of sea turtles. We spent part of every day at the beach because it was beautiful. A great place to relax. It didn't hurt that there were different topless young European girls on the beach every day as well.


After a week in paradise the wind was going to switch to the north and that meant we had to go north to find a beach exposed to that direction. Jeff had found a job as a kiteboarding instructor so we left him there in Tulum. He seems to like the surroundings okay. We will miss him out on the beach back in San Carlos. Adios Jeff.

Five Days Into It

Roberto, Jeff and I are five days into our trip to the other side of Mexico. We flew into Cancun on Monday and hung out there for a day. Real good food at decent prices but everything else is expensive.

We went to Puerto Morelos the next day and got in a bit of kitesurfing. Puerto Morelos is a nice quiet town but with the emphasis on little. No wind the next day so we headed to Playa del Carmen to check out the scene there. It is a real tourist center with lots of fancy hotels and busy beaches. The center of town is automobile free for several blocks with lots of shops to explore.

Found the kite beach but still no wind so we headed south again, this time to Tulum. We visited the Mayan ruins which was pretty nice and they are overlooking the beach. When we get wind we can kite right in front of them. Speaking of wind...haven't had any since Tuesday. We have been filling in the time with checking out the beaches, driving through the jungle, hiking in to cenotes and of course eating and drinking.

Break in the Weather but Too Late, We Are Out of Here

This has been the worst stretch of non kitesurfing weather that I can remember. Finally we had some wind yesterday and today it was blowing hard. The next couple of days should be good as well before it shuts off again. It is a nice change, but three of us are heading across the country for a bigger change. Jeff, Roberto, and myself are flying over to Cancun on Monday and we will probably stay in Play del Carmen, about 45 miles south of Cancun. It is on the Caribbean coast with tropical weather and warm water. We managed to get $185 round trip tickets on Aviacsa airline.

A few days ago we had a real nice rainbow out at the kite shack.



Unfortunately, there was a bad accident on the road out to the beach yesterday. It seems like we get way too many serious car wrecks for such a small community.





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No Wind, No Wind, and Then...

We are not getting much wind. Almost nothing all week and then yesterday I had to get out the 30M to be able to get a good ride. This is what it looks like almost every day.

Roberto and I went for a mountain bike ride the other day that sounded good but turned out to be a lot tougher than I expected. Here is a photo from the trail just before it descends into the canyon below.

A Week of Other Stuff

The wind is supposed to return today but there has been very little for over a week. The weather has been cold, cloudy, and we've had rain a couple of nights, even hail. This means we have been forced to find other stuff to do. The other day Roberto, Jeff, and I hiked to the top of Illusion Rock. Nice hike, a little challenging, with lots of caves and great views. Pictures are below. We also found what appears to be airplane wreckage from when they crashed a plane during the filming of the movie Catch 22 in 1970.

The fishing has been good for yellowtail and we made up a big platter of sushi a few nights ago. Below is a shot of part of the local commercial catch. They will fill up those trucks and then they are off to Guadalajara and from there the fish go all over Mexico and beyond.

Blog Problems

Google hosts this blog and for a while now it has been slow and when I submit a post it disappears. If this message posts I will try to post again. Not much wind lately anyway.

When the Wind Dies

So what to do when the wind dies? Put up the 30 and keep on ripping.

The wind never really kicked in today but a bunch of us still got in a session on 12 meter kites. There was a television crew from GuaymasTV out at the beach for a while so it got a little crowed in front of the camera. Too bad the wind was light, they should come back when the wind is hooting.

As the afternoon progressed, the wind got less. To keep going we put up the big kite and powered up. The big monster is a lot of fun.

Dave from Canada gave it a try today as you can see in the photo below.

We had several good days but now we are in a three day lull that is forecast to end on Saturday and then nuke again on Sunday and Monday and continue for a few more days. Several kiters have been here long enough to really improve. The other day just about everybody was jumping and several were doing back rolls among other moves. It is a lot of fun because everyone wants to see how far they can go while they are here and no one wants to get left behind. It has definitely inspired me to go to the next level. Dennis and Cindy are a couple from California that were having a bit of a rough time kiting when they came and ended up really ripping in a short time. Great enthusiasm from both. They recently left but plan to return soon.
Cindy and Dennis

'Tis the Season

The wind has been good lately with only a couple of days last week that weren’t worth flying. Several of the kiters that were here for the holidays have left and others have arrived. Below is a photo of Stuart and Scott.

Both are regulars to San Carlos and were here for a while. Last year Stuart, who is from New Mexico, was still a beginner and this year he is throwing back rolls. Scott has been in the sport for a long time and has his own unique style – very smooth. He uses two line kites and a big board.
We all love it when he is here because he is always yelling encouragement to reach for the next level, and has the knowledge to explain how to achieve it. We miss him when he isn’t here. He has already returned to Oregon and will be going to New Zealand shortly.

That's me in the picture to the left, throwing one of the few tricks that I know.

Monster Kite

Yesterday the sun didn't come out and the wind was cold. Only a few kiters went out as the wind was up and down and the cold air kept most of us hiding behind shelter. We did have some entertainment however. Jeff tried out our new 30M kite. It was blowing 12 to 18 knots, not the ideal conditions for such a huge kite. We had someone hold him down when we launched, just in case. Being so powered up, it flew great and Jeff looked like he was having a blast catching good air and doing back rolls. Most of the time he was digging the edge of the board in as hard as he could, fighting the obvious power of the kite. We bought the kite as a novelty as it was on eBay, brand new with bar and lines, for about $100 and it was well worth it. It truly is impressive.

Back on the Water

I spent Christmas up in Tucson, and while it was great to spend time with old friends it didn't take long to get tired of the cold weather and all the traffic. While the wind hasn't been perfect, I have still gotten out kiting both days since my return and today and tomorrow should be okay as well. I picked up a couple of light wind kites on eBay to play around with and tried out a 19.5 M Cabrinha Contra yesterday. We had a lull in the wind when I decided to put it up but by the time I got out on the water it had picked up again. Russ was out on a 7.5M kite at the same time I was flying the 19.5M. It was smooth and controllable but nothing special. Just another big kite. I didn't dare try the other kite - a 30M Naish kite that I got on eBay for $100 brand new complete with bar and lines.
Lots of people on the beach and lots of kiters on the water. I like it a lot better than the years past when often it would be just a couple of kiters and no one on the beach. Water temp is still way above normal at 66 degrees.

Christmas Wind

It looks like San Carlos is getting some good wind for the holiday but I am up in Tucson far from the water. I'll be back in time for the next good blow to start, which Windguru says will be Thursday the 28th after a break of only a day or two. If anyone is interested, I have a slightly used 11M GK Sonic kite up for sale on eBay. Just click here to see it.

I've been looking at Playa del Carmen as a place to go next month for a kite vacation but the wind reports lately don't look encouraging. The search for warm water and good wind continues. Any suggestions?

Merry Christmas to all.

Getting Better

It has been a good four day blow, with winds gusting up to 30 knots. Lots of people out on the water and everyone has been having a great time. Last year we would have been complaining about how gusty it is but now almost everyone has a small bow kite and they handle these winds without a problem. Last year I had the only bow kite on the beach but the other day there were seven or eight bows being flown and only one C kite. The kites just keep getting better.
The water temperature is still several degrees warmer than normal at 68 degrees. Usually it is closer to 60 and by the end of the month it is often into the 50's. Let's hope that it stays warm all winter.

Three Days Without Wind

Three days without wind and the kiters are getting restless. The forecast for tomorrow isn't great but if there is any wind at all we'll be out there. They say it will start blowing again on Monday. I hope so. I've been watching kite videos and thinking about another kiting trip. This time to Playa del Carmen. More on that later. For now, a couple more photos from out at the beach.

North Wind

The wind has been howling for quite a few days now but during most of the day it is still too northerly and the beach is shielded. We usually get a couple of hours of good wind late in the day. Yesterday was a day for 12M kites but Sunday was gusting up to 30 knots. Below is a photo of Jeff and Carlos after the session on Sunday.

Windy Days

The last few days have been real windy but it was blowing too Northerly to do us any good until Friday. When the wind blows from higher than northwest it is blocked by the mountains and it doesn’t blow close to the beach. The whole town of San Carlos can be in the wind shadow while it is howling off shore. Friday was a Mexican holiday due to inauguration day for the new presidency so we had a good showing of people. Both Carlos’s, Ricardo, Jeff, Dave from Canada, and myself were out on the water. We all got to the beach early and it was a bit gusty. Jeff blew out the lines on his kite but it was a good afternoon in general.

This is Sunnie


In my blog of Nov.16th, http://kiteboard-mexico.blogspot.com/2006/11/still-hasnt-kicked-in.html, I wrote that there was a non-certified instructor showing up at the beach that I said should be avoided, implying that he didn’t follow the current safety guidelines. He replied with a post in the sailing forum that he moderates at http://sancarlosmx.mywowbb.com/forum4/2027.html . He seems to be challenging me to back up what I wrote, even calling me a coward. Well, readers – you be the judge.

He teaches his clients to set up the kite in the self launch position. WRONG
I have observed that Vinny always sets his kite up this way (he is the only one that does) and will leave it up on end while he goes and gets his wetsuit on, etc. He doesn’t even turn the kite down wind; it is constantly attempting to blow away and the only thing that saves it from doing so is that he underinflates the kites and thus are not so apt to try to straighten out. Your kite should be upside down while you set it up and while you get ready.

He then usually shows them how to self launch. WRONG
Beginners should not be self launching; they should be encouraged to always seek out someone knowledgeable to assist. Many beginners have been having rough launches and they need to know that none of us mind giving them a hand to keep everyone safe. If we see you need help, we won’t wait for you to ask – we want a safe beach. Vinny has objected when we try to give advice or help to one of “his” students.


Vinny also has had his students launch on the beach while hooked in and facing away from the sea, towards land. WRONG
Beginners should never hook in until they are getting into the water and should get into the water as soon as possible after launching. (Please note that this was written in 2006 before we had a modern chicken loop - hooked in meant powered up.) It is better to launch towards the water for obvious reasons. Vinny has his beginning students not just hooked in, but he has them putting the kite through the power zone while on the beach in order to be drug down the beach on their heels.

He teaches his students when self rescuing they should attach the bar leash to the board and follow the safety line to the kite. WRONG
The kite can relaunch with this setup and if you are tangled in the lines, you will get hurt, and look out for the board as it flies past you – that happened to me years ago and I will never self rescue that way again. If you don’t know how to do it right – get instructions from someone who does know.

The other day I was telling someone that I really recommend an impact vest harness and Vinny said to him that he doesn’t need the flotation because he will be wearing a wet suit. WRONG
Turns out he had already sold this guy a harness. Well, an impact vest is not for flotation, Vinny, it is to absorb the impact of crashing as the name suggests. Most have very little flotation. Your ribs are very vulnerable. One of our seasonal kiters, Stuart, broke a rib just a few days ago. Last year Ricardo cracked one, Jeff has broken one and Dave Baraff did also. That is just on our beach, where we only have a few kiters.

Vinny sold a 20M kite to a friend that has never tried the sport. WRONG
Oh my God. A 20M kite to use on a beach where the wind howls. Someone sold a 20M kite to a novice on the other side of Mexico and the local kiting community practically called for his head. Read the comments at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kitesurfmexico/message/6040 (It is in Spanish) I admit that Vinny’s customer weighs more than 70 kgs but this is a kite that can easily get any beginner into trouble.

This is just the major stuff.

My opinions are based on what I have read and watched, and what I have observed on regulated beaches in many locations including major areas such as Cape Cod, South Padre, and Cabarete.

Read the manuals, watch the videos, and take lessons from a certified instructor.

Check out: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xk0ca_ca-fait-mal

I invite comments.

Better Than Nothing

The wind hasn't been typical for this time of year, but it has blown enough to get out on the water for a couple of hours most days. Trouble is that sometimes the wind comes early and sometimes it comes late in the day so it is easy to miss it. Often times there is little wind in town but it will be blowing out at the kite beach. Water is still very warm for this time of year, still in the 70's.

Ive been reading postings on a Canadian kiteboard forum, http://www.skypilotkiteboarding.com/forum/, about kiteboarding in other places in Mexico and the Playa del Carmen area is sounding awfully tempting.

Here are a couple of photos of recent action.

Two Good Days and Then...

This weekend we had two good days of wind but now it has shut down again and not looking very promising. Lots of new people out learning the sport. Most are still in the early stages and struggling but I think everyone that is trying it is enjoying the sport. Some winter visitors from previous years are starting to show up. Dave, from Canada is back for his second year and was using a 12 meter Waroo that he likes and does great on. I didn't care for the 14M Waroo that I had used but others seem to like them. I finally got hold of a photo that someone took of me up in the air, so here it is below.

Still Hasn't Kicked In

Tuesday was a good 15 to 22 knot day and most days have some wind but the seasonal northwesterlies still aren't blowing as much as normal. Most winters we get several days in a row of strong wind followed by a couple of off days all winter starting in October and continuing up to May. Even the off days are usually kiteable but sometimes with a big kite and only for a couple of hours. If you aren't at the beach at the right time, you'll miss it.

Jeff has been going nuts doing his back roll with a kiteloop. He nails them most of the time. We also have had a number of new people to the sport out at the beach. It is great seeing people getting excited about learning to kiteboard. Most everyone has taken or is taking lessons. Make sure your instructor is PASA or IKO certified so you know he uses the latest and safest methods. Jeff is PASA certified and he follows their curriculum. There is another rogue instructor on the beach that should be avoided. Jeff can be contacted through his site at http://www.sancarloskites.com/.

Getting High

The wind came back strong last Sunday and a few of us got out for a powered up session. I wish I had photos because the people on the beach said I was getting up 30 to 40 feet. I know it was high enough to scare me and after 1/2 an hour or so I went in so I wouldn't hurt myself. The landings were hard as my timing was way off.

Saturday was an off day but the beach was busy as you can see below. Haven't had much wind since Monday. Hoping to get some flying in tomorrow but the forecast says we may have to wait until Sunday when a good four day blow should start.

Great Wind, Finally

Finally we are getting the conditions that we expect for this time of the year, wind in the 15 to 25 knot range. We just had three days of strong wind, today's prediction is for a day off, and then the forecast is for two more good days. From the middle of October until May we expect to have five good wind days a week. The weather lately has given us exceptional beach days. The days have been getting close to 90 degrees and the water, after cooling off to close to 70, has warmed back up to 77. This brings lots of people out to the beach for a real festive time. All too soon the water will be frigid, the wind will be cold, and the sand will be blowing too much to stretch out on the beach.
For those of you not familiar with our kite site, this is a picture of the bay. We have great wind, flat water, and sandy beaches on a horseshoe shaped bay. In short, a perfect place to kiteboard.

Sunrise

Cooler Weather

The northerlies are back but still a bit sporadic. We have had some really good days with wind getting over 20 knots but the wind doesn't stay consistent all day. A bit hit or miss. After a couple of good days we have to put up with two or three lousy days. The water temp has already dropped below 75 degrees so I am having to wear a shorty wetsuit to be able to stay out for extended sessions.

We've had a couple of new people show up and it is always interesting to check out other gear. There is so much stuff out there now and an equal amount of hype about all the gear.

The Good Wind is Back

The strong northerlies are back, at least they were for the last two days. The forecast doesn't call for anything for the next five days but they have been wrong before. Yesterday Jeff and I were powered up on 9M kites, first time since last season. I forgot how quick those kites are. So much fun, such big air.

I tried out a couple of new boards that Jeff picked up this summer. I was a little skeptical of his Cabrina Icon 138 because it has a lot of rocker and I was going to use it when the wind was already dying late in the day, but it felt great. The next day I used his 142 Airush in powered conditions and does that board ever dig in. No sliding around the turns, that board grabs the water more than my small boards. It goes where you point it.

The water and air temperatures are still great, but I am already using my shorty wetsuit as the wind gets chilly late in the day. It will be full wetsuit weather in two or three weeks as the water cools off quickly this time of year.

Windy Weekend

Saturday and Sunday we had good north westerly winds.

Both days had several people on the water, and the beach was full of sunbathers. We also had a few quadrunners that kept racing through the area causing havoc, running over boards and peoples belongings.

The weather is great this time of year. The air temperatures get into the upper 80's and the water is in the lower 80's. Unfortunately, the water will cool off quickly and it will soon be wetsuit time again.

One sour note for the weekend was that Carlos Spriu lost his board when he got blown down wind, crashed his kite and got separated from his board. Usually when this happens the board is found when it washes up on the beach on the other side of the bay but being the weekend there were jet skis on the water and lots of people and vehicles on the beach so it must have gotten picked up before Carlos had a chance to find it.

The Start of a New Season

The weather hasn't changed much yet but it seems that it is trying We are getting more north-westerly winds, although they have mostly been weak. We get at least one good session in a week. I went out today from the La Manga beach and had an enjoyable afternoon ride but it was marginal and I had to really work it to stay upwind. It should just get better from here on out.

The cooler weather has been good for taking the motorbike out into the desert. We are still getting an occasional rain, making this summer one of the wettest I've seen. The often barren desert is covered with grass and all the bushes and trees that just a few months ago were dry and brown are now lush and green.