Park Check – Baja Kite Park, Mexico

WORDS BY LUCAS ARSENAULT / PHOTOS BY LAUREN HOLMAN AND LUCAS ARSENAULT

Park riding is blowing up in the kiteboarding scene; things are progressing quickly in this relatively new segment of our sport. Many famous kitesurfing destinations around the world now have local parks or are working towards building features, making it more accessible and possible for the average kiteboarder to progress in this discipline. Lauren and I recently took a visit to the Baja Kite Park. It exceeded our expectations completely. 

To begin, let’s give credit were credit is due. One thing people need to realize about kite parks is that they don’t happen on their own. Rails and kickers don’t magically appear perfectly set up. These things take tons of work and motivation to bring together. Every park starts out with a group of individuals maintaining features and constantly working on making it perfect. The Baja park was created by a group of brothers wanting to progress and improve their winter kite destination. Not only did they build it from scratch, they funded these features and installed them for public use. So, huge thanks to them; Layne, Fritz and the crew. According to them, this is only the beginning of what’s to come from this spot. 

You can find the park in the south of La Ventana, Mexico. It’s in the middle of the desert, in what used to be called Choco Lake. Choco Lake, or the ‘Baja Park’ is a lagoon (puddle) next to the ocean simply large enough for a single rail hit or one trick per tack. You’ve probably seen videos online from this spot. It’s well known as a freestyle lagoon. The smooth wind comes in clean over the sandbanks creating a very good flatwater area. Totally ideal for park riding. 

As of now, the park consists of three features: two rails and a kicker. Upwind has the kicker pointing left-foot-forward shooting you into the deepest part of the lagoon. The kicker is a smaller, beginner-friendly size. perfect for riders with not much or any kicker experience. It’s easier for beginners to try their first hits and learn their first flat spins. 

Next to the kicker, facing right-foot-forward is a solid rail. At first sight, it looks slightly intimidating and maybe a little sketchy. A gap over sand is normally not something everyone wants to do. However, the boys did a killer job building and setting this feature up. The rail is an incline followed by a small gap over onto two large PVC pipes. The incline is very wide making it easier for beginner rail riders to hit. The gap is very small and pretty much as safe as it could possibly be. A straight 50/50 on at a moderate speed will get you over every time. This rail is also set up in a way to allow more experienced riders to be more daring and push bigger rail hits. On top of all this, almost every photo will turn out sick. Any gap makes things look way better! 

The third feature way downwind in the lagoon is slightly more advanced. It’s facing left-foot-forward and an ollie is required to get on. It’s a simple one pipe design that is 12 feet long. Super fun and suitable to step up your game. 

All in, the Baja Kite Park is a must-do for park riders. Especially the people trying to get more into it. We only spent a week here and really had a great opportunity to progress and get some new hits under our belts. This really opens up Baja as a kite destination. It’s literally possible to do every discipline of kiteboarding here and food is super cheap, why not go? Obviously entering the park is at your own risk, put a helmet on and take off your fins. Hope everyone gets to enjoy it as much we did. Lauren and I will be back for sure!

BEST TIME OF YEAR: 
November to March for best use of the thermal winds. 

WIND: 
In season, the daily thermal wind typically blows between 15-25 knots. 

WEATHER: 
The breeze can definitely be chilly, the dream combo was a long sleeve, short legs 3/2mm. 

GETTING THERE: 
Le Paz International Airport (LAP). This is the closest airport to La Ventana around 45min drive.
Los Cabos International Airport (SJD). Approximately 2 hour drive to La Ventana but is generally cheaper to fly into Los Cabos. 

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE: 
Food + Drinks are very cheap.
Must order… Baja Fogs at the bars. 

EVENTS: 
Baja Kite Park Showdown. Jan 11-13th 2019.