AWT baja best/cheapest way to go

[zacdouglas]

Im travelling from australia to move to germany for uni for 4 months in september, so figured mexico was pretty much on the way so why not check it out!
So basically I wont have any gear so I will need to hire it, I also wont have a car so need a way to get there or a huge amount of money...
I think I will probably fly into LA because thats the cheapest and easiest so just need to find the best way to go from there
I've checked the whole solo sports thing and realise this would solve all my problems, but it would work out to cost me over $1500 for a week. So im looking for some cheaper options, if there are any?
Thanks for any help!

[MarkKoenig]

SoloSports isn't the cheapest way to go, but is most certainly the best!

I drove down self-contained in my van 6 years ago. Last year I did the fly-in option with SoloSports. I liked it so much that I'm doing it again starting this Saturday!

Mark Koenig
San Jose, CA

[kevinkan]

Hi Zac,

The easiest way to get there for you is to go w/ Solosports. It's also the most expensive, but there's a lot of value there, and it's a good way to go if it works with your finances. That said, if you simply don't have $2k to drop on a week in Mexico, then you have to find other alternatives. The best bet is to hook up w/ some other competitors who are going down to PSC for the contest, and to split expenses with them. You have to bring in all your supplies and camp in the desert, so there's a lot of gear involved, but it's a whole lot of fun and an adventure you're sure to remember.

Send me an email and I can put you in touch w/ some people who are headed down for the contest.

Some pics from my last trip:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150649225860834.373771.663990833&type=3&l=f8247b8284

[allen]

Ok fly to LA and rent a car that rental place will allow you to take into Mexico (good luck there) and pay for the extra Mexico Insurance. Then head to one of the many fully equipped windsurfing shops in LA (there are about 20 windsurfers left in the LA area and the 2 shops that have some Kiteboard and SUP gear) and pick up a couple wave boards, 4 sails in the 4.2 to 5.8 range, 2 masts and a couple of booms. Then get some camping gear and head out to Costco for a week's worth of food and start your 10 hr trip down to SC (the last 3 hrs of which are on a rutted dirt road - 40 miles = 3hrs, I'm sure the rental car will be just fine). SC is unimproved camping so make sure you have enough water and supplies for a week plus a tarp to wrap around your campsite/car to keep the wind and dust out.

After trying to work the above scenario on your own, $1500 may start to look reasonable.

[zacdouglas]

Thanks Kevin,
Thats sounds awesome, would be good to meet some people and make it a bit more of an adventure will send you an email.
Allen, I do realise what a desert is, most good windsurfing locations in aus arent exactly 5 star resorts... and im only 21 so i really dont care about comfort, but that means i wont be renting a car either so pretty keen to hook up with some others if its possible.
Fair chance i may just end up doing it with solosports, but was more thinking that surely everyone who goes down isnt paying 2k a week? so would look into some other options before committing to anything.

[stevenbard]

Zach, Like allen said above, you cannot underestimate all the things you'll need to make the trip into San Carlos. There is nothing there. Your only option is Solo sports. Even if you get free gear from someone! You'll need a tent, water containers, toilet paper, food, ice chest, tools, wetsuit, sleeping bag, flat fix kit, Baja auo insurance, among a dozen other major items. $1500 will seem cheap when you're done with it.

Do not underestimate how harsh PSC can be!!!!!!

ps...I took a rental car down there once (van) and had 4 flat tires. Turns out they use cheap tires on the rentals.

[eghoffman]

Mexico can be dangerous, best to go with a group that knows the area well.

http://news.yahoo.com/49-headless-bodies-unidentified-mexico-massacre-194950192.html

If you want to go cheap, try Waddell, San Francisco, Pistol River or the Gorge.

[rigitrite]

[human_catapult]

I think there is a solution out there for you if you just do some networking. Reach out to Sam Bittner who organizes the contest and see if there's anyone looking for a ride share down there. If you can find a way to get in someone's van or truck, you could probably find some old gear to buy or rent personally someone's gear while you're down there for a decent rate.

I think Solosports is cool, I've never stayed with them. There's something to be said for modern comforts in the desert, but I also think there's something to be said for an authentic, caveman experience. I'm sure it's cool to fly over the desert and avoid all of the "trouble" of driving in Mexico, but it's also really awesome to travel through the country with a couple friends, eat the best tacos of your life and get a feel for what Mexican life is really like.

Or, you can just listen to the chicken littles who think we should all avoid Mexico because of how dangerous it is (particularly if you are involved in the drug trafficking business. Are you?)

[kevinkan]