Looking for winter kiteboarding vacation ideas

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

I've decided I need to get out of the USA for winter break to do some kiting in warmer places this December. Any honest recommendations (good/bad experiences & places to stay)?

I'm looking for a perpetually windy place (11m or 7m), something in the southern hemisphere/equator for warm weather that time of year (not Mexico, too many sketchy stories...)

Please PM me with any specific info, I'm pretty serious about this.

pdxmonkeyboy · Sun Apr 20, 08 12:31 am

I hear fern ridge is good in the winter....

boredbrain · Since 16 Feb 2006 352 Posts Hood River Obsessed

BRAZIL

About sketchy, there is no safe place. They all have bad people, your job is to NOT meet them.

I think Mark Doyle has his clincs down there at that time. No Sure though, but you might as well hook up a package deal since your spending coin on this trip. And you probably copuld use a new trick or two Laughing

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1872 Posts XTreme Poster

There were 12 people shot in one evening in Chicago last week, so make sure you don't do a winter kite trip there...

May be safer than the college bars in Syracuse, however.

NateDogg · Sun Apr 20, 08 6:54 am

South Africa? PR? DR? Baja? Oz? Doesn't have to be southern hemi to be warm and windy in December.

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

The carribean has some great winter spots - unless you are a hot blond co-ed and then they might kill you

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

how about the island of St. Maarten in the carribean?

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Costa Rica (Bahia Salinas / Lake Arenal) is the windiest place I have ever visited. Pretty much 7m or smaller everyday. We were there in February but I think December is in season.

The conditions aren't great, mostly chop and gusty like the Gorge. But its really windy and its a beautiful country.

If you aren't set on December there are a lot more options closer to home.

Nak · Sun Apr 20, 08 12:08 pm

It depends how much time & money you want to spend. Las Ventana can be done pretty cheaply... It seema like all the sketchy Mexico stories are from northern Baja. Joanne and I flew into Cabo & drove over to Las Ventana. Never felt unsafe at all to me.

I've never been to Brazil, but it sounds like Mecca! A lot more money and time getting there than Mexico...

Scriffler · Since 03 Jul 2005 581 Posts LYLE Addicted

Don't got to Saint Maarten, it's not windy at all.

Reaper356 · Since 10 Dec 2006 781 Posts Salem / LC Oregon Opinionated

Bettyboarder · Sun Apr 20, 08 9:16 pm

Speedo · Since 07 May 2007 264 Posts Obsessed

Margarita Island off Venezuela is pretty cool.

I got a screaming deal there 5-6 years ago, when i lived in chicago. $500 for air/accomadations. It was the beginning of december. riiiight before the busy season in terms of wind and hotel, so i got the hotel for $250 for a week. And air was on a charter flight that did packages [apple vacations]. They had seats left over for cheap ($250) I guess. The best part was that they flew straight to aruba (30 min lay over) and then right to Margarita. vela hooked me up with that deal.

Everytime since, had to do it the conventional way, which meant layovers in Caracas and a lot more $$$$

If you can cram onto a destination flight like I did, you might save a lot. Maybe check to see if any of those charters fly out of seattle. Maybe there's even PDX charters similar to Apple vacations.

tonyb · Mon Apr 21, 08 5:24 am

Hey Spike,

I'd look at La Ventana, SPI, St. Lucia, or Los Roques. LV is the easiest to get to from the west coast, fly in to La Paz and it's only 40 minutes away. I've also flown into Cabo and made the drive over 5 different times and it's fine. It's the driving through northern Baja that can be a little dicey if you get yourself in the wrong places. You wont find a lot of girls laying on the beach or night clubs to go to but you will be surrounded by lots of kiting and a fairly good crowd from the NW.

St. Lucia, and some other parts of the carribean are still a little light for wind in December although it sounded like Los Roques may be good year round.

As mentioned, factor in the time lost getting to and from a place, and the cost of lodging and food.

Tony

broadbandito · Since 26 Apr 2005 342 Posts CSO headwaters WheatHead

Travel is over-rated. Just get a kickass wetsuit and a van with a good heater and tour the scenic Oregon coast.

tinyE · Since 21 Jan 2006 2004 Posts not really an XTreme Poster

if money isn't a factor... brazil or western australia

Optimus Prime · Since 23 Jul 2007 49 Posts

california man its got it all...