North of Puerto Vallarta, there are two great places to visit; the town of Bucerias and west of there to La Cruz de Huanacaxtle. We recall when these villages were not much more than places we passed through on the way north. Wind, loved by daredevils, aficionados of extreme sports has brought athletes, their followers and observers to these places. As we have watched their exponential growth. The Riviera Nayarit Wind Festival, taking place this year May 19 – 31, gives us all a chance to watch this magnificent harnessing of Mother Nature.
The thermal effect, which is created by the warm air in the immense Valley of Banderas that faces the ocean, begins to whip up around 1 pm and usually lasts for about six hours. The Mexican Kiteboarding Association (yes, there is such a thing) installed a weather monitor for wind enthusiasts, which detects the current of the wind. May is one of the best months for this sport, with offshore or sideonshore flows. By July, different patterns set in for the next six months and new kitesurfers can learn to fly in calmer conditions .
There are different types of Kitesurfing and Kiteboarding, which we will see represented at this festival. The combination of several sports, such as wakeboarding, snowboarding, windsurfing, surfing, paragliding, skateboarding, gymnastics have all inspired this innovation. In kiteboarding, the athlete stands on a board, no straps or bindings, and moves with the power-kite, as it’s called, which glides over the water. Kitesurfing is similar but defined more by the fact that one actually rides the waves. The styles of this sport vary… freestyling; downwinding; course racing and speed; jumping and wakestyle. The boards used are typical surfboards or custom made with detailed shapes to maneuver, according to the riders’ talent, experience and style.
Wind sports on the water have grown in popularity over the past decade. Once there was a time we would be amazed and delighted to see a lone windsurfer on the water in Bucerias; now they are seen in abundance on the bay from January to June. Lessons are available and vacations are planned around spending a week or two learning how to tame the wind. Rental shops are easy to find and kite gear is for sale in locations close to the beach.
The best spots to watch the competition will be right on the shore and there are restaurants along the coastline where we recommend getting a close-up view, timed for sunset to end a perfect day of watching men and women join the birds in a display of strength and bravery!
Que es cómo es.
Thanks to Boardwalk Realty guest blogger Adam Garcia (opinions expressed are his own)
Here are a few of our guiding principals at Boardwalk Realty:
“First of all, we really want to get to know you,” When we know you, we can tailor home tours to your tastes.”
Secondly, there’s the legal side of owning in Mexico. “Besides our own experience, we can save you a lot of time and money by offering you complimentary consultations with our partner attorneys. The nuances of how you buy here can save you a lot of money when you sell. It’s important to know what you’re doing on the purchase so that when you sell you can best use any tax advantages. This service is free to our clients and can be invaluable.”
Both partners agree that the most important element of Boardwalk Realty is our ongoing service and commitment to our clients after the sale. We are both passionate about protecting the investment and security of our clients. “Our clients become our friends, we see them socially, and we treat them as we would like to be treated ourselves”, adds Mike.
Boardwalk Realty Puerto Vallarta represents buyers and sellers of real estate in the entire Bay of Banderas area, and will soon add a rental and property management division.
