Belize Blog – Belizeadventure.com

We have recently assembled a wind graph for the island using statistics from a virtual buoy weather site located near the island. This location uses stats extrapolated from other, surrounding weather stations with actual instruments, and we were able to find 12 years of stats on the wind. From this we were able to create a graph of the average wind speeds we experience on the island, based on number of days above 15 mph and days above 20 mph. As a new member of the network of Vela Windsurf Resorts, we needed to know a more accurate account of the winds we see at the atoll.

It will be a month before our new 2010-2011 season color brochure is mailed to our list, but the .pdf version is ready as of today! This includes our new Belize Adventure Week itinerary, our new Mayan Odyssey itinerary, and a bit about our new kiteboard center!

Slickrock has just teamed up with Vela Windsurf Resorts www.velawindsurf.com to become one of their new wind sport centers. Vela is the premier windsports resort in the US and they have operations in Maui, Venezuala, Dominincan Republic, Baja (Mex), and Brazil. Their resorts feature top level, current model windsurf and kiteboard equipment for use at locations with strong, reliable winds. Slickrock will now have a complete selection available of 2010 and 2011 JP windsurf boards, Neil Pryde sails, and Cabrinha kiteboard equipment for advanced sailors and kiteboarders. Our regular program for beginners and intermediates is still in operation, with special equipment for first timers, a land trainer, and a full selection of sails.

Part of our new Vela operation will be the addition of a kiteboard school to our selection of activities. Lessons will be available (at an extra charge) from a professional, certified instructor and will include all equipment and transportation to different location around the atoll that are best suited to learning this exciting new sport. Introductory kite training lessons are still available (free) as part of our regular Slickrock activities with a small trainer kite, but now guests will have the opportunity to advance their skills with a structured lesson plan from a professional instructor. It commonly takes about 10 hours of instruction to learn the sport, which gives one the ability to get up on a board, maintain an upwind aspect to their direction of travel, and become familiar with the equipment.