Cabarete warning

SD · Since 20 Mar 2012 12 Posts

Kind of a long story but the summary is today in Cabaret an individual ( 90% sure) partially severed or my kite line while launching my kite so he could "rescue me" when it snapped and then demand payment for his heroics. I can't be positive but based on things he said and later conversation with others I feel he did. I spoke with a few kite schools on the beach including the one where I am renting some boards and they all thought it was very possible he did it. They also report guys putting holes in bladders as they launch kite so they can offer a quick repair. Anyway don't let anyone help you land or launch unless they work for a particular kite school. I have kited many places around the word and never had this kind of scam to deal with. Most often local kids are very helpful and I am happy to pay them for being so. I am not wealthy I just have summers to travel as I am an international school teacher but I believe in being generous with people working for a living in the spots I vacation. The guy today decided to see how much he could milk me for I guess. Maybe his family is hungry...I don't know.... but the whole thing sucked.

Today I almost ended up on some rocks which would have ripped up my kite but luckily the guy I rented my room from had told me the location of the downwind "out" so I was able to exit through that gap. I also had a hand from my at the ready rescuer who caused the whole situation.

That all said the wind and waves and flat water are great. It is a bit hard to find line sets which is a a whole different tale of attempted scams which I won't bore you with. Still had a great time kiting and hopefully rest of the stay will be great as well. I am staying near "extreme hotel" which seems pretty cool and offers jiu jitsu in a converted skateboard ramp pit, crossfit, circus school, and yoga in addition to kiting. There are few other hotels that also are great set up for kiters. Several with grassy lawns, pools and bars right on the kite beach.

Just trying to pass on a warning but also not discourage travel here.

shred_da_gorge · Sat Jul 21, 12 10:11 pm

Thanks for this, good to know. The DR is a blast!

PA · Since 15 May 2010 14 Posts

...the dear dear you appear to have a leak can I fix it has been a fixture for a long time in DR

carlitos · Since 02 Feb 2006 81 Posts NE pdx

unfortunately Cabarete is in essence a 3rd world economy. the kids (and adults) will pretty much do anything to make a peso. can't really blame them... but it does suck when it goes to that extreme (popping a bladder or cutting a line). I've heard of this going on as well as simply landing a kite and then asking for 20 pesos. personally id rather give the kid 50 pesos and ask him not to touch my gear.

after hitting Cabarete more than a dozen times, we have yet to have a problem with locals. of course we have paid too much for a cigar or had a waiter overcharge us for a watered down cuba libre many times. but if you are careful and self sufficient, you won't have any probs there. learn to launch and land your own kite so you dont have to rely on anyone to help. if you find yourself in a "situation", just be glad that you survived and maybe be willing to pay off a helper who swims out to get your board.

Cabarete is a chill place and i would recommend anyone who likes to kite go there. just be aware that its not the USA, there are lots of poor and desperate people and for the most part they LOVE us as much as we love them.

SD · Since 20 Mar 2012 12 Posts

Nearing end of our trip and people here have been great. I wasn't trying to make any statement about the people here in general. Just saying there are a few sharks on the beach.

Been landing and launching from a hook on coconut tree.

I would like to thank Jeremy from Jupiter kites in Florida who happened to be here on vacation. As we sat and talked while our kids did "circus school" he offered to help me reassemble a 2007 cab bar that had the center tube come apart. The guys at Dare2fly also let me go through their screw box where, after an hour of searching, I was able to find two tiny screws I needed that were not available in any hardware store or shop I tried. Jeremy helped me unrig the center lines so I could fix the bar and then re-rig and tune while our kids did trapeze Very cool. Paul from the extreme hotel circus school also let me use his tools and was very supportive of my mad quest to retore the bar to working order.

Anyone interested in DR info on kite beach ...post questions... and I am happy to share what I learned in two weeks. Many guys seem to have been here many times and know more I'm sure but I can try.

D-Krep It Kiter · Since 18 Jul 2011 417 Posts Obsessed

mbiwald · Since 09 Jun 2011 3 Posts Portland Kook

Sorry to say but this story confirms my bad experience with Cabarete and the locals.

1surfer · Thu Aug 02, 12 5:38 pm **3rd world**

I have been to Cabarete many times, starting in the late 80's. I have lots of great memories there but it has continued to go down hill on many levels. I wont bring my money there anymore. Its way too expensive for what you get, the kiters are dangerous, crime and scams are out of control and everything is always broken. They are only hurting themselves.

Maui no ka oi !

laureleastman · Since 29 Jul 2011 7 Posts United States Kook

Hi everyone,

Laurel here - I have lived in Cabarete since 2003 and I own a kiteboarding school and shop on the main beach Cabarete Bay. It saddens me to hear these stories. It's just a bummer from all aspects, and yes - poverty sucks - and I do believe that is the core of the issues here.

I agree with the poster who said to only have kiteboarding school employees help you when launching and landing. Or other visiting kiteboarders, of course. If ever you need a repair, go to the school, not to a kid on the beach.

In 2009, after 5 years of getting to know the DR, kiteboarder Kee Park and I co-founded a charity event based on the concept of Kiteboarding 4 Cancer. It's KB4K - Kiteboarding to Help Children in Need. In 4 years we've raised over $78,000 and the money we raise goes to support local charities working for kids in need. It's great to give back, and I can highly recommend it to anyone to travels to any developing country to enjoy the luxury of adventure sports in a place that needs help.

Poverty is a complex issue, and having adventures in developing countries when you come from a 1st world nation can have its challenges. I face challenges all the time running my company in the Dominican Republic. However over all I have found the Dominican people to be happy, friendly, open and kind. Not all of them all the time, but in an overwhelming majority. They have inspired me to help, and that has been a great gift for me as a person. Doing a little bit of good can really be great.

1surfer · Sun Aug 26, 12 6:59 pm LE

I know that you are LE of Cabarete but I still say its totally out of control there. Not what it used to be. Not really concerned what the excuse is. I just know we wont spend our money in Cabarete because of what its like there now. Its that simple.

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1866 Posts XTreme Poster

For what it's worth, my 16 year old son and his 17 year old buddy spent 3 weeks in Cabarete in June this year. His buddy's 19 year old sister spent three weeks there in May. They had a GREAT time, and had nothing but wonderful experiences with locals and tourists alike. They stayed at a great hostel and Vela. Both places were great. Rooms were super, staff was friendly and helpful and the gear was great. Food was super tasty and cheap, and the wind blew every day. They met and befriended several local kiters. No issues whatsoever. In fact, a bunch of locals helped them extract a new 9m Fuel out of the top of a tree. The kite was unscathed thanks to their careful attention to detail.

I can't speak for what the DR used to be, nor do I want to discount anyones negative experiences. I can say three teenagers came home safe, sound and stoked on the DR.

Eric

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

alleycat · Since 29 Jun 2006 176 Posts Portland Stoked

I go to Cabarete, every year for 2 - 3 months and have a fantastic time. The rules are very simple while on vacation there, never tip or pay for a launch from the locals. The children who make a living on the beach have a short lived career, once they get to old the tourist just hire a younger kid. This is very damaging to the children in Cabarete because they do not go to school to potentially increase thier chances of gainful employment.

The problem with the children poking holes in kites is caused by the tourist who pay the kids to become thier little slaves. If you pay one kid to pump up your kite, hook the lines up and the give you a launch, the next kid who lands you also expects a little pay-out. Most tourists when confronted about thier willingness to pay 100 pecos for a lauch become very defensive and states that they are helping out the locals and makes them (the person paying) feel good. This payment results in a snowball effect in which later on the same tourist complains that he is being followed around all over the beach and even while out on the water. This person usually ends up swimming in with the help of a few kids because his kite deflated out in the reef. He pays the kids for the rescue, board recovery and finally the repair of the bladder. This is quite fun to watch as the event plays out almost perfectly every time.

Bottom line, where ever you go kitesurfing, you will end up with a few locals that have figured out ways to make a few bucks. Take Hood River for instance: you wipe out and your board will be plucked out the water by a passing fishing boat and sold on CL the next day. Or if you leave your laptop for a second to take a piss it vanishes into thin air. Days later it will also be sold on CL. Lets park our cars at Rooster and kite again the meth heads will rip though your car so fast it will make your head spin. So I guess the States is equally becoming a third world nation just like the Dominican Republic.