Lord of the Wind

 

     Last week was filled with the Lord of the Wind international Windsurf and Kite board Competition here in Los Barriles.  This was the first in what the organizers hope to be an annual event for Baja wind sailors. They lucked out with the wind, as before and after the 5 day event the wind and the sea were calm.  But the Lord of the Wind came through and they had HUGE wind to play and perform in... 25 to 30 MPH.  

Kites waiting for competition. Event site in background.

 

There were about a 150 surfers/borders  participating and hundreds of spectators on the beach off and on throughout the competition. Parties at night (most of which we missed) and lots of  tequila and cold beer for sale at the booths along the beach at the event site to keep the crowds happy. 

Spectators: notice the jackets

I guess there were some big names in windsurfing and kite boarding at the events... none of whom we were familiar with.  I do know that the Mexican national kite board champion participated.  The events that were fun to watch were the Big Air Kite boarding where the competitors leaped off the waves to some incredible heights and...

Wind Surfing slalom race

They also had slalom races between buoys for the wind surfers and kite boarders, some of which resembled roller derby races, a crowd starting at one time where anything goes.   There were a few freestyle windsurfing events where competitors attempted cartwheels and other tricks on their boards.   I was told by friend who windsurfs that the skill levels were very high for this, but sometimes it was hard for us to tell, as we are inexperienced.  There was a long distance race where  wind surfers and kite borders competed at the same time.  The wind was really big that day, and the surprising part was that a windsurfer won the race over the kite borders to take home a $3500 prize. 

It was fun to watch though the problem with this kind of event is that it is very WINDY!!!  After being out on the beach for hours, watching the competition in wind which is laying the palm fronds sideways and picking the sand up off the beach in a sand blast manor, we were ready to go home to cocktail hour and a hot tub.