Meet the Hendricks!
Thrilled to introduce Jordan Hendricks, one of our brand ambassadors, and a member of a family deeply rooted in the world of kiteboarding. Hailing from Camas, WA, just a stone's throw away from Portland and within striking distance of Hood River, Jordan brings a passion for wind sports to our community.
In his inaugural blog post, Jordan takes us on a journey to the picturesque kite spot of La Ventana. From the captivating coastline to the pulse-pounding winds, Jordan shares his firsthand insights into why La Ventana has captured the hearts of wind and water enthusiasts worldwide.
Jordan dives into the nitty-gritty of gear selection, recounting his quest for the perfect kite brand. Through meticulous research and exhilarating demo sessions, Jordan ultimately discovers his ideal match with North Kiteboarding, a choice that revolutionizes his riding experience.
Give Jordan a Follow at https://www.instagram.com/jjhendricks99
The Spot
La Ventana is not only a great kite spot due to the consistent thermal winds, the coastline is perfectly crafted for wind and water sports enthusiasts. Shaped like an “L”, the northerly winds blow unobstructed towards the wide bay we call a catcher’s mitt for any lost boards, gear, or athletes in trouble. Furthermore, the mountainous island, about 8 miles offshore, helps to funnel the wind resulting in higher winds compared to places like Los Barriles (another popular kite spot to the south). While the most popular spot in La Ventana is on the south end near Baja Joe’s, we prefer La Tuna, a spot 5 km north in El Sargento. La Tuna offers a wide beach with parking and no hazards when launching or entering into the water. If you’re a beginner, there are multiple lesson opportunities at the spot including Marea Watersports and Saladita Kiteschool. For more advanced kiters, La Tuna is an excellent spot to start a downwinder to Baja Joes or Playa Central. After your session, you can relax at the La Tuna restaurant and bar on the beach or grab ice cream at La Fuente.
Ice Cream at La Tuna with Andres and Sofie
La Tuna is rapidly growing and takes the cake as my favorite spot to kite in Baja.
The Gear
When we first started kiting, we were ambassadors for Liquid Force. Unfortunately they stopped making kites around 2019. This forced us to look for a new brand for our future quivers. At the time, we were leaning towards Reedin while considering Naish and North as possible alternatives. During a demo day in the summer of 2020, I was able to try each of these brands. It sounds cliché, but the first time I flew the North Reach, I knew I wanted this kite to fill out our next quiver. It happened to be a gusty day during my demo, and I felt comfortable on the Reach within minutes of riding it thanks to its refined bar pressure, ability to handle the gusts, and gentle landings. Over the next few weeks I was able to convince my father that North was the brand for us. However, he was more interested in the Orbit, North’s big air kite. From our research we learned that the Reach can not only meet our jumping needs, but its three strut design makes it lighter for travel and gives a greater wind range which I utilized heavily during my light wind kite foil sessions last December.
Community
During our trip this season, we stayed at Villa Baja Sur, a set of cozy casitas in the foothills behind Club Cerralvo. During our stay we noticed a large mobile beach cabana on a trailer that happened to be at La Tuna and parked outside the villas. Tracking down the owners, we met two fellow kiters Andres from Cali and Sofie from Mexicali.
We love to meet kiters from around the world, and La Ventana is a perfect melting pot. During this trip we met fellow kiters from Colombia, Canada, the US, and Mexico. On our first trip to La Ventana, we stayed at Casa Verde (a hotel oasis on the water), and met a family from Belgium whom we are planning to kite with in Tarifa this June.