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JayDelViento
Since 20 Jun 2010
36 Posts
White Salmon
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 Sun Sep 26, 10 8:43 am Best places for a week or two of kiteboarding? |
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Odyssey's top 10 post was inspiring... but, lacking a yacht to cruise to exotic locations, most of us must vacation in places we can reach in airlines or cars. So.. where are the top 10 practical places to vacation?
Looking for a good place to escape Portland end of February or early March for a couple of weeks of warm sunny weather and some kiteboarding. We are "intermediate" kiters, not yet jumping, so it would be nice to have a school and other kiteboarders but preferably not big crowds.
Also -- are there any great kiteboard travel agencies around? |
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Nak
Since 19 May 2005
4304 Posts
Camas
Site Lackey
CGKA Member
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| Sun Sep 26, 10 9:55 am |
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Los Roques, Venezuela. Except going through Caracas sucks. On their top ten AND reachable by normal means. Except you have to go through Caracas. Going through Caracas REALLY sucks. Did I mention going through Caracas sucks? Not too expensive either. Except going through Caracas sucks. We had a escort/guard going through Caracas. And we were glad we did.
Isla De Coche, Venezuela. See comments about Caracas above.
Las Ventana, Mexico
Isla Blanca, Mexico ( Near Cancun )
Hawaii |
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Sella
Since 21 Apr 2007
1794 Posts
Doin' The Dalles
FLY'IN HIGH PIE GUY
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tonyb
Since 09 Oct 2006
973 Posts
Stevenson in the summer & SPI in the winter
Bolstad Clan
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| Sun Sep 26, 10 7:44 pm |
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SPI is pretty good the last week of Feb, first week of March but it might be nice and warm or it might be cold. Second and third week of March are usually a little crowded with spring break kids and mostly not worth the hassle. Best bet is last week of March / first week of April. Or anytime in April.
If you really need to get out of town in Feb and want a better chance of wind and warm weather go to La Ventana. If you're hoping to get in the surf at all and don't mind if it's a little cool, go to SPI.
Tony
Last edited by tonyb on Mon Sep 27, 10 4:40 am; edited 1 time in total |
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lewmt
Since 04 Aug 2010
182 Posts
MT
Stoked
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| Mon Sep 27, 10 2:53 am |
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What about Bahia Salinas, Costa Rica? Cost and time to get there isn't a lot worse than SPI. Cost to stay there is pretty good compared to SPI.
Headed there in mid-November, I'm curious if anyone has been there in that time frame & the kite sizes they needed? I know later its all small kites but Nov. is the start of the wind season there. |
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bgkiter
Since 20 Oct 2008
93 Posts
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| Mon Sep 27, 10 6:22 am |
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| lewmt wrote: | What about Bahia Salinas, Costa Rica? Cost and time to get there isn't a lot worse than SPI. Cost to stay there is pretty good compared to SPI.
Headed there in mid-November, I'm curious if anyone has been there in that time frame & the kite sizes they needed? I know later its all small kites but Nov. is the start of the wind season there. |
I also recommend Bahia Salinas, easy trip through Houston (to Liberia), 90min drive north, safe and amazing conditions. I was there last march and heading out again Nov 21 - Dec 1. I hear that it would be lighter wind in Nov (more like 9m-11m kites). Feb/March is solid 5m-7m. For more info contact Bob Selfridge at Cometa Copal (lguardbl@gmail.com).
V |
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playacopal
Since 15 Sep 2008
30 Posts
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| Mon Sep 27, 10 6:50 am |
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lewmt
same as on the other forum...bring a 12m or bigger for Nov as it can be lighter...
fly to Liberia(LIR)
We can arrange pick up, or rent a car to explore.
Nov offers lighter days, greener foliage and still some rain...
We can hook you up with side trips and SUPs, snorkle gear and fishing if its too light.
bob
Bob Selfridge
Cometa Copal Kitesurfing
Lguardbl@gmail.com |
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JayDelViento
Since 20 Jun 2010
36 Posts
White Salmon
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| Mon Sep 27, 10 7:57 am Bahia Salinas... |
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Costa Rica was pretty much at the top of our list, followed by Cabarete which nobody has mentioned (why is that?). Is Bahia Salinas OK for inexperienced kiters?
We spent last June at SPI learning to kiteboard. I am sure we'll go again many times for the great wind and weather. That place is great, but not enough to do on days we don't want to kiteboard... |
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Pete
Since 29 Oct 2007
843 Posts
Opinionated
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| Mon Sep 27, 10 9:02 am Re: Bahia Salinas... |
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| JayDelViento wrote: | | That place is great, but not enough to do on days we don't want to kiteboard... |
Days you don't want to kiteboard!?!? Blasphemy!!!
I can understand days without wind, but I don't understand not wanting to kite when there is wind. Maybe you meant to say "not enough to do on no wind days".  |
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JayDelViento
Since 20 Jun 2010
36 Posts
White Salmon
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| Mon Sep 27, 10 9:27 am Re: Bahia Salinas... |
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| Pete wrote: | | JayDelViento wrote: | | That place is great, but not enough to do on days we don't want to kiteboard... |
I can understand days without wind, but I don't understand not wanting to kite when there is wind. Maybe you meant to say "not enough to do on no wind days". |
I stand corrected 
However we are planning 3 weeks vacation. It takes a while in the sun to shake off the constant-rain-in-Portland blues. It might be nice to take 5 days off in the middle to soak in hot springs, climb volcanoes, see the rainforest, etc. |
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playacopal
Since 15 Sep 2008
30 Posts
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| Mon Sep 27, 10 9:53 am |
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jay
excellent plan!!! In Bahia Salinas, after 65days of kiting in a row, i had to take a break...but Costa will offer all those other adventures too.
Let us know how we can help you!!!
Bob Selfridge
Cometa Copal Kitesurfing School
Bahia Salinas, Costa Rica
lessons ,rentals, gear, villas. |
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lewmt
Since 04 Aug 2010
182 Posts
MT
Stoked
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| Wed Sep 29, 10 3:30 am |
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Don't worry about other things to do in CR. So many options....so little time. I was there last year for a week but not good timing for wind(early Oct). Surf, fish, snorkel, plus a 1,000 other options. Definitely rent a car if you're there for a while(4wd).
Am going to pack the 12, 9, & 6 Bob. Stoked! |
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brass
Since 15 Jul 2006
152 Posts
Stoked
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| Wed Sep 29, 10 6:46 am Re: Bahia Salinas... |
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| JayDelViento wrote: | | Costa Rica was pretty much at the top of our list, followed by Cabarete which nobody has mentioned (why is that?). |
I would recommend Cabarete in spite of some of the horror stories of crime reported on this forum. I have been there 4 times and my biggest problems were watching 4 teenagers fight over a bag of clothes I gave them the night before I left and watching a local baseball team fight over 10 baseballs and a couple mitts I gave them. I have walked/stumbled down the beach at all hours of the night and morning and never had an issue. But I suppose there is always the chance....
Check out cabaretevillas.com and stay in the Bahia de Arena. You can kite 50m from your place and it has 24 hr security. It's half way between town and the often crowded kite beach. This is a property management company located on the site so it is a little more expensive than going directly through the owners (which is hard to do).
Conditions are good and safe for intermediate kiters.
The only thing about Cabarete is that in 3 weeks you might get a little bored unless all you want to do is kite and drink....which of course is not a problem for most. |
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green turtle kiter
Since 11 Jul 2009
48 Posts
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| Thu Sep 30, 10 8:53 am |
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Aruba. The wind is off shore, but just arrange for one of the many local guides to look for you if you get blown too far off. I tipped him for his troubles. If you want waves then you can go to the other side of the island. There is plenty to do after hours.
Cabarete. My favorite. It is safe. Crime is of petty nature. Nothing like getting mugged or any personal violence. Very European in atmosphere if you like that.
Green turtle cay. Beautiful and unspoiled. Very few liters. Fly into Miami and then to treasure cay and then a ferry to green turtle. You will love it there. Btw the island is so small that there is on shore wind somewhere everyday.
Virgin gorda, BVI. Another pristine place. There is a kite school at the north end. Can't beat the beauty. A little expensive thogh.
St Maarten. Dutch island with lot of night life. Nude beaches. Many other kiters.
St Thomas. Go to Joseph beach. Shallow waters protected by a reef. Clear waters. Staedy wind. Awsome scenery. |
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