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La Ventana this winter: Photos

 
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windfind



Joined: 18 Mar 1997
Posts: 1899

PostPosted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 12:16 pm    Post subject: La Ventana this winter: Photos Reply with quote

Check out the iwindsurf.com Baja Guide for driving information, conditions and places to stay. I will be doing forecasts from the beach in La Ventana starting around Dec. 7.

http://www.iwindsurf.com/travel.iws?genID=22

I will have road and condition updates to the Baja Guide starting Oct. 1. I will also be following the possible El Nino which could impact the wind this year.

Wyatt and Tyson will have onsite reports and photos as soon as they get settled in La Ventana.

If you have never made the trip mail me at mike@iwindsurf.com and I will try to help you.

Whats La Ventana like? The wind is mostly 4.7 to 5.7 with some 4.2 days and big El Norte days several times each month. So the wind is not Gorge strong but it is remarkable steady so even 5.2 days are great. And with a 800 mile fetch the swell is very large outside.

There are several sand bars where you get easy surf in the knee high to even shoulder high range for back side wave sailing. There are miles of launch sites so if you do not like crowds you can pick your own launch site and it is never crowded outside. Plus there is a 11 mile beach running parallel to your course so you can walk back from a break down outside.

Clear blue water big swell and air temps in the low to mid 70's.... a great break from Gorge winter.

Places to stay range from high end beach houses, to modest small houses to B&Bs with full gear rentals to a beach campground with bathrooms etc to near wilderness camping on your own beach. For all sites you can walk or bike to restaurants and markets so you really do not need a car.

Be aware that La Ventana and El Sargento are tiny towns with just a few hundred residents plus several hundred windsurfers and kiters. So if you are looking for night life past 9PM there are only a few options.

If you have never been to Baja mail me for details.
mike@iwindsurf.com

Mike Godsey
weatherflow.com
windalert.com
iwindsurf.com
ikitesurf.com
sailflow.com
fishweather.com
USAfishing.com
windnotes.phanfare.com



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jota



Joined: 28 Feb 2001
Posts: 205

PostPosted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 1:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks, Mike - looking forward to the forecast this winter! Might add that windsurfing has been heavily overtaken by kiting down there - and for good reason. Non-kiters with an interest would find this a perfect place to learn, even if they only WS back home. And you can easily fly with kite gear in a "golf bag."

Anyway, a couple of Los Barriles regulars were trash-talking La Ventana a bit recently (in a friendly way).

I'm a LV guy who has a spent some time in LB, Cabo Pulmo, etc. I always thought LV has more windy days because of the local thermal effect when El Norte isn't blowing, and is generally smaller and more low key, whereas Barriles can have bigger swell, and more amenities (banks, ATM, restaurants, groceries, etc - even hotels) as a long-established sports fishing destination.

These guys disputed the idea that La Ventana has more windy days.

Curious if posters have their own pros and cons from their own experience and preferences?
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andymc4610



Joined: 19 May 2000
Posts: 684

PostPosted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 1:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Not more windy days they are equal Norte. But LV is at least a half sail size windier the Vela people can tell you that quietly though. and the launch can be a bit hairy LB on 4.0 days rare as they are.
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WutUpWitU



Joined: 21 May 2000
Posts: 52

PostPosted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 10:14 pm    Post subject: LV/LB Reply with quote

everything about La Ventana is better,
it is windier, it blows more often, it blows harder, the people are nicer, the food is better, the food is cheaper, the rooms are better, the night life is better, the crowd is younger, the water is warmer, the swell is bigger, the beach is cleaner, the shore break is smaller, the air temperature is better, there are less clouds, the mountain biking is better(although it blows every day so you will never get to do it) everything is better; go there, yes, go there Laughing
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windfind



Joined: 18 Mar 1997
Posts: 1899

PostPosted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 10:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

jota wrote:
Might add that windsurfing has been heavily overtaken by kiting down there - and for good reason. Non-kiters with an interest would find this a perfect place to learn, even if they only WS back home.


During the last two winters prior to the 2011/12 winter Baja winds were often in the mid to upper teens. except for the occasional El Norte howler. So lots of people turned to kiting . Often the ratio of kiters was 90%. Last year was a more normal Baja year with La Ventana seeing lots of low 20's days. In the campground area kiters were about 60% with 40% windsurfers. But outside where the real action is it was more like 70% windsurfers.

jota wrote:
I always thought LV has more windy days because of the local thermal effect when El Norte isn't blowing,


The Los Barriles vs. La Ventana issue has a long and bitter history especially since Los Barriles was "discovered" first and many people bought property etc. there. La Ventana was discovered later since it is on a dead end road. Since then many people have build houses or B&Bs there. So many people have an emotional investment in their place being the best.

Here is my take based upon 40 odd road trips to Baja's Sea of Cortez & years forecasting on the East Cape:
During the infrequent El Norte low to upper 20's wind conditions:


Los Barriles: Bigger swell and nearer to shore, stronger wind, larger shore break, steadier wind, earlier wind closer to shore.

La Ventana: big swell but mostly outside. Easier shore break, gusty wind is often weak or even dead inside with wind mostly outside. More places with breaking surf nearby.

During the more common mid teens to low 20's thermal winds
Los Barriles: larger swell, weaker, later wind and wind less reliable.

La Ventana: stronger earlier wind, fills into beach, smaller swell, and more reliable especially in mid to upper teens days.

Why the differences? Los Barriles sticks much further out into the Sea of Cortez so it gets bigger swell and the El Norte large scale winds. La Ventana is in a huge open bay hence smaller swell and El Norte wind. But La Ventana has a much larger valley down wind making for many thermal days perfect for kites and 5.2 sails when Los Barriles is lighter.

Remember the majority of wind days are a combo of a weak El Norte and a moderate thermal wind so these differences are often less dramatic than described .

Mike Godsey
weatherflow.com
windalert.com
iwindsurf.com
ikitesurf.com
sailflow.com
fishweather.com
USAfishing.com
windnotes.phanfare.com/
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wyattmiller



Joined: 23 Jan 2008
Posts: 651

PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 9:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hey Windsurfers,

Tyson and I are super stoked to head down to La Ventana and open up our Windsurf Resort for the 4th year. Last November was the best November we have seen down there in 9 years and with the wind already blowing it looks like it is going to happen again.

Despite the fact that in November the water is fully trunkable, the wind is blowing, the town is mellow and the nights are sultry it is our slowest month.

For this reason we are offering a Super November Vacation Special.

We know the wind is gonna be dead in the Bay and the Gorge so come have some fun with us South of the border and take advantage or our November Special.

For more info check out:

www.prowindsurflaventana.com

Cheers,
Wyatt and Tyson



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PoorBoyUS22



Joined: 14 Apr 2000
Posts: 105

PostPosted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 5:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cant wait to get down there!!! One more month till nice warm waters and ice cold ballenas!
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