Author Topic: Help us pick  (Read 13970 times)

SlatchJim

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Re: Help us pick
« Reply #30 on: February 13, 2017, 08:44:03 AM »
So the discussion at home is regarding our country's current relations with Mexico and whether it's a good idea to travel.  Me, I'm up for it, but momma wants things to settle down a bit.

Current leaning is toward Maui.  What's the worst that could happen? I learn to downwind?  We haven't been there since our honeymoon 31.5 years ago.  It probably hasn't changed a bit.  :)

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Re: Help us pick
« Reply #31 on: February 13, 2017, 03:07:35 PM »
So the discussion at home is regarding our country's current relations with Mexico and whether it's a good idea to travel.  Me, I'm up for it, but momma wants things to settle down a bit.

Current leaning is toward Maui.  What's the worst that could happen? I learn to downwind?  We haven't been there since our honeymoon 31.5 years ago.  It probably hasn't changed a bit.  :)

Aloha Jim,
You and Marty have a good problem to have, right?...;-)

Honestly, I don't think that our wannabe dictator, that a minority of US citizens recently elected...and, has stirred up a small amount of Mexican nationalism, has had any effect on the safety for Americans vacationing in Mexico...at least that I have heard about...YET...;-)

I do have an amigo down in the Baja, where Deb and I "own" property, that publishes a great blog...here's a little perspective...at least from Baja Sur, which is my Mexico travel preference...waves...weather...paddling...food...weather...safety...etc...

http://www.bajainsider.com/article/mexico-travel-warning-perspective

I don't hesitate recommending PV for you guys...like I said...my shop manager, Al, took his wife and two young daughters there last month...and, he has a law enforcement and safety background...

Taking it a step further...personally, I feel that the PV area is a little too tame...ridiculously safe, IMO...;-)

https://youtu.be/f47D70eXPHA

It's called the Mexican "Riviera" for a reason...it's one of the world's top tourist destinations...furthermore, big picture...more than 1,000,000 Americans are living in Mexico and so are an estimated 500,000 Canadians...

Regarding Punta Mita area...

"This area is so private that even locals aren’t aware of their famous neighbors including executives from Apple, Siebel Systems, Yahoo, Amazon, Qualcom, and British Telecom, as well as one very high profile landowner, and one of the richest men on the planet. In 2014, Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates, along with his Cascade Investment group, bought 48 acres of beachfront property along with the Four Seasons Hotel site in Punta Mita."

"We’ve had superstar visitors in Punta Mita before but it has been particularly Gaga with a frolicking a Sheens and return visits from the Kardashain family.
Famously graced by Beyonce, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Jennifer Aniston with Vince Vaughn, Kate Hudson with Matt Bellamy of Muse…then more discreet legends like Michael Stipe, Ewan McGregor, Roger Waters as well as many captains of industry and politicians.
After filming in Mexico City, Matt Damon, Jodie Foster and Diego Luna shot a few scenes in Punta Mita for an upcoming futuristic political thriller called Elysium.
By association Punta Mita is made famous as THE safe and secure luxury enclave on Mexico’s Pacific coast.
Earlier this summer, Charlie Sheen was kind enough to tweet his presence and give his personal endorsement of Mexico in a video of his time at the Four Seasons, Punta Mita Resort, saying “Much like myself, don’t believe what you read or hear about Mexico. It’s paradise down here.”

OTOH, beneath the outward veneer of paradise and aloha, there is another side to that Maui vacation that they are trying to sell to you in the brochure...;-)
Two sides to every coin...

https://mauinow.com/category/crime-statistics/

"Maui police responded to 18 burglaries, 18 vehicle thefts and 19 vehicle break-ins in Maui County over a seven day period from Jan. 29 and Feb. 4, 2017."

This was an anomaly...but, the truth is that there is an undercurrent of racism by some folks in the Hawaiian Island paradise that can't be swept under the rug...I have experienced it myself more than a few times...YMMV...

https://youtu.be/zG0YEI8aIm8

Regardless...whatever you guys decide...I'm sure that you'll get wet and have a good time...

Mahalos...{:~)

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surfk9

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Re: Help us pick
« Reply #32 on: February 13, 2017, 03:56:11 PM »
Slatch,
I'm in San Pancho right now, have been for 3 weeks and will be until end of March, things haven't changed with the election of the Donald.  People here are of the same opinion as the majority of the voters in the US.  Nothing is happening of a negative nature, if anything it is a little more crowded due to the great exchange rate.  Still a good/great choice for a little SUP vacation.  Sayulita today head+, Anclote, ankle biters, Burros waist+.  Mariscos outstanding, weather couldn't be better, water warm, little chill in the morning on dawn patrol.

stoneaxe

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Re: Help us pick
« Reply #33 on: February 14, 2017, 11:37:38 AM »
I'd go back to Maui simply because you haven't been there since your honeymoon. You would also likely get a chance to hang with a few fellow zoners.... :)

Bob

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SlatchJim

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Re: Help us pick
« Reply #34 on: February 16, 2017, 03:31:19 PM »
I might go to Maui, just to visit that guy (in the video) and buy him a cupcake.  :D

p06781

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Re: Help us pick
« Reply #35 on: February 19, 2017, 09:02:38 PM »
surfk9,

Do you surf at san pancho and north ever?  Coming down may 15 to 23rd and thinking about looking around at other spots .  We will probably stay in mita but considering other spots?  Chacala?   , Playa las tortugas?  You seem to know that area pretty good ? 


surfk9

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Re: Help us pick
« Reply #36 on: February 20, 2017, 03:49:50 PM »
p06781,

Rarely head north as it entails a lot of driving and becomes an all day event.  Chacala requires a boat ride once you arrive and there is no guarantee of swell.  All the forecast sites, Surfline, Magic seaweed etc. are guesstimates as there are no buoys along the Mexican coast to get swell data, all comes from the North.  That being said going north is worth the drive if for no other reason than to check out the coast.  Potential surf can be found at Platinitos, Santa Cruz, Aticama, Matanchen Bay, Las Islitas, Stoners Point and San Blas.  That whole stretch can be covered in about 2 hrs from San Pancho.  San Pancho gets it's best surf during/following the rainy season.  I'l be down there with my surf buddies from 5/13-21.  We're still trying to get Las Islitas, a potentially mile long wave on a south swell.  It's in the Guiness book.  If you end up down there during our time let me know.
tas

SlatchJim

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Re: Help us pick
« Reply #37 on: February 25, 2017, 09:24:05 AM »
Picked Maui, June 18-25.  Timeshare traded for Kanaha Falls.  Going to rent 2 sups for the week.
We still plan on a PV trip but want to do that with our kids when they get the time off.

Need Recommendations on:
Rentals (808?)
Surf spots for two geezers that are happy with 6 footers and good up to about 9-10 foot faces (not pipeline-esque please)
Restaurants.
A chance at our first Maliko run.  Momma is up for anything.


Bulky

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Re: Help us pick
« Reply #38 on: February 27, 2017, 10:58:45 AM »
A few good recs on board rentals and locations in the thread I ran on this a few years back.  http://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php/topic,26093.15.html

I do know that whatever place I rented from closed down, but lots of others.  Check prices before you go as some gave  discount for booking before you travelled.  In my case it made most sense to rent the boards in Kahalui right when I left the airport--they'll even strap them on the car for you.

As my thread says, you probably won't have to fear 10' faces, but if you head down to Puamana Beach park--or pull over along the highway at anyone of several spots south of there, you'll be able to find a nice uncrowded peak.

Stop at Leoda's pie shop down there for lunch afterwards and bring a pie home.  We're not much for super-expensive foodie places but there's plenty of those.  The meal we had at Da Kitchen in Kahalui was really, really good.  Hit it on the way out of the airport and you'll probably find a reason to go back.

Lastly, you should touch base with Headmount to see what downwinders might be going that time of year.  Be a different experience for you and Mrs. Slatch.
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p06781

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Re: Help us pick
« Reply #39 on: May 11, 2017, 04:58:46 PM »
Hey surfk9

We are flying to PV on the 15th and staying till the 23rd at Faro de Mita condos in Mita .  Let me know if you will be down as it would fun to meet up .  Saw the potential of 5.5@18 ssw on 5/20 which might make Las Islitas go off ?  Would love to do that once and we have a surf truck from gecko to drive up .   Email your info p06781@gmail.com if interested 

James in pdx

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Re: Help us pick
« Reply #40 on: May 12, 2017, 03:45:57 PM »
Oy Slatch Jim I am going to be there at the same time with my family!

My wife is a school counselor and our summer vacation always coincides with the last day of school - June 14 this year. I will be there June 16 through 26. We go to Maui every other year and the last two times I have hit on a great south swell window. Fingers crossed for a 3-peat! Last time the swell ran for 7 days and at one point a local turned to me and said "I hope this swell stops soon, I'm sun burned, I'm bruised, reef-scraped and plain tired."

We are going to be on the westside at Puamana. No doubt you will be concentrating your surfing along HWY 30 during that time and so we definitely will have the opportunity to cross paths.

Take advantage of the time change in your favor, you can be paddling out in the dark and get 2 solid hours, with minimal crowd. With a SUP it is easy to move to alternate peaks. I would not say Maui is that crowded in the time frame you will be surfing, especially since you are coming from SoCal. If there is a swell running the most popular spots will be crowded, but if you can settle for a little shorter waves, you can find good spots.
Make paddleboarding great again!

SlatchJim

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Re: Help us pick
« Reply #41 on: June 26, 2017, 08:40:14 AM »
Well, we got back last night and as luck would have it, we surfed Monday through Saturday on a nice summer swell (1-3+ Hawaiian) that lasted all week long.  I surfed each day until standing became nigh impossible.

SUP Leave, I'm guessing you scored on the same swell we did. We found ourselves near either Launiupoko or Ukumehame all week long.  Locals said we scored as it was pancake flat the week before.  :)

I get it now.  The love for Maui thing.  Yea.  It's pretty special.

SUP Leave

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Re: Help us pick
« Reply #42 on: June 28, 2017, 10:31:48 AM »
Whew - I landed Friday the 16th. Swell started running Saturday the 17th with all the way through my trip ending with leftovers still on the 27th. Surfed every day. Puamana point picked up chest to head the whole time. During the peak of the swell Puamana closed out (mostly) so we had to go south to 1000 peaks or guardrails (once Launiopoko - parking there sucks).

I only SUP'd one day. The rest of the time I rode prone boards between 7-6 and 9-6. My 3 daughters all caught plenty waves. We even took them down to the Cove in Kihei where they loved the slow breaking waves. My oldest moved from catching whitewash on longboards to green waves on fun boards. My other two just caught every wave that came by them (easy when you are less than 100 pounds).

Got to play golf at the Plantation course at Kapalua with a buddy. What a great golf course! I struggled on the greens (the grain melted my mind), but it was one of my best ever golf experiences.

Great trip - I am 3 for 3 on hitting the swell on my last 3 Maui vacations. Sitting at my desk now I still feel like I am bobbing in the ocean. I can't wait to get back. Lucky - all you who live Maui.

Make paddleboarding great again!

 


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