[00:00:00] Welcome to The Wing Life Podcast, where we talk about wing foiling and the lifestyles of those who enjoy this great sport. Alright, good morning, Ando. Thanks a lot for joining me today. Hey, what's up, Luc? Oh, thank you for inviting me. That's awesome. I was so glad. Yeah.
[00:00:26] Me. That's good. Yeah. Awesome. Yeah, to go down there. But maybe for our guests at home and for our guests around the world, maybe let's give a bit of a highlight of Laventana. Why is it such this ultimate spot for winging, citing, when surfing all of it?
[00:00:45] Well, first of all, because it's Mexico. So there's always a phone factor in there. In place we have great decay-level in the scout and good bifes. Everybody is very chill, especially local people. It's really cool. It's super nice. But then, yeah, wind, wind, wind-wise.
[00:01:06] It's a really great spot. I came from mainland Mexico, whatever called mainland. But little tips, we have Mexicans, we don't like it when they said we came from mainland. But anyways, I had a bunch of options. So I started guiding La Hara.
[00:01:27] So I was going a lot to Busteria and to the Mexican Caribbean, like to loom to say something that everybody will know. And then the first time that I came here, I thought I didn't like the desert thing and I'm always very tropical.
[00:01:44] But first time I come here, the whole scenery just like it's packed me. It was like, I don't know, you have like this huge moment on the background, the island, the throughput water. And then slowly the wind.
[00:01:59] So it was like, it was like, my mind blowing when the first time that I told the beach and I was like, wow, this place has magical medicine. It's just like, beautiful. And then that was when I was hiding mostly.
[00:02:18] I started in Wake Skyl, then I changed to running a throughput. And then I started playing with the ice on the foil. That was around 2000, 19 or 2000, oh, I'm like, that was when I was in something in Cisco, I went somewhere in Cisco for a little bit.
[00:02:41] And that's when I had my first ice boiling experience. I didn't like it that much when I saw kite falling for the first time. So it took me a little bit to get my head around mostly because it was mostly kite racing, like kite falling racing.
[00:02:58] All right, that's for us. And then I never been into the, yeah, and I was more like coming from Wakestyle and actually I did Wakework before, I was more into, into, yeah, tricks, back roads, back roads, you know, handle passes.
[00:03:16] So kite fall racing didn't, it wasn't something that I was looking into it. But yeah, that was I kind of like go up very far away from the question about what's good about that one. That's okay, man.
[00:03:35] When did you let's say get introduced to water sports for the first time? And then how do they make you feel if you can remember that far back? Yeah, I was the very early station for my life. My parents, they have always loved camping at the beach.
[00:03:53] So they took me to the beach with our baby basically. And even though we watched the other weekend, so vacation, I remember that the best time it was always when I was at the beach.
[00:04:09] I just got so much freedom from it because when you're on the city, you don't let you go out as much to run in the street because there's cars or God knows what can happen. And when we were on the beach, I was totally freedom.
[00:04:27] Like we were just camping and everyone that I had breakfast and as soon as I had breakfast they let me just run away and do whatever I want to do. So I was doing a lot of fishing and then swimming.
[00:04:41] And then I remember that for Christmas one day they gave me boogie boards and that was it. That was kind of like my first life over water. Yeah, that's why I'm blowing from the ice. I spend the whole day on the water.
[00:04:57] From there I was just kind of waiting during my youth years to become independent and be able to drive. Just go to the beach, grab the store and learn to surf. So that's kind of how I started getting into water sports because I feel the cold from water.
[00:05:16] And then I, as soon as I was able to do it, I loved fishing. I did go straight on the dirt and everything. When you're going to just straight into what's your? And into learning how to surf. Okay, okay. All right. So you started with surfing.
[00:05:32] Oh, that's a nice background. And you got some pretty good waves around Mexico. Yeah, yeah, the whole Pacific coast is amazing. Oh yeah. I was living on water, I had it with cheese like three hours away or four hours away to the closest point.
[00:05:51] But yeah, I was a within barrier when I said, I got wheels. I get a group of friends who were out for 20 minutes to choose. We were just going to the beach. We were going to meet Chocan, there's a really nice place called Laticla.
[00:06:07] And Laticla is a guarantee for waves. There's always a way and it's a really beautiful place. And yeah, that's where I learned my ways to to to be close to the ocean. And since then I have been stopped.
[00:06:24] I try to have a regular life, you know, on the city working. But I always feel frustrated and I always feel like not motivated to pursue a, I don't know. It's like a regular job or just to be tied to the city until I finally got the,
[00:06:48] got the balls to to stand up and say, like, I don't want this. I don't care if I live on a tent, but I have to be on the beach. And that's actually how I started here in Laven Dana.
[00:07:03] I had a business failure in a restaurant in La Galera. So I was broke and they came to Laven Dana to cry. And I was camping. I was living on a tent. And somebody offered me a job at the chef where I cried camp.
[00:07:22] And yeah, I guess I'm nothing to lose. And then now I just realized, oh, happy I worked. Now I was living in a tent and I was like, He's probably, I hope that's true. That's worth it can get. And I'm so freaking happy. Yeah. I don't have nothing.
[00:07:36] I have a tent that I have my kite. And I'm just happy. So that's when I kind of like started looking at thinking about why do you, why don't you just move here? I have another friend for the show who is a legend for me here.
[00:07:51] He did the same move here. And yeah, he was telling me, yeah, I don't worry. Everything's fine. Like summertime. I have a spear gun and I go get fish. So I have always something to eat. If I don't have money, I fish more.
[00:08:07] And then I go to a restaurant and change it. I change fish for a worker. If I could tie a piece or whatever. So. Oh, yeah, fair enough. I don't know. You have why you know that? Like I actually don't feel ashamed of not being successful in something
[00:08:23] that I wasn't happy about it anyway. That's when I go full into living in London. Good. Yeah, man, that's the trap, isn't it? That's the trap. Do something that you don't want to do to chase success that may or may never come
[00:08:40] rather than focusing on the ultimate life that you'd rather live. Hey, I want to congratulate you on that though because not everybody has the courage to do that. Yeah, thank you.
[00:08:49] Yeah, I mean, I'm you know, it's lucky and also I don't know some best I think it took me too long to figure out but we I don't know things come when it's when it's time and you've got to take the opportunity to. Yeah, I think so.
[00:09:04] So you moved down to Laventana. How long did you how long were you there until you started to get into, I guess maybe into wing-foiling or when did you start your school?
[00:09:18] Well, I started school around 2017 or 2018 and it was because I was working with a guy from San Francisco. He was the one who who offered me to become an Ikeo instructor.
[00:09:34] So I went to San Francisco with him to learn how to teach which I think is one of their hardest place to teach guy worrying. So you can teach there you can teach. San Francisco. Yeah, they are crazy.
[00:09:51] So he got me into teaching and yeah, the guy was just like a roller coaster. Are you an intermediate level wing-foiler looking for an epic adventure this winter? If yes, I suggest you reserve your spot for the wing-foil expedition hosted by Agua Salada.
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[00:11:13] He was crazy and he had a lot of good things, he had a lot of bad things. So I learned a lot from him and then suddenly he got murdered. And it's a crazy world.
[00:11:31] He went more in San Francisco and then I helped his wife to keep going with the kite school. And then she decided to sell the school shortly after that. So that's when I started, like maybe I have to step up and expand my own school.
[00:11:54] So that's how I get into teaching and how to learn a kite school. Okay. And now where about are you in in Laventana? Because I know there's a few kite schools there. So maybe for folks at home who aren't knowledgeable about the exact spots.
[00:12:15] Could you explain maybe that? Yeah, sure. There's those kinds of kite schools. It's going to be like 30 now. There you go. Okay. Yeah, during the season, there's like pop up from anywhere. Do we talk about? Yeah. Anyways, yeah, the way it's quite a decent size.
[00:12:37] The main location is Laventana which is south of the valley. It's kind of where the big makes a curve. The wind is very nice here and it's very safe because it comes from the wind from the north.
[00:12:52] So documentary where you end it up you're always going to get catch on the beach. And it's also a little bit. So we teach from always where we have a side of the conditions.
[00:13:07] So from Laventana, then you have a far endo which is what it's a bit north from Laventana. Everything is like going to walk walkable distance if you have the time to do it. So I teach a little bit more north from a far endo.
[00:13:26] Which is a decent distance from from south which will be around, I guess, 80 kilometers on a straight line. So I don't know, I really like that location. It's originally West Coast Palapa beach. Now there's a restaurant that has become very popular and that is called Latuna.
[00:13:52] So everybody calls Latuna this beach now. And that's where we teach from. It's a wide sandwich, which now become one of the most popular spot for cutting on the very Because it's you know, wide sand and it's very open.
[00:14:12] It's going to throw a little bit that is always nice anyway. And it's a good location to start downwind there for example. You can just start there and then you're down here by your own sort or chill chill. All right, I know that would be a pretty sensational.
[00:14:28] When did you start first seeing winging in Laventana was it something that you thought would get as big as it is? Do you just think it was a phase? What are your initial thoughts? I thought you were ridiculous when I thought it was very very strange.
[00:14:41] I thought it looked lame. But then I remember that was my exact same thought when I so kind morning for the first time. I was a waiter and a superman. And then I looked at tidy and that looks ridiculous.
[00:15:00] So let's say in the end, I was like, you better start soon because it's only a matter of course everything looks ridiculous when people are not in this figure and something or the story is something nobody knows what they're doing.
[00:15:17] The stands they have look probably weird, everything looks weird. So yeah, it does look like something inspiring but just waiting to somebody nail it and make it look good and everybody's going to try to do it. And that was the case with with tidying and with boiling.
[00:15:35] Obviously the first guys who were trying and this is one of the most common things I hear from new fighters or yeah. That's what I think about boiling is like, oh yeah they look really weird. It's only old people and they're just like moving their checking around.
[00:15:57] And yeah because you're there looking at somebody that is little but I don't know look at Kylie for example and you're going to be wow, not that's pretty cool. So yeah I started around the, when I was so mean, I think it was 2019.
[00:16:16] I remember I had a nice and I again my hands into a nice wing hand wings with loads of handles. That was the first thing I know. Wow, which I know should I grab. No idea.
[00:16:30] Yeah, I have no idea and I think it was really bad design that most of the handles. But yeah I had that set up on a big ride engine or a sninshot foil that was huge and heavy like really really heavy.
[00:16:49] And I got my hands on that cum award. It was like a hundred and probably 120 liters.
[00:17:00] And it was interesting because you were kind of like the design was like a really like displacement pool like very deep beat bottom pool, which kind of reminding me now of the Darwin board that I'm seeing itself so displacement is 100%.
[00:17:18] But it was super hard to get balance because of the big displacement will be shaped. It was very tight inside it rolls very hard. It took me, it was hard to say. I remember it was 20.
[00:17:34] I was just miserable all day trying to get up but, but it was fun once I had my first take off. It was amazing. I think that was a hard spot is just too take off because I didn't know how to go from from from hiding.
[00:17:52] I remember the first fall that I like was a liquid force in boost that thing was super sweet. And then I started doing weight foil behind so I had a really good sense of balance on the foil even without wind. And that helps me a lot I think.
[00:18:10] Oh yeah definitely. Yeah I started Windsor for a link at the start and that helps set that foundation and then went off to winging after so your first flight winging was it.
[00:18:22] How that make you feel for me, which is it was insane how quiet it was how peaceful it was and then I could just travel and see the lake like a tourist like that those are the three points. I think caught me the most.
[00:18:33] I mean the differentiation of floating that you get from from spoiling is just a match. Yeah I I don't lots of a board sports and just that feeling of being like, weightless and just glide and fly especially once you caught a.
[00:18:56] I'm a bomb and you're not even using the wing at all for me that's the most mind blowing moment is just like silent like you said maybe you will hear the the the the foil like almost like whistling or something.
[00:19:14] But yeah the why it is just like you feel like a like I don't know, pelican touring from the near near wave or like I look a lot of now I look a lot of the features and the dolphins and whales and and and race like.
[00:19:35] Yeah there they're just foils and they're just gliding and that's exactly why we're trying to link with the with the foil. Yeah I'm so who could point in. I love that.
[00:19:49] So now you're seeing a lot of kids from hood river a lot of pros from everywhere come to Laventana and train.
[00:19:58] Have you seen obviously there's been an explosion of people winging there we've talked about this before but what's it like seeing 13 year olds pulling back clips and 720s and that kind of thing.
[00:20:08] Oh yeah it's it's great it's great I don't know to see how fast they evolve and the from the best right in the world and it's also he'll easily be because.
[00:20:23] Yeah I know thank you so go when you look at the pro rider you work always somebody in the I don't know 20s to 30s and even even if there was a competition categories were like. The open was where all the old guys were and then.
[00:20:44] Having a young guy it will be kind of like I don't know not fair because he's not going to make it and that was kind of the other way around now we the old guys know how to understand the chance against the the young girl.
[00:20:57] It's great I like particularly in a Chris and Banger. And I remember I didn't know I didn't see when Chris learned to the windfall but I was watching Banger when he started from zero and in the matter of one year he was. So that's not amazing.
[00:21:22] Yeah and especially because there's smaller kids too like they don't like you would associate windsurfers and citer with muscular physique they spend a lot of time in the gym they're very well trained and then you have this smaller kid who's I don't know 12 13 pull on off stuff they were like how.
[00:21:38] Yeah I guess it's a sport that you don't need a lot of strength it's mainly technical and then obviously the lighter you are the higher you can jump. Yeah I mean you can use. Yeah there's always some advantage of being lightweight.
[00:21:54] You can get out with any breeze because you have big winds like a dream at three square meter wind.
[00:22:03] For somebody like wait 40 kilos it's it's a big green and then you have a four liter board which is considered like a really small board for again for a 40 kilo.
[00:22:17] He is in half we have quite a lot of rotation so that's open the muscle the possibility to practice when nobody can and. And yeah. That's that's pretty cool so for those at home what's your favorite setup and why do you like writing it.
[00:22:41] Yeah my favorite setup it's been a 40 liter board I am writing a KT Drifter S. For the last I think to see something now and I one of things that I love is the board is made to last. I I was I I'm still a surf shaper.
[00:23:02] Don't practice that anymore I just make a few words for friends and for me you should make it made for me and then my friends to get from me. So I know a little bit of a well-froxion and the construction from the KT board for me is outstanding.
[00:23:19] I've had I'm with some boards we charge or that was also one one of my favorites. And then from there yeah I have I have own some screenshots from.
[00:23:34] Tacuma but yeah my favorite has been the the Amazon and the KT which is why I'm writing now I need the thing is boom proof. I funny like I'm a fifth ship and I hate doing repairs and I treat my board my crew.
[00:23:50] I usually I don't treat it really with I treat better the equipment from the school but what my personal equipment I'm a little bit rough and the thing is okay.
[00:24:00] I'm for the boys I have used writing jeans I have used a lift and a sling a no what I say liquid force the beginning and then I I I
[00:24:18] She's got my attention once because one friend of mine had one and I really liked the modular system and how you could swap just your from when you're backwing which at the beginning there was not much options.
[00:24:30] I mean nowadays it's standard I guess but I really like the system and how solid it looks compared to what I was writing before and then I got the chance to meet Evan and he helped me to
[00:24:45] To get the setup and from them and then I have been writing axis and I'm loving it my favorite setup was the HPS 880 until recently well I actually said it's a nice to love that for me like there if I can only have right one for only that will be the one that I will write it for me was I can form the soil.
[00:25:14] I can't move it without wind or anything and then I can turn fit I can wind it super fast it's really good.
[00:25:23] The now they say have the speed fire so now that's what I've been writing so I just got it is just been released I just got it here somewhere which is not a better decent so I just had a chance to write a couple of times but I like it so far.
[00:25:37] It's the one that I have right here behind and yeah it's really good it turns really good there's still something that I need from the HPS that I really like but there's always some transition when you switch your your your your points you have to adapt and how it turns and.
[00:26:26] I mean there's still many freaking variables that it takes a long time and to kind of like know what you want what you like.
[00:26:35] And also know when one thing is better for conditions to all the conditions but at the same time is great that you can find a set up that will work for everything.
[00:26:49] We always from sacrifices but you can dial in while you want and while you like there's so many bands so many good friends so much. So far that is crazy, you know.
[00:27:00] Oh yeah there's so many brands so many different kinds of oils from high to low to medium aspect stuff. Let's break it down a little bit though for mass length what are you using and what do you think is best for beginners.
[00:27:15] So I'm using an 82 centimer mask for me that works great because I like all disciplines of guys falling mainly not guys falling falling. High soil wind foil, surf foil or prone foil and downwind which is the one that I practice the list but we'll change track.
[00:27:41] All right that's that that mass length for me sits right in the middle and I'm very comfortable with it. I'm not I don't know a big sign of the super longness like I don't like be on the 120 one third or yeah.
[00:27:58] Or like not even the 90 the 90 I like them for hiding only. But from there lower like 82 you feel very connected to the turn and how I'm you feel more the foil. So for me that's not the key. And for beginners I really like the 75 range.
[00:28:25] I even don't have like I think it's 40 baby mass length that that I bought for teaching and then from there have 60 centimiter and a 60 centimiter.
[00:28:37] And I found that the best one is the 75 because with the little ones the problem is that the estimates they engage before they're going to bridge very easily and they're going to fall. And with the really long ones like the 90s or beyond or the even.
[00:28:54] Yeah it's higher to control the foil so I found that the 70 range is perfect for beginners because they have some my day and before they bridge and they have a lot of control and stability on the on the foil.
[00:29:08] And I show us that it's a bit safer because you can jump away from the foil faster when you pull. So that's kind of what I believe for for what we do here is best. Okay now what about let's say let's jump to fuselage.
[00:29:29] fuselage I'm writing with access what it would be called the crazy short then the negralistic. Yeah this is a crazy short. fuselage which is 600 millimeters or 50 centimiter which is it's 60 quite short.
[00:29:50] It's quite short they have a shorter one now and they also they call this one the advance because they move the the attachment point where the map where the map.
[00:30:02] For centimeters forward to be closer to the following before these they have it like a really bit more on the back.
[00:30:10] So that change a lot how you pump and how and the angle of attack a little bit because more if you have more pressure on the front it can to to default it with more down.
[00:30:23] So you can know how to read just a little bit your start on the board but this I found this to be like a really good change for the for the fourth particular for winning down winning and surfing. Okay okay and what about your rare tale there.
[00:30:45] I'm using a 350 progression. But I actually like one a little bit more the 325 because makes it a whole set of very loose. To rise and still I get the no stability. And it makes it go faster to there's a little bit less track less wing less track.
[00:31:11] So how much do you weigh just for people at home. I'm like 70 70 kilo saving. Okay. Nice. Yeah I'm 70 so I'm writing a 70 liter just because water's cold here sometimes and it's nice to float but yeah.
[00:31:30] Actually it's right now for a couple of weeks after we have very light wind. I've been trying to go out on my 40 liter and yeah I have I have to swim back a couple of times and I'm getting tired of that.
[00:31:46] So I was thinking I have a and all the well it's not all these you know things get older you say it's very fast is to I want you old word. Which is 90 liter it's a clean shot.
[00:32:03] To finish I don't remember the name of the board robby you know I don't you know robby he writes personally shut and he's a very love community member here loving tenor he's a business with both skills.
[00:32:19] And he had a word from from from Wyatt that he was a quarter died for me trying to keep writing it. And he broke it of course because he he does write stuff. So I'm fiction is because his 90 liter and it's super short I think it's like.
[00:32:37] Worth tenor something like that. So I can use that and get up on lighter wind and keep enjoying because they have wind year round. You've got to have the right equipment for it.
[00:32:51] And both were like I couldn't kite for every day here but these days I think he's wing foiling. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So what was that transition from kite foiling to wing foiling? Why are you maybe thinking more wing foiling now?
[00:33:09] That happened a quick because I started kite foiling like like and enjoying it around 2018 and that's the same year that I started. Wind foiling. And you just happened that quick because soon as I get up on the wing foiling the feeling was much.
[00:33:31] So that's when I just reset my brain and I teach everything that I was in before. And not because I thought it's better just because I'll just get so addicted to that feeling that. That kite wasn't given any more to me.
[00:33:52] It's I mean the addiction problem is very awesome. This thing is it's yeah it's a addiction. It's a good addiction. Yeah exactly the solution somebody can help out and if I have kids to make it go out of addiction to.
[00:34:12] If you're spoiling or something, it's you know that's great. Well for it. Oh yeah, keep keeps in shape keeps you out of trouble. It keeps your body clean because you gotta have food well for the most part like if you're wanting to compete and do fairly well.
[00:34:27] And just have a great day the next day obviously your food choices and your. Your choices of liquids are going to change all that stuff kind of dictates when you want to have a great day on the water the next day. Yeah, okay.
[00:34:40] I think that's I think that's a very important point. And at the end it will it will drag you to a healthier life.
[00:34:54] Not immediately because I had been partying or or I had been like especially after winging and I was so hungry that I know you go will and go eat.
[00:35:04] I don't know like wings or a huge burger. Not that is necessarily bad food but it's not the healthiest option. But then when you eat 40 hits you in the face and then you realize that you want to keep doing this.
[00:35:22] You gotta focus on on your on what you're eating and also getting another exercise routine. I don't know if it's because I just hit 40 or because I start winging. Winging is more demanding physically than than than. Tiling at least. Yeah, you can get you can get.
[00:35:49] Kinding on a very high level and then it will be very physically demanding. But when even if you're not. Pushing it hard and doing the most radical things you will still get workout because yeah I mean you're holding it when with your arms.
[00:36:08] You're working your whole core to for balance and then you're legs to pumping and carving it's I don't know it's a really good workout.
[00:36:18] And immediately I started having troubles on my next or my shoulder because see there I had a bad position when I was winging so I had to kind of like write just like.
[00:36:28] My my my I don't know my shoulders usually they will be they have been pushed forward and I didn't realize when I was doing and do I was in pain.
[00:36:37] And then I realized okay how to bring my shoulders back to keep up a position that my body that in my body feel for natural. And even though the mix. Yeah, yeah now you now I have to start getting in shape and and.
[00:36:54] I love you have good friends here like take is one of them who's been dragging me to the gym. And yeah and then that overall it's where I want to go and I want to do this I don't know and so I'm way older.
[00:37:11] That's one of the things that called my attention to the system that I got to love in China. It was very popular back back back then. There were only people with with with right here.
[00:37:26] You know like beyond 60 70 years old and when I look at them I was I was like. These guys are really how. Because yeah look at the boys they were super strong and you know all wind super first.
[00:37:44] And now and that's I was one of the things that I thought about myself like when I when I'm 70 I want to look like them.
[00:37:51] I want to be out there winging I mean whatever workforce we're doing at that time when that happened but I want to be I want to be actually better one of the city when my couch watching. Food world or whatever I want to be out.
[00:38:08] And I don't like there's no reason to become to lose the child that we all have and just go out for a place. Have fun that's the most healthy thing we can do anything.
[00:38:22] Yeah thanks so there's a bunch of people that go to knit not in some of them are 65 70 my one buddy David that works with Maria elevation I think he's 74 now.
[00:38:34] And great shape loves to get out on the water and it gives I guess all of us people who are and I just turned 40 this year.
[00:38:43] Yes, it's hope but then you're also like there's one guy walking around he must be 60 completely shredded and like how I walked up to him and like how. Yeah and he's a kid just eat good food stay off of all this other stuff.
[00:38:56] And then and then exercise like what we're doing and then you'll get there and then he said once he figured out what worked for his body he just maintain that and then it just amplified over the years.
[00:39:06] But it is really awesome to see everybody in their 60's 70's.
[00:39:11] And even sometimes in their 80's enjoy for laying in this is a sport will be able to do until if we can walk we can foil so I was so happy to be able to find this because I was looking for something obviously up until just the love of wind has been has been absolutely phenomenal.
[00:39:29] In my life and I know when you get hooked on wind and how it makes you feel you just want to find all these different ways to enjoy it. Yeah, I agree 100% there's so many benefits about this work.
[00:39:42] And then I think that we have in talk about this yeah to reconnect with nature which is one of the things that you ended up looking for living on the city. I used all these connected from an energy from nature because you're walking on concrete.
[00:40:00] If you're walking because mainly you're on a car or any other transport and then. You don't look at the sky that much because you know you have all the huge buildings all the life. So and we spend most of our time on their phone.
[00:40:18] I mean that's not only on the city, even on the beaches the car is very addictive but what you're out in you writing you completely disconnect from the fake that we have created the world and connect with the wind the water.
[00:40:34] The temperature you become aware of your world, if you're lucky you're going to see a little fish or whales or other stuff. And you're going to have you're going to leave again how we are supposed to be in nature.
[00:40:50] So that's a big part of our transport in general that we have to nourish and and. And take us a I don't know like medicine these days because otherwise we're going to look at.
[00:41:14] Yeah, it's one of the reasons Tom and I my coat we started the podcast was to help people.
[00:41:22] A connect with water sports who had never been there and in post pandemic I found the world was going into direction where it was just spiraling more and more and more.
[00:41:33] And so I think that's it's on to phones on to devices isolation and then I just want to share how water sports and how wind had made me feel and how they had saved my life and how they had given me so much.
[00:41:46] And so I'm going to go and passion so that's why we're doing this just to help some people who may have thought that hey it might be too hard or know I can't do this or hey my schedules too hectic.
[00:41:58] But the more and more people we meet like yourself they're like, hey, like I live that I chose to choose to live this way now and this is how much happier makes me feel it's their nice stories to hear for everybody.
[00:42:13] So you realize that the more people you teach. I mean it's it's easy for them as a to become a big piece of this and they also start changing their lifestyle. And because when you find something that you like, you tend to look time to do it.
[00:42:34] So these super these people who were like really busy. They're trying to find time on this schedule to come and practice and then they ended up like changing the whole life to I remember one of my first customers that I had.
[00:42:54] I was very hard he was very harsh on me on everything and he I remember one day when he exploded because we got going for a couple of days.
[00:43:09] And you know everybody wants to get the max out of their own a guy come they want to get the most out of the company right and learn most because he told me like, oh absolutely.
[00:43:20] He was only one day like very like I'm choosing to like mad at me.
[00:43:26] You know like I don't have any vacation and I only have this amount of time on the year to get out and try this and now I'm getting squunk and I don't have wings and I'm very frustrated and and I get it.
[00:43:43] I get that frustration and and where he's coming from but that one one of the things that nature teacher is that you cannot force things nobody how much you pay.
[00:43:54] I mean nobody controls the wind right, but he started changing his no because he got hooked anyway even though he got drunk a couple days he got a taste of what it is.
[00:44:08] And then he keep doing it he he rolls after this come to another one and in another one.
[00:44:14] And now he's somebody that I see every year he love and kind of and now that I've been speaking with him he seems like so relaxed and and you you know the change on on his vibe.
[00:44:30] I know he's like here from from that rhythm that was kind of like consuming in the inside and now he's enjoys life he he quit his old job.
[00:44:42] And now he's doing his own things so he has to time that he won and he's becoming a really good kinder now now I think if I grab a package then I think my ass for sure.
[00:44:55] And that you left that just give me like some I feel very good about it like I just contribute with a little bit because obviously he was he didn't have a great week when he was with us because we were going to a drug race.
[00:45:12] But still there was enough to contribute and and keep him going to his into his and so he's by his own path and he makes his passion.
[00:45:24] And now he's like I don't know he's an awesome person and he's so so happy and and I get I feel a little bit happy about that no like a rewarding like.
[00:45:37] And I know some people say about I just stroke or a guy he's on a stroke, but I feel great like yeah I'm a I've already struck her and I live on the beach like a bomb video weren't.
[00:45:50] But I help I don't know to make people happy a little bit it's not always it's not of course my. I'm not the one who changed his life but I contribute to it so that's very rewarding and that's very noble and that gives me happy yeah.
[00:46:11] I think that's a point in I think that's a very it is a very noble thing to do and and it's a humble thing to do sometimes but because I'm an instructor here as well and but.
[00:46:26] You never know where these sports are going to take people and just introducing something new to somebody you just never know so it's beautiful to be able to do that.
[00:46:37] And then circling back to your your cool school there what kind of gear do you use for your school and why did you choose that gear.
[00:46:47] I like to try everything and I guess that I get that from shaping every time I have something I want to try it and I want to see how it feels and I want to white work.
[00:47:00] So and I do believe that all the gear out there is it's pretty amazing everybody is doing an amazing job. I don't believe like all these run is the top and if you're not writing these brand you're not going to be good enough whatever.
[00:47:18] I'm not saying I've been writing with different brands I start I started with with liquid for it with a lot of people used to crash and I like it that was where I was writing personally before I took the guy to and that's why I I decided to use the further guys who.
[00:47:41] I like the background of the brand where to know where they coming from. And in the case of liquid force as I was a weight guarder before I knew about liquid force because they they started the company with weightboarding.
[00:47:56] Jimmy Redmond is the guy one of the one of the guys for the company and he was a shapeer he an inventor of a sport he invent.
[00:48:08] The board that we know has been way more than before he was called it was a curfer and it was a directional board.
[00:48:16] And then game of redmond came with the first bidirectional board design which is kind of like every kind of order for the right these days so to me that's huge and it has had a huge impact also on a sport that haven't even. Excess at the moment, kidding.
[00:48:34] So that's where I paid tribute to to the guys who brought us here and his company I think was a great company.
[00:48:43] And then they I don't know why they broke or told that the cardboard division so then I was contact but a great person who would be very. And he contacted me and he offered me the brand and.
[00:49:11] Coming from from liquid force which was a brand that wasn't very well or people didn't like it and was very popular I don't know how was like okay now when I. We're going to go and I'm going to go for a. And more popular brands.
[00:49:33] And then Elliot came and offered me a reading guide which was like. Super new like completely new. And I didn't even like the colors of the brand which. I mean it's not important that you know when you write something you want to write something that you're. It's important.
[00:49:52] Yeah, so that's like. I don't like that. And I didn't even met. Elliot but but I like. He's a approach he's by he's support and I ended up going with him and reading. And it's so far one of the best. Rats that I have met.
[00:50:15] I mean the best right I have met for sure. And he was a really such a good service that was unbelievable. The guys were were really good to they had some defects.
[00:50:31] I noticed normal or not but I I've seen a lot of guy floating from different brands I guess so then they all have to deal with. Some issues the guy came from the same topic so.
[00:50:46] I don't know but he has a bank service and they go wins too right. They got wings to have. First of writing with them. Yeah. And then. And then I switch to a rush. Elliot left reading guide now his. Flingshot on writing in guy.
[00:51:07] And then I started writing. Kind of why a rush for the school. Which is a brother I always liked. That's why great they have great quality. So then. Wind wise I I had a mix from from I started with reading. Reading wings and then. Air rush.
[00:51:32] And now I'm writing kt wings too. Like I say I like to say everything. And which gives you a better perspective of what you like. If you're just brand with Mary with one brand then you're missing out a lot of things.
[00:51:51] And what works for me might not work for you and same as for my students. So I do like them. I do like to have a few options and see what they like. And also because it's such a new sport that everything is changing so fast.
[00:52:05] That it's important to try different things and see what's better for what. So yeah that's that's regarding kind of wings. For full. All right. I do really like axis. I'm sure that there's other brands that I have some great. I just can't really good. Costume service with access.
[00:52:32] I think they stopped not and you and they only started very approachable. And that's something that I have no experience with any other brand. But with them, like I can take heaven and he will reply me sometimes I am actually like anyone.
[00:52:46] So what's the school from this new wing? What do you think how it will compare to this? And even though he might be like super busy with other important things. She takes the time to take me back and send me a voice note and tell me what. What.
[00:52:59] So I really appreciate that from. And that's why I like about that. So some people don't like this about access. They have probably the biggest barriading in in in wing force which make it a little bit.
[00:53:15] An nightmare to get into it because you don't know what to choose. But point. I've heard that. Yeah, yeah it's complicated. And I think that's something. So complicated in wing pointing. It's very important to have the right gear to learn.
[00:53:38] And that's something that it took me a little bit to to dial in when I was learning. If you're on the wrong equipment, it's going to take you longer to learn. And he doesn't have to be that way. That's why I will also recommend to have.
[00:53:55] And that's why I will also recommend. And that's why I will also recommend. And that's why I will also recommend. And that's why I will also recommend. And that's why I will also recommend. Because the learning. The learning. Year. For. It's very specific.
[00:54:16] It might not be the gear that you want to buy. And have. Because you're going to grow from that very quickly. And then you're going to get something to do. So that's one of the advantages.
[00:54:27] And then once you know what you're doing, you can buy from intermediate gear. That's going to last you for a year more. I believe. Oh yeah, I like that approach because at the start, you have no idea what's going on. So and especially beginner boards, everything adds up.
[00:54:46] And then you can go to the right. So it is a great concept to do it that way. Now at your school, how do you teach? Do you start on land? You do land basics? You do water?
[00:54:57] Can you walk a potential new student through that process with your school? Yeah. Please. Through course. And we just. Break some theory. How to fly the week. You'll see. Through course. And we just. Break some theory. How to fly the wings.
[00:55:20] How to flip the wing on the water. And just. How to get up on the board. We have a board without a full encout to. We try to simulate what you're going to do on the water. So that usually is one hour or two depending on the person.
[00:55:40] But for the most part, it's just one hour. Sometimes it's even faster. Some people is so natural that I don't know that make you feel bad when I say it. It's very true.
[00:55:52] When I learn and I spend so much time learning, some people just like they use low somehow. So we try to do. To accommodate the lessons to the ability of the person. But for the most part, this one hour. And then we do a tandem.
[00:56:11] That little van winner on the beach. So we drive up north. The student goes on the water with his instructor holding the board and just dragging behind him. And helping him with. Yeah, how to get on the knees on the board. How to flip the wings.
[00:56:31] So he can be like right next to him to explain him how to make things better. And pulling the to me stakes are that are happening. So he can be aware of where he needs to improve.
[00:56:43] So from there depending on how that goes, the next lesson will be. The instructor goes on another little than win with the with the client with the student. Either on on a. As you be. Follow him or on a on on a wing for a bit.
[00:57:02] And then he. And then he. So he can go on a little bit for a bit man behind him or writing next to him. After that. They usually have the opportunity to. To run gear and do a dialogue by themselves. Depending on what the instructor. But I have.
[00:57:30] I don't know. I last guy who had right before and he said no, but he could be lying. I don't know what I was like I was my mother or the guy is I don't know how it's the loss on a Kylanian He can do everything just because
[00:57:46] Yeah, so it's eight maybe I don't know But for the most part we do Like four hours six hours of lesson and then after that they can rent here and try to do the downwinders on the shelf
[00:58:01] We offer them like we have a beach boy who will drive the car and and make drop off and pick them up So that's service here 11 times now. I another friend she's doing the same service just for
[00:58:16] Everybody, guys, we ingers of where we want to go downwind there And I think I came back The downwinders service. I have no people right now With the school it's included with the rental Over here
[00:58:34] But my friend who is really by himself. I don't know why I had a fourth right now and I'm sure they're gonna go probably this next season Everything's going up so yeah catch up everything But there's loads of options each hiking
[00:58:52] There's one guy here that is very admirable charge He's my neighbor He's like 60 year old or or 50 something I think and he's the most determined person I've seen my life He he wants to do a downwind foiling that's his goal
[00:59:13] And he has no car. Yeah, let's talk about this I hill is South He's my neighbor. I lived out here in downtown So he gets up and and take his bike He has a little car on his bike for for his foiling gear So he drives
[00:59:34] Up north to where we teach to Latina live his foiling equipment over there And then he right his bicycle back down here to the south And then he leaves his bike here in south beach And then he walks his way up
[00:59:53] back to Latina to get on his gear To try to go downwind there's his his using the foiling drive assist to to propel himself again and for us and start downwinding And then he make his downwind
[01:00:09] Then he where his bike is and then he brings everything back home But but The ride up or his bicycle with the gear probably takes him like 45 minutes to get up there And then walking back Probably 20 And then he has to to
[01:00:31] Yeah to go up again and he just keep walking all day And and they seem refused to get help Like I offer him right because he's my neighbor. I can hear him right go there every day And he always says no
[01:00:44] And then I offer him to storage his gear at my trailer on the school And he thought about it for a take home and then he said no But I asked him like why why do you just don't take the The ride or the help like no problem
[01:01:01] And he was like because then I'm going to become lazy and dependent And I was like I like them in terms of the business guy He just Go for it no matter what And I'm used to so much commodities
[01:01:19] Like my car for example that some days if I don't have my car And nobody can give me a ride I wouldn't do it And he's guy he's often stopped with with this little thing he just
[01:01:34] Go for it and I found that super admirable this guy is the machine and he's Why other than me and He goes for it he goes for it Nobody was no excuses So that's what that's where I'm going to
[01:01:51] Yeah, that's something for us to aim for and I love having those Those examples To follow because they're getting harder and harder to find now But let's say there's somebody brand new into winging they want to come down to Laven Tana um
[01:02:13] Finding a place to stay do you find that relatively easy does the school what kind of accommodations Are around there and is there anything that the school can help do to connect somebody with a place to stay Yeah, definitely We have a partnership with a couple of places
[01:02:31] Actually one of the one of those is where we we do guide camps and wing camps and we're pulling camps And he has kind of like boutique hotels kind of time it's a beautiful hall And the whole sister Rifik is a very interesting person and character here
[01:02:53] And yeah, he's a great relationship He has four rooms in this house very modern house And then he also has four of the lampings Which I think they're the glamping circle Sheets pots which are kind of like this kind of like Space materials think That is very charming
[01:03:21] I don't know how to say that it keeps it cool and hot during the change of weather And they are like they are equipped with a real bed and all the commodities So it's a really cool school but if you follow if anybody follows me on instagram
[01:03:41] Which is at salarita.ky.school They can figure out more about the camps and the accommodation And we offer not only the camps, but also to all my customers I offer them He's accommodation They get a little discount from if they stay on his place for
[01:04:04] Stacomination they will get a 10% discount on the on the school lessons Or gear Rental and then there's another spot called Kappa Malmap Which is another great spot that's a little more updorn And this is gonna be a brand new spot for this system
[01:04:26] Which is super close to each boat both places are walking this up to the beach One one is just like a little more private and more calm area and the other one is
[01:04:39] Like the closer you are to the beach there's more more more noise because there's more people And there's more traffic but both are really like both are like brand new buildings and Very with great host and very comfortable And options to stay
[01:04:58] Close there's lots of Airbnb 1110 hotels and hotels So there's there's an option for everybody there's camping. Yeah, yeah in good food Yeah, so this is amazing There's good tacos There's good burgers Pizza Italian places More international sport bars with wings and all the You know price and everything
[01:05:32] Great Margaritas There's great party teams Do you like that or there's lot of us or like a healthier lifestyle options There's lots of yoga studios at your puncture I don't know the community is great. There's lots of talented people in love and tender
[01:05:56] Even instructors will say that all kinds of schools or wingscook here have excellent instructors It's a great place to learn it's very safe although it's not the easiest which makes you a better rider than Sometimes we have people who come from
[01:06:16] from a place where they have shallow water Like mellow wind and it's super easy and they kind of like learn there and they Once they come to to to the ocean they forget everything
[01:06:31] So I also that is very important to come to a place where you have deep water Because it feels more challenging But at the same time, I'm in tiny super safe We haven't heard from anybody getting a strong action here. You know
[01:06:52] The basic action happened in any sport like you can Popo patrol there or I don't know Physiological or whatever but there's no any major things happening on the sport here in this They because it's super safe
[01:07:08] We have some months where it's warm and some of that gets colder for like a 4-3 millimeter wet suit Mainly because of the wind shield not not so much because it's cold, but the wind shield gets That what gets you
[01:07:23] Especially that on the pick pick month that when it gets colder you need a wet suit But also the shoulder months of the season for me knows are the best because we use right on a Borscher The WV of Togor November and a little bit of December
[01:07:40] And then the end of the season which will be May or April And also it's less crowded So depending on what you like what you want to achieve or or
[01:07:55] Or your how much available time you have you can pick one of those months from October to April and and you can have a great time here But yeah if you like if you want the the wind of the guarantee I will come mid December
[01:08:14] To end of February that's where we have wind almost all day But those are the coldest months and the most recent months If you have a more flexible schedule and you also open to do more of what the lavender has to offer which is besides wind
[01:08:31] We have great mountain bike trails we have great Experience on the ocean like there's loads of the cold Hefires because they took you out on the boat and then you will see a Spend Wales Orcass Mobula Dolphins I mean
[01:08:55] Nature around here is great so there's more things beyond wind So I will that by We'll be in general anybody who works too learn wind sport I know that when we said or my own something that what we want and I had the same
[01:09:14] I did when I started and then I had to learn through getting scunks with the wind You cannot control everything and that's a big learning thing for more sport To enjoy
[01:09:30] Everything around cutting which is connected with nature whatever you have to give you so if you come here and you don't have wind Don't worry there's a lot of things to do And Just enjoy it for example also another one thing that we do is
[01:09:46] foiling me behind the jet ski which is down Get you on track for your later goal wind foiling way faster. It's a really cool thing to do
[01:09:58] And also for a lot of people that is already windy and they haven't learned to pump with the foil properly without using the wind Having some time on the jet ski will teach you how to pump Perfect glue Oh yeah, I've It definitely makes a pretty big
[01:10:19] Pretty big difference to learn there and obviously you're looking for Flatter water and less wind so you're right there's different different times For different activities But that sounds pretty awesome that gives our folks a home a lot of information about Laventana
[01:10:38] Accommodations are easy lessons are straightforward and easy you can go from camping to luxury Based on that you got good gear your schools you're looking at what range of board sizes do you have For people so let's say if I'm riding regularly can I come down and rent?
[01:10:55] Let's say a 60 year or 50 year or 40 year Later we have we have everything running from from 50 little all the way to 145 meters more And when we have From 3.5 all the way to 6
[01:11:12] 5 to 6 okay and now you're and then yeah and then for and then boys we will have a wide range of access schools mostly for the school. I have the broad spectrum car which I'm really easy to ride the very For giving uh kikes sorry foil
[01:11:32] On the range of 2000 square centimeters to 1,500 But we will have a lot of Themos from the high end gear from axis speed fires ARTs which are the the higher aspect oils that have been super good and
[01:11:53] Yeah, it will be a good place to to comment try gear to figure out what you want and what you like What you prefer good for you and also if you don't want to travel with all your equipment which is
[01:12:04] Can be a problem yeah, you'll skim down here and give from all of them and go right Okay, hey, what do you think about the new 2023 hard handle KT wings I just started riding a 3 meter pretty much exclusively
[01:12:21] And I love that little thing. I can get going and probably 17 18 knots on it And um I find the pumping to get me going it up
[01:12:33] I feel like the pumping is more similar to what some of the pros were doing before with baggy or wings they were just dirt their skills are better But this wing is just helping me accelerate get up and going and then once you're riding with a 3 meter oh
[01:12:47] You don't really want to ride with anything else Yeah, I agree say riding with small wings is so So nice it's a mother wing so it's very Fortestly to to turn and to sleep and to pass it behind your head so easy
[01:13:06] And especially the one with the hard handles the connection to the wing was very solid So it's very efficient there's no energy loss when you're pumping The one with handle the hard that the the wings tend to to flex a little bit more and there's some
[01:13:23] lost energy that that dissipates there and when you want to be with the hard handle every point You feel that the power delivery more direct so it can be way more efficient Although there's some thing there's pros and cons I believe
[01:13:42] I do like the from the from the cake is that have been long handles The ability to really move my hands all the way back or all the way forward But overall I think I like more the hard
[01:14:01] Yeah, I think the KTs which were last year's 2022s where you had those long Handles it was I found it was a little bit easier on the hands a little bit easier on the wrists and joints And for learning I think it taught you
[01:14:17] I think you have to learn a little bit slightly better wing wing skills when you're riding with one of those because you can't manipulate that handle as much
[01:14:26] So what you end up doing is you end up learning okay, so if I move my hand forward move my hand backwards What's this angle for on the horizontal so what's gonna happen?
[01:14:36] How do I generate power a little bit differently so I still love that the soft handles now for people who are looking to get a little bit more
[01:14:44] I find explosion or a little bit more power or maybe make it feel more like wind surfing than the hard handles are Our sweet but I think learning on soft handles. I don't think there's anything wrong with that I think they're pretty comfortable for the hands definitely
[01:15:13] That can be helpful otherwise I think also like having just two options and with the high hand rules and not being able to move it that much that That's awesome great because They will go from
[01:15:27] From where they need to and then of the day so but I think there's no there's always something to learn from different gear And yeah, at one point having
[01:15:39] Right in different gear it's always gonna make you a better rider because you have more knowledge and at the end of the day also It's a you're the one We have a funny Spanish with It's not no a sledge I say linear which means
[01:15:58] When you have a I don't know like an Apache From from the trans word that we shooting with an arrow and the bow That it was not the the bow on the arrow where the skillful work was what was the guy who was shooting
[01:16:12] So I believe that 100% you got to make anything work But of course we want to we want to have good gear and the case the wings are on me Yeah, yeah, and then their new downwind or board series apparently are Pretty crazy
[01:16:31] You know, it's talk a little downwind because my buddy last year we're we're at a lake on the island last year And he cracks out this long board and he said kid. He said this is gonna be coming soon and
[01:16:44] Here's sure enough here they are so have you said you would just start a downwinding and you want to do a little bit more of it Yeah Actually when I start wing pointing My my gold buff always Like downwind I follow these guys I don't know you know
[01:17:05] Foil we start from Hawaii from Amsterdam or guy or came the wild or James Casey These guys were other guys that I look up When I was looking at foiling and when I was like whoa this looks insane. I want to do that They were doing brown foiling
[01:17:26] And that winding so they had a they had a they had a wave to cheat And then get on foil and then get away and start with the downwind But here in La Ventana we don't have waves or at least that often
[01:17:41] So we cannot find a wave to chip in on small board and then get on foil and get out So that's when I saw The baracuda boards first and and now the the Katie Downwind boards and that's right. Oh, that's graphic for La Ventana because
[01:18:02] We have the conditions we just don't have a wave So I'm those words fellow to get on foil with a pile or with a or or or or Front to I've seen guys you see hand paddles and then just gain the speed and get up and from foils
[01:18:19] So it's very exciting. I think Foiling in general it's so multi-disciplinary the possibility are just so many But yeah, downwind is something that are That's what I when I thought about winning is the perfect training wheels for downwinding
[01:18:39] Because you just you can use the wing to get up and then just put the wing down and just glide And if you pull you can grab the wing again. Oh, yeah, I'll do it again without having to swim miles from short
[01:18:54] So yeah, that's so what I think when this wing the wing becomes a tool for foiling Such as the board and the paddle or Or the foil drive
[01:19:08] The whole drive is a great tool for for for getting into foiling. I think the foil the foil drive is gonna grow Really I've got to become very popular because it it closed the gap from from me foiling to to all the types of foiling
[01:19:25] So I don't know it's everything exciting Yeah, I'm stoked to see where it progresses and It continues to accelerate at this kind of rapid pace in the years to come and I'm just hopeful that it brings more people into the sport
[01:19:39] And that they get to enjoy that reconnection with nature which we talked about and then help them get a little bit Back into doing something with their bodies and just kind of enjoying that movement that all of these sports offer
[01:19:54] I think that's what's so special about this one is that it it's in nature You're harnessing the power of that you have to pay attention to so many things when you're out there From changing conditions to whether or not you're writing a front
[01:20:09] So then obviously the wind's gonna go up or down or regardless if you're writing thermals There's always something to learn which I think is is a really fun aspect of these sports Yeah, and oh thanks
[01:20:21] I want to say thanks a lot for taking the time to talk with me today. We talked about a whole bunch of stuff which is amazing If people are looking to get in touch with you at your school what's the easiest way for them to do that
[01:20:34] No, thank you for for inviting me. It's been awesome. I'm always happy to To met other people that talk for for a wing sports or water sports So thank you for that It's been awesome Yeah, that's the best way to contact me
[01:20:52] Could be Instagram at calarita.ky.school and you will find my information there like a phone number of the kite school I like messaging more than email but all of the options are good Our website is www Saladita.com
[01:21:20] And yeah, I'm happy you're right me and I will hit your good information on what you need and we will send you something They like how beautiful okay well hey and thanks a lot Thanks everybody for joining us tonight and we'll catch you on the next episode.