Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico - The wind is blowing in favor of Riviera Nayarit, a destination that is ideal for nautical sports, as well as luxury and adventure tourism.

Nothing could illustrate this better than the "Mini Kiteboard World Cup" - a kitesurfing competition that will assemble the best international competitors in the sport on the waters in front of the Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta May 9th - 12th.

Sean Farley, 2009 kitesurfing world champion from Colima, will be in Riviera Nayarit to welcome (not to compete unfortunately) the more than 70 world-class kitesurfers coming from approximately 20 countries - including the US, Canada, France - to compete

Kitesurfing is a dynamic, innovative, athletic, and appealing sport. Riders mount a surfboard that is powered by a kite, a combination that allows athletes to attain high speeds on the water and make incredible leaps. This is a water sport comprising of amazing stunts and is spectacular for watching from the beach.

The wind currents in Riviera Nayarit, and mainly in Bucerias, are regarded by kitesurfers as some of the best in the world. Additionally, the surf in the area has the ideal characteristics for athletes to show their abilities. These natural settings remain consistent throughout the year, and are only vary slightly during the rainy season.

Three world-class marinas, the first-class hotels and touristic services, and the amazing natural settings, make Riviera Nayarit the preferred destination for lovers of this sport.

The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Riviera Nayarit celebrates the organization of competitions such as this one in our destination, as they contribute to attract high-quality tourism that has low environmental impact. High performance sports are a key niche to help achieve this goal, as they deal with people who are strongly focused on achieving, and who also have purchasing power and a well developed environmental culture.

By supporting events like the Wind Festival 2011, we're able to attract the desired tourist type, and to offer conditions to support the promotion of our destination. As these sports have many followers who are eager to learn the latest news, the media is therefore interested in covering the events, a formula that greatly helps to position our destination.

Open to the Public

The event is open to the public and access is free through the gardens of the Hard Rock Hotel. Come and enjoy the spectacular show these competitors will exhibit in the beautiful Banderas Bay. We recommend that you plan to be there from 1 pm through 5 pm as this is the ideal time for the kiteboarders to get the best winds. You can also learn to kitesurf with the half hour classes that will be offered no-charge.