Kiteboarding Intensive Week - Tonia Farman's Baja Camps booking NOW! Kiteboarding, SUP, Pilates, and SUPilates!

If you haven't had the opportunity to attend one of Tonia's Kiteboarding camps, here's your chance! Spots are booking now for 2012 winter camps in February and March! There are only 6 spots open per week and spots will fill fast. Here's a typical day at camp:

We start each morning with Pilates at 7, followed by an incredible hearty breakfast of fresh fruit bowls and an authentic mexican dish. Before the wind comes up we do some standup paddling, or maybe just resting in a hammock with a book. Kiteboarding sessions kick off when the wind picks up around 11 and continue until 4. Then it's happy hour, dinner, and lights out around 8-9 pm. Every day is full and active. 

On no wind days, we do SUPilates, snorkel in beautiful crystal turquoise water, swim with sea lions or maybe whale sharks (one of the most amazing experiences ever!!), or watch the humpbacks as they migrate up the coast! 

Cost: $1600

Includes:

• 6 nights/7days accommodation - 3 girls per specialty casita; solo casita is additional. 
• All meals and 2 dinners on the town 
• 4 days of 4-5 hour kiteboarding instruction sessions with Tonia Farman and the Kitemasters staff, one-on-one and two-on-one instruction
• Downwinder pickups and transportation back to kite school or Palapas Ventana resort.
• Transportation to kite instruction spots
• 3 Pilates and/or SUP Pilates sessions focused on core strength and flexibility for kiteboarding.
• Unlimited use of standup paddleboards, snorkel gear, and kayaks
• Standup paddling instruction
• Evening socials and chalk talks

Kiteboarding Instruction: Open to ALL levels, beginner through advanced. 
We pair two students at the same level to one instructor, with instruction mostly one-on-one. This allows us to focus on personalizing the learning experience to your level but also being able to be exposed to other levels. Everyone learns something from every level! 

Optional activities include Massage, Spanish Cooking Classes, Whale trips, Diving, Snorkeling & Fishing trips.

Price does not include 14% Mexico tax and transportation to and from the airport. However, once we have your itinerary, transportation and price will be determined and arranged for you. This ranges from $60-$150 depending on which airport you fly into and how many other camp attendees we can combine on the same shuttle from the airport. 

Airport info: La Paz airport (LAP) is the closest and first choice airport to getting to La Ventana (35 minutes). Cabo San Lucas (SJD) is also an option but is a 2 hour drive from La Ventana. Flights into La Paz are commonly more expensive but the shuttle to La Ventana is only about $30-$60. Flights into Cabo are typically much cheaper but the shuttle to La Ventana costs $75-$150 depending on number of passengers. Alaska Airlines often has sales to both destinations. 

Check out our Camp Reports from past years: 2009 | 2010 .

Email Tim Hatler of Palapas Ventana for more information on accommodations and bookings - tim (at) palapasventana.com

Email Tonia for questions about Kiteboarding, SUP, and Pilates instruction - tfarman (at) gmail.com

 7 am Yoga and pilates under the Palapa

A spectacular view for morning movements -- Bahia de La Ventana, aloe and a variety of flowering cacti in the background.

Our beautiful kite beach

Humpbacks surfacing and diving in the bay.

On a snorkeling trip to see the sea lions, we were greeted by this beautiful breaching humpback whale!

Humpback Whales on our way to swim with sea lions from Tonia Farman's Vimeo page.

Taking Jen out for her first ride of the camps. Goal: go out and come back to the same spot!

Kiteboarding with the GoPro wide angle camera on the board!!

Brittney runs through launching a kite with Annie.

Brittney picks up Katie from her downwinder on the quad.Our other instructor Brittney on the ever-important white board!

Tonia, Rochelle, Jen, and Brittney at camp.

A fine day at the office... Tonia instructs via radio helmets, following on the ATV from the beach. You go downwind, and we pick you up!

Board meeting. Rochelle, Annie, and Ingvil get instructed on board starts in the water.

A no wind day means there's always something else to do! How about swimming with whale sharks?

This guy free-dove down under the whale shark. These fish are absolutely beautiful!

Following the big swaying tail from behind.

2011 Humpday Advanced Riding Clinics

These clinics are designed to help you progress to the next level! Clinics are run by Tonia Farman, utilizing HeadZone radio helmet instruction for instant feedback on all your moves. Clinic details:

• $150 per person
• 2 1/2 hours including on-land instruction
• Students will use radio helmet instruction two at a time
• Limited to four students
• Fee is due in full at the time of booking.
• All students must use their own equipment, with modern quick release and leash systems.
• Lessons will run out of our Stevenson, Washington location.

Wednesday, June 8th - Transitions

Wednesday, June 22nd - Ollies & Airs

Wednesday, July 13th - Backrolls

Wednesday, July 27th - Jump & Grab

If you are serious about stepping up your kiting and doing some new moves this summer, you don't want to miss this clinic series. Email info@cascadekiteboarding.com for more info. 

CKB adds a 2nd IKO Instructor Course in May 2011!

Cascade Kiteboarding just added a 2nd IKO instructor training course May 24-28th in Hood River. The first course at CKB this season, May 10-14th, filled immediately, with demand for a second course. IKO Examiner David Dorn of Action Sports Maui will run the course with Cascade Kiteboarding assistance and support.

Instructor Training Course: ITC -- This course has filled twice already, so if you're interested, start the process right away and send your $975 course fee to CKB. Here are the requirements and steps: 

1. Must be at least 18 years old
2. Have a minimum of one year kiteboarding riding experience and be at an IKO Level 3n for at least 6 months (jumping and riding toeside). See the IKO levels here.
3. Must have IKO Asisstant Instructor Certification OR have a minimum of 40 hours of shadowing a Level 2 IKO Instructor. Candidates must have a letter of recommendation for the latter option. Interested in becoming an Assistant Instructor? See below.
4. Must have current CPR and First Aid certificates prior to course.
5. Must have a boater's safety card/certificate. http://www.boat-ed.com/Oregon/index.html 

Instructor Equivalency Course: IEC -- Do you have your PASA certification and looking to get your IKO certification? You may qualify for the IEC course, which follows the same curriculum as ITC above. Here are the requirements for the IEC:

1. Provide a copy of your instructor diploma
2. Submit a copy of current First Aid/CPR certification
3. Submit proof of boater's safety/powerboat certification OR take the IKO's online power boat course.
4. Letter of recommendation and one year's teaching experience.

Other Steps: 

• Email tonia @cascadekiteboarding.com to register.
• Full course fee of $975  is due as soon as possible because of the short notice of this course. This course will fill up fast.
• There is a First Aid/CPR course being run on Monday, May 9th from 9:30 am-3 pm. This is required prior to taking the ITC course, so make sure you get it.

 

2011 Women's Baja Kiteboarding Camps now booking!!

Cascade Kiteboarding's Tonia Farman, in conjunction with Kitemasters Kite School and Palapas Ventana are once again hosting Women's Kite Camps in La Ventana, Baja Mexico for 2011:

Feb 27-March 5
March 6-12

If you haven't been to one of my camps in La Ventana, you are in for an adventure you'll never forget! Check out the slide show from the 2010 camps! The 6-day camps focus on full days of kiteboarding instruction (as soon as the wind starts blowing!) but that's not all. Here's a typical day:

We get started at 7am with a Pilates-at-Sunrise session, have a yummy home-cooked breakfast with fresh fruit, proteins, strong coffee and fresh Jamaica (Hibiscus juice), then it's snorkeling, kayaking, or stand-up paddling until the wind comes up around 11.

For the rest of the day we take advantage of the wind and get 2-to-1 kiteboarding instruction focused specifically to everyone's level. After kiteboarding, there's a little down time, then Happy Hour back at Palapas Ventana with the best margaritas in Baja! Authentic, home-cooked mexican flavors are served at 7 for supper and then whatever you want to do until you can't stay up anymore! Days are usually so full and active that most guests are out by 8pm! We call it "Mexican Midnight!"

 All camps are open to all levels of riding. Because we pair two students to 1 instructor, we can accommodate all levels of riders in one camp, with a maxiumum of 8 guests per camp. You are paired with another student who is your same level.

Some of our before-wind activities: Swimming with the whale sharks (amazing!!!) and Standup Paddling!!

Beginners > Never flown a 4-line LEI (Leading Edge Inflatable) kite or minimal experience with 4-line kite.
Intermediate Beginners > Can control a 4-line LEI kite and body-drag
Advanced Beginners > Can confidently board start and get going in both directions
Advanced Intermediates > Can ride both directions, stay upwind, starting to execute transitions and jumps.

Personal land-based and tons of on-the-water instruction! Tonia does board start drills on-land with the girls.

Until October 1, get $100 off your booking, so $1390 per person!

Camps are $1490 per person (Or $2800 for 2 weeks) and include:

- 6 nights, 7 days accommodations at Palapas Ventana - 3 girls per specialty casita
- All meals at Palapas Ventana and 2 dinners out on the town
- Evening socials and chalk talks at the PV bar
- 4 Days of kiteboarding instruction with Tonia and the Kitemasters Kite School professional staff- Lesson gear included
- Transportation to kite spots for lessons
- Downwinder transportation
- 3 1-hour Pilates sessions focused on strength & flexibility for kiteboarding
- Use of kayaks and snorkeling gear
- Optional activities include massage, cooking classes, spanish classes, standup paddling, snorkeling, diving and fishing trips, daytrip to the Pacific.
* Price does not include 13% Mexico hotel tax
* Price does not include transportation to and from the airport, however we will arrange the transportation for you once we have your travel itinerary.

Morning pilates, pilates and yoga on the standup paddleboards for balance and strength for kiteboarding

To make reservations or if you have any questions, please contact me tonia(at)cascadekiteboarding.com or email Tim(at)PalapasVentana.com.

Happy campers!!

Women's Kiteboarding & Pilates Camps in Baja Mexico! on Vimeo.



CKB PERU Wave Kiteboarding Expedition!!

A beautiful left hander at Lobitos

Cascade Kiteboarding is headed to beautiful Mancora Peru for the some of the best wave riding in the world this November 12-21!! And... we want you to come!!

If you are a goofy footer, this is a dream riding spot for you! The world's longest and cleanest left-hand waves line the North coast of Peru, creating a playground of endless ocean corduroy and turns that will leave you drooling for more. Not a goofy-footer? You'll quickly forget and then realize that this will be some of the best backside riding of a lifetime! Just learning to ride waves? No problem! These waves are clean, friendly, and great for learning and improving in the waves!

In addition to epic waves, Mancora's mild temperatures and friendly conditions make for a great spot to progress all of your kiteboarding. Tranquil, sandy beaches, flatwater lagoons, and warm water surround you!

This expedition is for intermediate-advanced riders who can consistently ride and stay upwind.

CKB PERU guests stay at the waterfront Samana Chakra Surf & Yoga Resort in Mancora, Northern Peru.  Cascade Kiteboarding PERU Kite Expedition includes: 

• 9 nights, 10 days at Samana Chakra Surf & Yoga Resort
• Transportation to and from airport
• Three freshly-prepared gourmet meals each day
• Daily kiteboarding support plus six downwinders and excursions to/from Organos, Lobitos, and/or Cabo Blanquillo
• Riding tips and technique instruction from the Cascade Kiteboarding staff
• Beers & beverages post-kiteboarding!
• Daily pilates and/or yoga sessions for strengthening and flexibility!
• 2 60-minute massages during your stay

Dates are November 12-21. Travel days from the states would be November 11th from the West Coast, arriving in Lima on the 12th. All guests will fly from Lima to Piura, arriving together.

Daily yoga and pilates for increased strength and flexibility for kiteboarding!

Cascade's PERU Kite Expedition will run November 11-21 only, with limited availability to 12 people.

Miles and miles of beautiful empty beaches!

Accommodation Options: Prices are per person.

Shared Garden view villa: $1660
Shared Oceanfront villa: $1875
Oceanfront one person: $2301
Oceanfront couple: $1660

This is a trip of a lifetime. To reserve, a 50% deposit is required by September 1. Call Tonia at (541) 490-9621 or email tonia@cascadekiteboarding.com.