UPDATE:
Next years Ben Wilson coaching camps at Solosports are already filling up if your keen book asap!
Book here: http://benwilsoncoaching.com/trips/san-carlos-baja-mexico
Join the facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/265697613783739/
What an awesome adventure that was!
I just got back from a Ben Wilson coaching camp at Punta San Carlos Baja Mexico staying at the Solosports camp.
I wanted to share some pictures from my time there, it really was a magic week with wind and some nice swell all week.
All aboard – your transport to the camp
The adventure begins with boarding onto the cool little Cessna charter planes they fly into the camp. Flying over the mountains and desert was spectacular and a good way to get the adrenaline pumping before getting there.
The flight in over the mountains is spectacular
Once there you’re warmly welcomed and ushered to a tent of your choice. Nice cosy tents with a bed all setup for you. First thing I noticed about the camp site is that it’s all covered in white carpet! I guess this is what they call glamping!
The camp grounds – covered in carpet!
It really is a very comfortable spot – and the best thing about this Camping grill.. it’s already setup!
Shoes off and straight into some fresh tacos by the friendly local kitchen crew.
Inside the tent, nice n cosy
The unique aspect of this camp is that all the gear for kiting, supping, windsurfing, long boarding, mountain biking is all there ready for you to take a spin on when ever you please.
The candy store
Walking into the gear rooms is like being a kid in a candy store with quality gear in all disciplines. A room for kite gear, room for windsurfing, room for SUP and surfing and a bike room! (Quality downhill mountain bikes too with some rad tracks through the surrounding mountains).
Everyday at Solosports consisted of a very simple life:
Kite, Eat, Sleep… Repeat 😉
Editor Ollie J getting slippy using the contour camera line mount
We had great conditions for the week with a nice 2ft up to 4ft on the bigger day swell and generally light offshore winds in the morning great for surfing and then by lunchtime the wind was usually kicking in. Generally it was around 15-20 knots with one day getting up to a solid 25 knots plus.
The waves at Solosports
The wave setup at the camp is great with a selection of super easy beginner spots to the more intermediate (and bigger) spots nearby (the Chilli Bowl).
Editor Ollie J Setting up for a nice one at Chilli Bowl
Generally all areas have a very easy slopey wave which is great for long boarding or supping when it’s not windy but not quite fast enough for short board surfing. For kiting its awesome because the waves break for a very long distance (apparently when the swell is a solid south it’s not uncommon to get waves for 1km and longer!) and you can set yourself up nice and early and whack the crap out of it once it banks up until you have jelly legs! 🙂
Ollie lining up a nice wall
The temperature over there whilst having to wear a 5/4 steamer and 5mm booties was actually very warm with most days being shorts and a t-shirt. I found surfing I got a bit cold but kiting I was overheating when the sun was out! Its still like a summer getaway being in the desert just with the water being cold, but you get used to putting on all your rubber very quick. Coming from a warm climate like the Sunshine Coast I thought I would struggle with the cold water but it was not a problem and I spent 5 hours plus most days on the water. (Yes hot showers available at the camp).
Dre Murray firing into a nice floater
The local crew there are great with all of them also getting out on the water. Lauren and Joey are local kiters who work at the camp and get out on the water and rip it up too whenever they can.
Kevin is the host and super friendly and also kites and yells you into the next oncoming set.
Local Lauren flicking into a nice little wall
Lauren – Chilly Bowl Surf Check
Tequila on gasoline tap!
Joey – All round nice guy
Being one of Ben Wilson’s weeks at the camps this all went hand in hand with some great instructional from Ben, video feedback (Ben and his team video you all day then watch the footage and critique your riding) and really helped progress everyone’s riding by leaps.
Ben Wilson displaying what he teaches with a perfect bottom to vertical top turn
Ben Wilson lesson time
Ben talking about the importance of board selection to match your conditions
All up I had a great stay at the camp, and would highly recommend this to anyone looking to get away and surf style kite their brains out, eat great food on camping grill , drink awesome drinks from the open bar (yes dangerous for some!).
Brian Lynch on a nice chunky one
The options for Supping and Long boarding are incredible
Quick turn around and run! Alexis (from TKB magazine), Dre & Brian
Out house.. that’s really out there…
Mal & Sup Paradise – Chilli Bowl
Lauren looking good
Having a humpy good time..
It’s windiest at the camp right now (May) with the wind reliably continuing up until September but lessening in strength.
There was an abundance of sea life to see from many whales, seals dolphins and weird looking mini crayfish things (one day there was thousands of them!). And I’m glad to say not one shark sighting. Speaking to the owner in the 16 years the camp has been running there has never been any problems with our loved/feared/respected deep sea garbage collectors. You can tell this as even the Seals look relaxed :).
Gert Muller off the top
Food delivery – Desert style
Chill Zone
If you interested and want to know more about the conditions etc please drop Kevin an email at: baja@solosports.net or check out the webpage http://solosports.net
Solosports host Kevin Trejo
Also if you want to get in on the action for one of Bens next camps make sure you get in nice and early as they book out. Ben and his team host camps all over the world so check out http://benwilsoncoaching.com/ for more details.
Beer Oclock