Everything you need to know about the First Salinas del Rey Kitesurfing Meeting.
Hello kiteboarding lovers! 🏄♂️ Today on SUELTA LA BARRA, I'm excited to tell you all about the first Salinas del Rey kitesurfing meetup, which will take place on the beautiful Salinas del Rey Beach on February 17th. This event is organized by Orillazul, Turismo Deportivo Chile, and the Juan de Acosta Municipal Government. And in capital letters, it's in collaboration with SUELTA LA BARRA. 😎
This event is a unique opportunity to enjoy one of the best places to practice kiteboarding in Colombia, meet other kiteboarding enthusiasts, and learn from experts. You'll also be able to participate in fun and sustainable activities and contribute to the tourism and social development of the area.
Here's the schedule and description of the activities that will take place at the Salinas del Rey kitesurfing event:
- 8:00 am - Kids' Workshop: The little ones can get started in the world of kiteboarding with a theoretical and practical workshop taught by certified instructors. They'll learn the basics of wind, equipment, safety, and kite handling. 🪁
- 9:00 am - Motivational talk: We'll hear the life stories of Carlos Fidel Higgins and Mayor Juan De Acosta, who will tell us how kiteboarding has helped them overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. 💪
10:00 am - Sports Tourism Roundtable: We'll learn about the initiatives and projects being implemented to promote sports tourism in Salinas del Rey and throughout the region. We'll also be able to contribute our ideas and suggestions to improve the offering and quality of tourism services. 🌴
- 11:00 am - Recognition of outstanding kitesurfers: We will pay tribute to kitesurfers who have distinguished themselves through their careers, their skill level, and their commitment to the sport and the community. Among them, we highlight Wendy de la Asunción and Duvan Macías, who will share their experiences and inspire everyone in attendance. 🏆
- 12:00 pm - Lunch: We'll enjoy a delicious typical local lunch, prepared with local and seasonal produce. We'll sample dishes such as coconut rice, fried fish, chicken sancocho, and coconut candy. 😋
- 1:00 pm - Local School Demonstration: We'll see local kiteboarding schools in action, showing off their skills and tricks on the water. We'll be able to admire the riders' skill and elegance, and learn from their techniques and tips. 🌊
- 2:00 pm - Awards: We'll be presenting prizes and awards to all participants, both children and adults. Prizes include equipment, accessories, courses, trips, and other kiteboarding-related benefits. 🎁
- 3:00 pm - Sustainable Commitment: We will conduct a cleanup and environmental awareness activity at Salinas del Rey Beach. We will collect the waste we find, sort it, and take it to a recycling center. We will also learn about best practices to care for the environment and reduce our impact. 🌎
- 4:00 pm - Event closing: We'll close the event with a toast and thanks to all attendees, organizers, sponsors, and collaborators. We'll also announce the date and location of the next Salinas del Rey kitesurfing event. 🥂
This event features five schools, because with them, the growth of this project will become a reality. I'm sharing these schools with a link to their Instagram profiles so you can learn more about them.
1. Veronikiteschool is a kitesurfing and wingfoiling school located in Santa Verónica, Colombia. It offers courses, equipment rental and sales, and accommodation in beachfront cabins. Its founder is Veronika, a professional kitesurfer who competes on the world circuit. You can see her photos and videos on her Instagram profile,
Veronikiteschool.
2. Salinas Kite is a kitesurfing school located in Bahía Salinas, Costa Rica. It's one of the best areas to practice this sport due to its constant winds and pleasant temperatures. The school offers lessons, equipment rentals and sales, and accommodations at a beachfront resort. It also organizes trips and excursions to other kitesurfing destinations. You can visit their website or their Instagram page.
Salinas Kite
3. Kitesurf Experience The Kitesurf Experience school in Salinas del Rey, Colombia, is an IKO (International Kiteboarding Organization)-certified school that offers lessons, equipment rental and sales, and accommodation at the Kite House hostel. Its founder is Juan Carlos, a Colombian kitesurfer who has been teaching the sport for over 10 years. You can visit their website here
https://kitesurfexperience.co/ or their Instagram here
Kitesurf Experience
4. Caribe Kitesurf Salinas is a kitesurfing school located in Salinas del Rey, Colombia. It is one of the venues for the Kitesurfing World Cup, held annually on this beach due to its excellent wind and wave conditions. The school offers courses, equipment rental and sales, and accommodation in nearby hotels and cabins. It also promotes the tourism and social development of the area. You can read more about the school on their Instagram account,
Caribe Kitesurf Salinas.
5. Salinas Sunset is a kitesurfing school located in Salinas del Rey. It's one of the most popular beaches for kitesurfing on the Colombian coast due to its climate, winds, and atmosphere. The school offers lessons, equipment rental and sales, and kitesurfing-related events. You can see their photos and videos on their Instagram profile,
Salinas Sunset.
These schools operate legally on the beaches of Juan de Acosta and are formalized to offer kitesurfing services. They are part of an effort to formalize and regulate the practice of kitesurfing in the region. Each of these schools has instructors and associated staff who work to promote the sport and offer kitesurfing training and experiences to local and visiting riders. Additionally, some of these schools have formed clubs with members primarily comprised of instructors and individuals involved in teaching kitesurfing. These schools will also participate in events and demonstrations during the event organized by the Sports Tourism Board.
Exclusive Interview with the Organizers of the Salinas del Rey Kitesurfing Meeting!
Exclusive from SUELTA LA BARRA! Alex365sport had the privilege of chatting with Andrés and Melissa, two key figures in the Juan de Acosta Sports Tourism Board, about the exciting Salinas del Rey Kitesurfing Meeting:
How did the sports tourism initiative come about, and why was the sports tourism roundtable established in Juan de Acosta to promote sports tourism in the region?
Andrés explains that the roundtable arose from the need for joint work between the public and private sectors to develop sports tourism, taking advantage of events like the Kitesurfing World Championship. The goal is to create an ecosystem between sports and tourism that is sustainable and inclusive.
How will this event in Juan de Acosta promote the development of social and sports tourism?
Melissa mentions that they're looking to strengthen local sports tourism and that the arrival of the Kitesurfing World Championships brought new water sports. They want to include these sports in local events to encourage the participation of local athletes and promote other sports such as wingfoiling and formula kite.
How do you hope the event will benefit the community economically, including merchants?
Melissa responds that partnerships are key, and they include service providers such as restaurants, local accommodations, and schools with their growing student population, which helps boost their businesses and brands.
How has collaboration with government agencies been achieved, and how have you managed to involve non-governmental organizations?
Andrés explains that they are based on Colombia's National Sports Plan and have successfully engaged the Governor's Office of Atlántico and the local municipality by presenting a clear work plan and an event that is part of a broader strategy for the development of sports tourism.
What are the expectations for the future and are similar events being considered during the year or in the future?
Andrés confirms that there are plans for more events and that they seek to strengthen the academic aspect of sports tourism and kitesurfing, including the participation of universities and specialization in the area.
How are you working to position Juan de Acosta and the sport of kitesurfing as a prominent international destination?
Andrés mentions that the sports tourism committee is in its early stages and is defining strategic axes and a roadmap. They have already secured Juan de Acosta's membership in the Latin American Sports Tourism Network and are seeking to diversify the tourism offering and train local stakeholders.
Regarding the sustainability of tourism given Juan de Acosta's natural location, and how the event addresses the ecological issue?
Melissa points out that they have an environmental commitment and that they work with the Governor's Office and local institutions to collect waste and clean beaches, promoting environmental responsibility among event participants.
Infrastructure available for international tourism, such as airports and lodging?
Melissa explains that Juan de Acosta is well connected to the cities of Barranquilla and Cartagena, both with international airports just 1 hour and 30 minutes from the best spots in Colombia. She also mentions that they have previous experience with World Cups that attracted many tourists and that they are looking to improve the visitor experience with an expanded tourist offering.
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If you want to attend this incredible event, don't hesitate and find out more on the collaborators' social networks as soon as possible. 😉 SUELTALABARRA is waiting for you to experience an unforgettable experience!
