Discovering La Ventana's Foiling Magic: Inside Strong Kiteboarding with Marty and Jill

Tucked into the breathtaking Sea of Cortez in Baja California Sur, La Ventana stands out as a true gem for wind sports lovers. This Baja paradise combines warm turquoise waters, reliable thermal winds, wide sandy beaches, and a relaxed desert-meets-ocean lifestyle that keeps people coming back year after year. In a recent conversation on the Foil Life podcast, Marty from Strong Kiteboarding opened up about what makes this spot — and his school — so special for learning and progressing in kiteboarding, wing foiling, tow foiling, and beyond.

Marty's journey to La Ventana is a classic wind sports transformation story. A former mechanical engineer and journeyman welder, he got hooked on kiting during a transformative trip to Australia and the South Pacific. That experience flipped his life upside down — leading to an instructor course, a permanent move to Mexico, a family (including two young kids), and now 15 seasons running Strong Kiteboarding. Originally partnering with founder Dwayne Strong, Marty and his wife Jill bought the business outright about five years ago. They run it as a true family operation, with Jill handling management and bookings while Marty steps back this winter for parental leave. The school remains based at Ventana Bay Resort but operates independently, teaching across multiple beaches like Fig Tree, Rasta, and others.

What draws people to La Ventana? The conditions are near-perfect for progression. Water temperatures fluctuate between (70–84°F) between winter and spring, air is comfortably warm, and thermals often arrive early — Marty arrived mid-October and found wind just days later, which isn't always the norm but highlights the spot's reliability. Beginners thrive on the sandy, wide-open beaches with gentle rollers and little shore break, especially at Fig Tree and La Tuna. Advanced riders flock here for the Nortes swells that create fun wave action. The bay's layout offers cleaner wind further out, and spots like Ventana Bay Resort feel almost private, with limited public access for a relaxed launch environment.

The real standout at Strong Kiteboarding is their teaching philosophy and setup. Marty emphasizes private 1-on-1 watercraft-assisted lessons using jet skis — an approach that dramatically speeds up learning. With an instructor right beside you on the water, you get instant feedback on tiny details like hand position, arm bend, or foot placement — things impossible to spot from the beach. Safety skyrockets, as the instructor stays within talking distance, and students spend far more time riding instead of walking upwind or repacking gear (often 50%+ of beach-based lessons are wasted on that).

Even more powerful for foiling beginners? Morning tow-foiling in the glassy, flat bay. Tow foiling builds confidence fast — most students feel the foil lift on their knees within the first hour, and many stand up and foil in under 60 minutes. It's incredibly gratifying and serves as the perfect foundation for wing foiling or other foiling disciplines. Popular packages combine an hour of tow foiling, ground wing training, and watercraft-assisted riding in the water. The school also offers para-winging (a newer, more challenging option best for those with prior foiling experience), kite foiling specialties, and strapless freestyle with pros like head instructor Logan (a returning GKA competitor)

Strong caters to all levels with full gear provided (helmets, PFDs, harnesses, boards, foils, wings, kites from brands like Ozone), rentals, flexible multi-day packages, and group/family sessions (up to 10+ people with pick-up/drop-off options). The team — a mix of returning instructors speaking English, French, Spanish, and more — runs like a well-oiled machine, allowing Marty and Jill to ride daily when it's not too busy.

When the wind eases, La Ventana still shines. Mountain biking trails range from chill singletrack through old-growth cactus forests to gnarly intermediate/advanced routes with epic views. The Sea of Cortez — dubbed the "aquarium of the world" by Jacques Cousteau — offers incredible diving, spearfishing, fishing, and wildlife.

Marty and Jill's core ethos? Share the stoke, prioritize real progress and safety (no lessons in unsafe or unproductive conditions), and build community. Many students become lifelong friends, buy property here, and return annually. The school grows mostly through word-of-mouth because they genuinely help people change their lives on the water.

If warm water, rapid foiling gains, uncrowded northern beaches, and full Baja adventure appeal to you, La Ventana and Strong Kiteboarding are calling. Visit strongkiteboarding.com, WhatsApp +1 (250) 813-0035, or email info@strongkiteboarding.com to plan your trip.

This Baja spot isn't just about the wind — it's about the lifestyle, the community, and the moments that redefine your path.