Lords of the Wind: Windsports Royalty Comes to Los Barriles for January Showdown
Baja California Sur’s highest-ranking official is its governor, but the state’s most exalted personage is the Lord of the Wind. This grandiose title is awarded each January in Los Barriles, when the world’s best windsurfers, kitesurfers, and stand-up paddle boarders convene for competitions to establish windsports royalty in the annual Lord of the Wind Showdown.
The East Cape has long been a winter favorite of windsports enthusiasts, when the seasonal El Norte winds blow down the Sea of Cortes, creating ideal conditions for wind- and kitesurfing at places like Los Barriles and La Ventana.
The 4th annual Lord of the Wind Showdown is scheduled for January 22–26, 2014, in Los Barriles.
The fourth Lord of the Wind Showdown is scheduled to take place January 22–26, with categories that include downwind slaloms, freestyle windsurfing, a big air contest, boardercross, and SUP (stand-up paddle boarding). The event is organized by the Rotary Club of Los Barriles, and spectators will not only be able to watch the competitions from the comfort of the beach, but enjoy affiliated festivities like the reggae beach concert, tamale cook-off, and traditional Mexican fiesta.
Lord of the Wind has also teamed up with The Kiteboarder magazine to present KITEXPO, with top windsports companies like Airush, Slingshot, Liquid Force, and Best Kiteboarding participating in the second annual Demo Days. Event sponsors include Exotikite, the top kiteboarding school in Los Barriles, Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort, and the Baja Sur Board of Tourism.
Competition categories include a big air contest, boardercross, freestyle windsurfing, downwind slaloms, and stand-up paddle boarding.
Event Schedule:
Wednesday, January 22
3 p.m.–6 p.m. REGISTRATION Los Barriles Technology Center
6 p.m.–7 p.m Tamale Cook-off L.B. Concha (next to Tech Center)
7 p.m. Mandatory Skippers Meeting L.B. Concha (next to Tech Center)
Thursday, January 23
10 a.m. Skippers Meeting Beach Venue (next to announcer)
Noon Racing Beach
Noon–4 p.m. Demo Day Beach
Friday, January 24
10 a.m. Skippers Meeting Beach Venue
12 p.m. Racing Beach Venue
6 p.m–1 a.m. Reggae Party (dinner) Buena Vista Beach Resort
Noon–4 p.m. Demo Day Beach
Saturday, January 25
10 a.m. Skipper Meeting Beach Venue
11 a.m. Skipper Meeting SUP Beach next to announcer
Noon Race Beach
Noon–4 p.m. Demo Day Beach
Sunday, January 26
8 a.m. SUP Race Start Buena Vista Beach Resort
Finish Los Barriles Beach Venu
8:30 a.m. Pancake Breakfast
9 a.m.–11 a.m. Kids Kite Flying Beach Venue
10 a.m. Skipper Meeting Beach Venue
Noon Racing Beach
Noon–4 p.m. Demo Day Beach
6 p.m. Awards, Fiesta, Dinner, New Park Los Barriles
Closing Ceremony
For additional information about registration, accommodations, or parties and events, visit www.lordofthewindbaja.com.