Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico - Kitesurfers from all over Mexico - and the world! - are preparing to hit the beaches of the Riviera Nayarit for three days of spectacular kitesurfing during the 2019 Festival del Viento (Wind Festival). This year's event will be held May 17-19 at Maritima Nuevo Vallarta in Flamingos, Nayarit.

Kitesurfing is a dynamic sport that appeals to athletes of all ages. Riders hit the waves on a surfboard that is powered by winds captured by an attached kite, a combination that allows athletes to attain high speeds on the water and make spectacular leaps.

This international kiteboarding competition is considered the most important stop on this leg of the National Tour held by the Mexican Kitesurf Association, and this year's event is expected to bring approximately 300 national and international competitors for a weekend of intense activity on the waters between Flamingos and La Cruz de Huanacaxtle.

The Wind Festival has been taking place in the Banderas Bay area for the last nine years because this stretch of coastline offers exceptional climatic conditions for kiteboarding, such a strong and constant winds, long waves and a 5-kilometer-long beach, making it the perfect setting for these high level competitions.

The competitions include Down Wind - a race for all categories; Big Air - where the prize goes to the highest jumps; Freestyle - for tricks and showy moves (this is divided among Pro, Amateur, and Women's categories;) and Course Racing - which consists of a long distance portion and a slalom course.

The public is invited to watch the events from the beach(es) - free of charge. Watching all the kites go out at the same time offers a very bright and colorful show during the race, and watching the freestyle competitors' stunts is simply amazing - making this an experience not to be missed!